Author's Note: Well, I am writing this in my dorm. Not quite sure how to feel about that. So I'm gonna write out my feelings, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: Now that I am in college, I DEFINITELY don't have the money to own Teen Titans or Divergent.

Chapter 10

When I woke the next day, I was almost saddened by the fact that we had the day off today. Mostly because I now didn't know what to do to keep my mind off of Vic's accident. A little because it meant I probably wouldn't get to see Robin today.

Stop thinking like that, Kori! He's your instructor!

I push thoughts of Robin aside and meet up with Rachel, Gar and Sergei. Gar still looks downcast from losing his best friend. I used to find his carefree, goofy nature somewhat grating, but now I wish there was something we could do to cheer him up. He must have noticed our concern because he puts on a small smile before speaking.

"You know, I almost wish we didn't have the day off today."

We all nod in agreement. Then an idea strikes me.

"I think I know what I want to do today."

LATER THAT DAY

"I can't believe you really got another tattoo."

"Two, at that."

I roll my eyes at Sergei and Gar. I got the symbols for Dauntless and Abnegation on my shoulders. Dauntless to represent where I want to be and Abnegation so I don't forget where I came from. I'm wearing the black dress Karen insisted I buy to not only remember her, but to show off my new tattoos. The four of us were heading through the Pit to get to dinner. Strangely enough, the large room was empty… Or so I thought. I look over to the Chasm and see Robin standing by the railing alone and holding a bottle.

"Hey, you guys go ahead without me, I'll catch up in a sec…"

Rachel raises an eyebrow at me.

"Why?"

"I'll explain later." I will explain never.

My friends shrug and walk off to the dining hall. Once they've turned away from me, I walk over to Robin.

"What are you doing here by yourself?"

He turns and actually gives me a half smile. When he speaks, I smell alcohol on his breath.

"Oh, the usual. Flirting with disaster, nothing new. Seriously, drinking by the Chasm, dangerous, don't do it."

I cover my mouth to hide my laugh before answering him.

"I don't drink, so that's not a concern to me."

"Good. Alcohol, it's- it's, s'bad for you."

I can't help but giggle; a sound I've made maybe twice in my life.

"Wow, you're really drunk right now."

"I am NOT drunk. If I were drunk I would tell you that your giggling just now is the cutest sound I've ever heard."

I feel my face grow hot from his compliment.

"Oh, really?"

"Uh-huh. And if I were drunk I would say that that dress makes you look…"

I see his eyes roam down, surveying my body. I'm positive that my face must be as red as my hair right now. Oh, how I wish he would finish that sentence… I mentally slap myself before I see him shake his head.

"But I'm not drunk so I'm not gonna tell you that. Are you nervous for the second stage of initiation tomorrow?"

"Well I am now considering you're gonna be hungover during it."

He laughs and shakes his head again. Is his face closer to mine than it was when we started this conversation?

"I don't get hungover. Ever."

His face is a mere few inches from mine now. Just a little gap to close and…

"Kori!"

Robin and I both jump and turn to see Sergei standing near the entrance to the dining hall. I immediately start to panic. What if he saw how close we were? What if he tells someone? Will I get in trouble? Will I get Robin in trouble? Sergei is wearing his usual, relaxed smile.

"What's the hold up? There are hamburgers in there, your favorite. Come on, we even grabbed you an extra bowl of mustard."

I silently sigh in relief and smile at Sergei.

"I'll be right there, thanks!" I turn back to Robin. "See you tomorrow."

Robin nods and takes another swig from his bottle before responding.

"See you tomorrow, Kori."

THE NEXT DAY

Well, so far the second stage of initiation involves us sitting in a hallway with the Dauntless born initiates and waiting for Robin to call us into the next room. He came out to tell us to wait when we all arrived here this morning. (I noticed he was wearing sunglasses, oddly enough. I wonder why...)

Anyway, I'm sitting across from Wally, Jenny and Pam. Wally and Jenny are holding hands and having a private conversation and Pam appears to be sizing the transfers up. Finally, after staring at us all for the past hour, she speaks.

"So, which one of you is ranked number one?"

Xavier straightens up and cracks his knuckles.

"That would be me."

Pam smirks proudly.

"I bet I could take you. I'm second only to Wally but we've been training our whole lives for this."

I roll my eyes and get ready to tune them out but I hear Xavier snort.

"Number two? No way am I fighting you." Cause Xavier's a coward. "If you're looking for a fight, pick it with cutie over there."

I groan at his new nickname for me.

"I will literally pay you to call me stiff again. Just please stop calling me cutie."

Pam looks back and forth between Xavier and me.

"Okay, fine. We'll tag team this. Me and Wally against you and your little girlfriend."

I gag at the idea of being Xavier's girlfriend.

"He WISHES I was his girlfriend! And I'm not fighting anybody!"

"Kori."

We all turn at the sound of Robin's voice from the door. I sigh in relief and follow him into the next room.

"Thanks. You have no idea how perfect your timing was." Robin nods and I smirk as I realize why he's wearing sunglasses. "So, how's the hangover?"

"Sit in the chair and shut up."

I do as I'm told but keep smiling as Robin takes off his sunglasses to prepare a syringe full of an orange liquid.

"Don't tell the other initiates I'm hungover, please. Gotta keep the respect level up."

"I think they all fear you too much to feel anything less than respect for you."

He chuckles and comes over to the chair holding the syringe.

"Now this is another simulation we're putting you through. It's different from the aptitude test though. You will be placed into a situation that will trigger a fear reaction in your brain and it will end when you calm down."

"Okay… Why do you have to inject me with that?"

"The injection contains a transmitter which will send a signal to the computer so I can monitor the simulation." I nod and he reaches his free hand out to brush the hair away from my neck. "The first time is always the hardest." I feel the needle in my neck and shortly feel the room start to fade. The last things I see are Robin's bright blue eyes.

"Be brave, Kori…"

When I open my eyes I am in an unfamiliar room that is the color of dirty snow, a sickly gray. I look around and there is nothing in here except for a mirror. There appears to be no doors or any other way out.

I blink and out of nowhere the room is lit up in bright red, yellow and orange, burning. The smoke is suffocating me and I know before long my skin will begin to burn too.

I look to the mirror and find that it has become a window. On the other side I see Slade, Jason and Xavier, grinning and laughing, rejoicing in my torture. I also see Robin, looking at the wall, the ground, anywhere but at me.

I run over to the window and start pounding on it, only to discover the glass is too thick to ever have a hope of smashing it. I scream in frustration and begin to tear up and cough from the smoke choking me. I have to get out of here now or I will be dead in minutes.

I look directly at Robin and scream his name.

"PLEASE! Let me out! Robin, help me!"

He doesn't even look up.

I sink to my knees, accepting my fate. I cry into my hands as I feel the flames begin to lick at my ankles.

"Be brave, Kori…"

Robin's last words to me float through my mind. Be brave? But how? There's no way to escape. This situation is hopeless and I am going to die

"This is just a simulation. It'll end when you calm down."

Calm down? That's right! This is just a simulation! This is all in my head!

The fire has reached my thighs at this point. I wrap my arms around myself and take deep breaths. It burns to inhale the smoke, but I know the effects are only temporary.

I take one final breath and everything goes black.

I open my eyes and I'm back in the room with Robin. I shoot up into a sitting position to examine my legs for burns before bursting into tears. I feel Robin patting my back.

"That was great, Kori."

"Great? Great?! That was terrible! What does that have to do with overcoming cowardice?!"

"Kori-"

"No! I can't do this! I'm not cut out to be Dauntless!"

I bury my face in my knees to muffle my sobs. I hear Robin using the same soft tone he used after my fight with Xavier.

"Kori, look at me."

I shake my head but feel Robin gently tilt my head up to look up at him.

"Do you know how long you were in that simulation?"

I shrug.

"I don't know, an hour?"

"Five minutes."

My eyes go wide from this news. The simulation had felt like it could have been going on for hours.

"The point of these simulations is to teach you to be brave no matter what you're feeling. By overcoming your panic and fear, you overcome cowardice." He gives me one of his little half smiles. His eyes are slightly bloodshot from the hangover, but still the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen. "Why don't you go get some food? It might help you calm down."

I nod and slowly get up and walk to the back door. Before I leave, I turn to face him.

"Do I look like I've been crying?"

He gets up and walks over to me, carefully looking at my face. He stares at me for what could've been an eternity before answering.

"No. You look like the strongest girl ever."

I feel my face grow bright red before I leave the room to go get lunch.

If you caught the Stranded reference, go get yourself a gold star! Well, like I said I've started college so updates are gonna be… Yeah, be patient with me, please. I love writing, I really do. It helps keep me emotionally balanced. But school comes first, so please don't start sending me messages about never updating or leaving anonymous bitchy reviews about it. I will update when I can. Until next time, R&R. -Starprincess