Smeld Glad you enjoyed it! I promise this chapter is seriously exciting!
Guest I see what you mean about teen readers not being able to carry on reading (and grateful you think highly of this story ^_^) so I think I have to agree at the point where the suggestive parts become not so suggestive and pure mature rating, I'll just change it (I got awfully close this chapter, but I'm trying, I really am)
Elisa I'm glad you're still reading! There's definitely some badass Avery in here, as well as asexy Aric (I agree it's better!) scene! Hope you enjoy!
Dear Charlotte,
I agree so much with Lily- I can't wait for Avery to really get Lily angry and make her regret her actions! Trust me I've planned the entire scene already, it'll be a great chapter! And with Ben- I know, I thought I had to insert something more interesting with him and Beth, because I didn't want them to characters sitting around, filling the spot of "friend number 1, friend number 2". And you guessed it, when Eric finds out… oh I can't wait I hope you don't mind, I kind of made you into a character this chapter- I'm not sure how 'Charlotte' will fit into the story, but I thought I should use your name instead of making one up to thank you for all your feedback!
Forever grateful,
TheCloakedShadow
The flag was high up, hanging over a rail at the top of a towering ride, with unclimbable stairs, as well as the actual tower being so rusty with no handholds. Plus it's towering over all the other rides, a blurry sign read over 100m. It was unreachable.
/Well… except… I can think of one way to get it down… but it's unlikely anyone else will think of it.
We have two dauntless-born Four ruled as being terrible at tactics to stay back and guard, but other than that our whole team is moving out. I'm at the very of the line, and will be closest to the river, while everyone else is lined up perpendicular to
/the river. Except for Kray, who is further back. When we engage the other team, the line will curve to surround their group. A few of them will most likely slip past, but we aren't worried about them getting our flag. Kray will take the route furthestfrom
the battle, and move round stealthily, not shooting unless absolutely necessary, and find their flag.
I can just see Ben, next along the line in the darkness, but barely. I know beyond him is Mark, and then some other dauntless-born I'm not familiar with.
Ben's moving slowly, but I don't know whether it's just him or the whole line. Since I'm on the edge, I can move faster… or at least I don't see anything wrong with it.
I tread a little faster through the urban environment, still in close proximity to the fairground as I can see the flow of the flag if I look hard enough. Concrete road is turning into a small industrial estate, with warehouses and storage boxes. A primeplace
for an ambush. Why don't I see if I can trigger it.
I duck round the back of a warehouse, and am sure to be silent as I climb through a broken door. Some factionless must have used it at some point. I find a dubious set of stairs, and manage to climb them successfully, finding a window, still intact butswung
open.
Resting the barrel of my gun on the window sill, I peek out.
Right there.
"Argh Fuck!" A shout rings out and I smirk, knowing that will attract the rest of my team. Good thing Kray is far from here. I try to count up their number and find it just short of the full team of 20. Seems they had a similar tactic, but advanced as
/a group and let a smaller one take the way round.
I can tell there's a frenzy down there as shots ring out, but I know Ben nor Mark could be here yet, so Eric's team must be firing blindly.
"For Fuck's sake stop shooting!" I hear a familiar yell and smile. He shouldn't have spoken. There are two figures standing where his voice came from, and thanks to my new contacts, I can determine one is short and broad, the other a hulking figure ofmuscle.
I aim for the muscles feet.
"Fuck."
"Where is he?!" Sexist.
"We should regroup! They're ambushing us-"
"Argh!"
Ben must have got here, he's a good shot. I shoot five more times, hitting the three initiates closest to my window.
"Up there! Take her down!" I recognise Eric's voice once more and quickly duck behind the wall as I see paint splatter on the wall opposite me.
I see another window nearby, and teeter across a decaying ledge before peaking over. I probably have no more than 10 seconds to shoot before they realise I've just swapped windows. Let's see how many I can get.
Visualising their positions as from before, I move into the gap, zeroing in on some further towards the back. One, two, three! There's a zip to my shoulder, and there's a ring as the paintball hits the railing behind me. Oh well, got enough out of this
/position.
I jump down to the ground floor, heading straight out the door and see Mark taking cover behind the warehouse.
"Mark, did Kray go?" I mutter and he looks back at me.
"Yeah, were you up there?" Mark answers, smirking as I nod.
"Got a fair few of them, it was an obvious set up for an ambush." I say honestly and he chuckles.
"There's Four, let's go." Mark says, and I see Four behind the warehouse opposite. He gives the signal to move forward, saying he'll cover.
"There's two storage boxes just to the right of this warehouse, head there." I tell Mark, and right then we hurl round the corner as Four's shot's ring out, and my legs dip and roll so I land in a crouch behind cover with Mark.
"You good?" He asks.
"Yeah." I say with a smirk, and I feel the rush of adrenaline. I picture their previous positions I saw from above. Will they have moved? Eric can't have, the others… might as well try.
I give Four the signal to move forward as I divert attention.
With a quick movement, I duck round to the side and up slightly, gun aimed straight at one of the figures I remember. I stand up just enough to be in line of sight, and shoot.
"Ah no!" It's a girl's voice, Beth. Oh well. I shift my aim to a figure just behind her and shoot again, letting my feet move me forward to the next storage box at speed.
I crouch behind it, noting Four's movement to my previous spot. I saw another silhouette just then, to the left where the rest of our team. There's probably a few more, if I move far forwards enough I can get them from the side.
The rule is if your hit fatally, you're out. If your arms are hit, you can't shoot but you can move andget the flag. If your legs are hit you can't move but you can shoot. I hit Beth in the arm and the person behind her in the chest, they should
be out, I can
move forward.
"The next rows out." I say just loud enough for Mark and Four. I then turn around, and move forward.
There's another figure I didn't see where Beth is, but I quickly shoot them in the abdomen whilst ducking their retaliation shot that really was terrible.
"Hey." I mutter to Beth with a smirk. I wonder where Lily is? I stay on my feet, moving past the two other felled initiates and see four more further along this row, with their backs facing me as they focus their attack on my teammates further up. Kneelinglike
sitting ducks.
I pull the trigger in fast succession, the three closest being pinned in the centre of their backs, whilst the last managed to turn but I got him in the shoulder and then Four shot again for me to his leg.
"Eric must be over there." Four tells me as we crouch behind another storage box.
"He's stranded. Fifth row back… I think it's fourth along from here." I try to remember his position as I shot him in the leg.
Four raises his eyebrow at me and I smirk.
"I guess I should thank you for daring to pick me in your team." I mutter to Four, and he grins back.
"It got me my share of pissing him off… I'll leave the rest of it to you." Four mutters before motioning Mark to follow him along our row to join the rest of our team… I wonder how many are left…?
"Shit!" I hear Mark curse as he gets hit in the centre of his chest, and as soon as Four moves and inch out of his cover his shoulder is hit. I took out…12 plus Beth, Four took at least three, Mark at least two… Eric must still be shooting.
I move round, crouching and rolling to get closer to where I remember him being. I can't just shoot him I've already done that…
I roll behind a box… I'm pretty sure he's behind… no a shot just came from behind it he's definitely there. In close quarters, paintballs don't explode, therefore shooting won't get either of us out.
I place my gun on the floor, and on the mental count of three.
"Fucking-fuck!" Eric's cursing is strong but quiet as I roll my body over him, a firm hand on his gun while I struggle to pin his legs.
"Now now, you have a bullet wound in your leg, they shouldn't be working." I chide as Eric meets my eyes, and my breath leaves me.
Even in the dead of night… how on earth… his eyes are shining, blue light into mine.
"Knew it was you…tch." Eric mumbles.
"Is that the last of you?" I hear Leon's voice yell, far away, as neither Eric nor I answer.
"Yeah… we're done." It must be someone from Eric's team, as he frowns. I lean down and kiss his brow lightly.
"Why are you frowning?" I wonder innocently, as I let my free hand trail down his skin tight black long-sleeve, before 'resting' somewhere quite special to him. Eric looks up at me, yet somehow it feels like he's above me.
"Why? Because Four stole something that's mine." I smile lightly at his response, letting my hand fidget.
"And how did Four steal it?" I tease him, as his eyes narrow as he doesn't answer but groans as my hand shifts.
"If I remember correctly someone was trying to be smart…" I murmur, leaning down closer to his lips as he groans.
"Did you send Lily alone for the flag?" I ask, and he holds my gaze. Yes.
"Was Kray apprehended?" He holds my gaze. Yes.
"Would I be punished for a bullet not from my gun?" Eric raises an eyebrow in question. No.
"Do you swear it?" I murmur softly, and his head lurches forward towards my lips. I let mine brush against his softly, before pushing down firmly with my hand, lifting up his gun.
"Fuck!" Eric groans, and I use the distraction to rest the barrel on top of the storage box.
I'm close enough, I'm sure I am… this rifle is much more long-ranged than most because of how paintballs don't burst close range, plus the shots I made from the warehouse window were dead on, so increasing the distance means I'll have to aim slightlyhigher…
but by how much… I can make it.
Closing one eye, I pull the trigger.
The light falls from the sky.
I move back from my position and feel Eric's gaze on me.
I move towards Eric with his gun in hand, holding his gaze as I place his gun on top of the storage box. Knowing the others had all head back to the tracks, I curl my arms around him.
"You won." I murmur softly, reaching up on my tiptoes to get closer to his face. "Is there a reward?"
Eric shakes his head slightly, before leaning down and kissing me. He pulls away within seconds, but holds my gaze as I reach down to his thigh to wipe away the paint of my earlier shot.
"You go any closer and I'll be fucking you in the factionless district, thanks to what you decided to pull." Eric murmurs, taking my hand whilst picking his gun up and me mine. "You let me win." He says bluntly, though he seems unsure whether to be pleasedor
not.
"You'll always win, whether I let you win or not." I tell him. "Besides, I didn't let you, you sent Lily after the flag, forcing me to betray my team." I say back accusingly, and he smirks.
"But in reality, it was your gun that shot down the flag, therefore I had no part in my team's loss. The great leader Eric was merely too smart." I murmur, pursing my lips in a smile.
"Where did you hide your flag? That high up?" Eric asks, and I grin.
"No copying my idea." I warn him. "It was unreachable. Threw it up the top of that detonator ride, no way up or down. Four left the two worst shooters to guard, but I don't think they'll matter much."
"That's my girl." Eric mutters, pulling me close planting a heavy kiss on my forehead as we pause behind the last warehouse. "I almost can't believe you made that shot from this far with that gun."
"Almost." I echo, and he grins above my lips, sighing.
"You'll be a natural at sniping…" He tells me and I can't stop the smile on my lips at the praise and pride in his voice.
He let go of my hand, and steps out at a fast pace in front of me. The rest of the initiates are crowded round the train tracks, Lily with the glowing flag in hand.
"What was your count?" Eric asks me, though his voice gruff with authority.
"12 fatal, 3 injured."
Eric lets out a barked laugh, "You were the best, you've pleased me." He says under his breath, as I move away to Four, who's looking very unhappy.
"Lily got it." Four says to me suspiciously.
"No, she caught it. Eric shot it out of the sky." I say, and Four lets out a sigh.
"Never again will I piss him off before one of these, he ruins it…" Four mutters.
"But then we'll never be on the same team!" I tease with a grin.
"Someone's untouched. You'll probably get more points than Lily." Four replies and I frown. Seriously? Maybe I should have found a way to tell Lily to shoot it out of it's position.
"And somebody isn't." I reply easily, rubbing off the paint on Four's shoulder.
"At least it looks like I got him back…"
12321
The train ride back was long, as Lily and Jay, who was with her getting the flag, bask in their success. Jay tries to meet my eyes but I ignore him, trying to communicate to him to stay with Lily. There are compliments from Four's team, once Mark andLeon
had stopped being sour losers, commenting on how surprised they were when they realised Lily got the flag.
"Listen up!" Four yells, as the comments quiet. "Though everyone seems to celebrating, but overall that was a godawful performance from most of you. Usually we expect an even match up, with a few initiates standing out, but this time everyone was a loadof
crap bar a few."
I lean back in the corner of the carriage as the weight of Four's words carry through.
"Lily will get the points right? She got the flag." I hear the slight desperation in Jay's voice, as Four holds his gaze then looks away.
"She'll get something, but not much. The leaders of Dauntless will consider her part mere luck of being chosen to find the flag, nothing more." Four states simply.
"What? She got our flag when it was unreachable! Surely-" Leon even stands up for his opposing team, as Four interrupts.
"She just caught it. As you said, it was unreachable, and it was shot out of its position. No initiate has the skill to do that." Four grounds out, pointedly staring at Eric. I almost warm with pride, since Four didn't think an initiate could
make the , playing along with my lie.
"My team were all out, I did what I had to to win." Eric replies, glaring back at Four.
"Destroying the whole point to test the initiates." Four snaps. "We still had plenty on our team, we could've gotten your flag, it was only inside a house with no protection, and you were indisposed."
"As were you." Eric growls back, and I can visibly see all the initiates tense and exchange wary looks as the tension rises.
"Perhaps, but I had a skilful initiate to go for the flag while you did not." Four retorts, obviously unbothered by the way Lily's eyes widened in hurt. "And I thought you'd want her to win-"
"Avery came out on top anyway. Ranked next is Leon, followed by Charlotte for staying alive and taking down an initiate each. Then Lily, Jay, and the rest of you in order of number of kills." Eric states, his voice loudening with authority as he addressesthe
initiates, as their gazes look around to find me as I pointedly stare at the ground.
"Her? She's not on the winning team!" I recognise the boy, the same one who asked what the prize was for winning, the same one I shot straight in the chest behind Beth. The disdain in his glare is extremely evident.
"She survived. She correctly realised your ambushing strategy and instead ambushed you, drawing her team to our position and took out over half of the team single-handedly." Eric puts down any misinterpretation, with his voice evidently bored.
"She thought up the hiding place for our flag as well, these two were there for ages and wouldn't have got it, if not for Eric." One of the dauntless-born who was guarding our flag speaks up, and I'm surprised, but I hold his gaze in thanks.
"Anyway, that surmises that shithole. This was a one-time tradition, and you failed. We will be starting tactical exercises in training from now on, and you better start showing some interest if you don't want to be factionless." Eric barks, before Fournudges
his head to the side, and Eric jumps off, and I follow, jumping just before Four, rolling as I land.
"You couldn't have made it a little more…" I struggle to find the words as Four and I walk side by side as Eric strides much faster up ahead.
"Sorry, making the rest of them feel shit is my priority, regardless of your discomfort. Besides, you could've just faked being useless again." Four jokes sarcastically, and I scowl. The sun has just started to rise.
"Training starts later, at 10. Don't be late." Four exclaims to the group, before the initiates disperse, and I quickly hide myself into the compound's corridors.
"Avery!" I hear Ben call my name and curse under my breath but turn around nonetheless, a small smile on my face. He's followed by Beth and Jay.
"Hey, sorry Beth I hope it doesn't bruise, I didn't really aim very well." I address her first as her eyes are cold, but she nods before looking away slightly.
"Congrats Avery, I was with Leon andMark, theysaid you took out loads of Eric'steam!" Ben compliments me and my eyes dart to Beth who still isn't looking in my direction.
"Sure. I was just lucky, I was in the position closest." I wave away his words. "You get shot?"
"Yeah, shoulder and stomach. It was right near the end though, some shooter far back. Mark was hit and a couple others as well, Four in the shoulder. Must have been their last one, so I guess you managed to get them." Ben says and I raise my eyebrow andscoff.
"It was Eric, and I didn't. I was too close, the guns didn't work so he pinned me, then shot the flag down. He was in much more of a pissy mood than usual." I drawl, lying easily. Though I guess Eric won't mind the idea of him pinning me instead.
"He pinned you? Didn't Four say physical fighting was banned?" Ben questions, concerned and I conceal my eyeroll.
"He's Eric, the rules don't apply. Besides, he managed to shoot down the flag at that distance… he must have realised somehow that it would fall… but even so…" Jay wonders, before his eyes linger on me. I see a flash of realisation, and a silent question
/in his eyes. Damn, Jay's been far too perceptive… I'm going to have to find a reasonable excuse to why Eric let me shoot the flag down… hang on I can just say I told him about the flag's position in order to try and help Lily… maybe…
"You guys going for food?" I ask, noticing Lily with Leon, Mark, and Raven advancing.
"Yeah, you com-" Ben starts, and as Lily's stare reaches me, I can't help the smirk on my face as I turn.
"I'm going to get some sleep. See ya." I mutter, turning in the complete opposite direction of the Pit and the Dorms, ignoring Ben's calls as I walk away.
12321
I went to the training block for an hour, feeling restless. It's only been a day and getting Lily to hate me already feels like shit. I should've thought of a way to get her to win capture the flag without bringing myself to attention… but Eric said I
/had to win. I guess he didn't foresee my being of Four's team.
As my arms burn with the effort of pull-ups, Lily's words echo in my head. Like Kasper… Like Kasper…
"Fuck." I mutter as my arms give out, and I have to support myself on the wall. At least I got to 16… two more than my usual maximum… though the burn in my arms tells me I'm never doing that again.
I don't feel like exercising anymore, and my brain is tired, but I won't get any rest. I've already gone to the salon, I don't want anymore tattoos, I've got enough clothes, I'm not hungry…
Might as well go back to Eric's… but should I?
We've been careful, but careful enough? It's only been a few days since I moved out and we've already had a few close incidents…
Despite the reasoning in my head of why not to be seen anywhere near Eric outside of training, it's only a short distance to Eric's apartment and there's no one in site. This area must be for leader's and higher ups that are working most of the time,or
at least that's what I can conclude since no one's ever around.
And when I type in the passcode and slip inside, a glorious sight welcomes me.
OMG that was so much fun! You know what they say about not being able to stop reading an interesting book? Well I couldn't stop writing I've just finished writing at 3 am XD That was so much fun to write, so I hope everyone enjoyed the showcase of Avery's awesome skill! I've determined she's the kind of person people (including me) get jealous of because they're just good at everything, but have arrogant attitudes. I still love her. In terms of starting a new book or keeping it all in one I think I'll just leave it, as if I do start a new book it'll probably be after initiation, and we still have months to go, but it's definitely a possibility. Sniping is definitely starting next chapter, and I've planned some interesting fights that wouldn't have occurred in the original books, but I think they make a lot of sense (you will see what I mean in the coming chapters). Anyway, please continue reviewing, and I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter!