Author's Note: What's this? An update! Yes, I am actually updating, especially since not only is my school year over but I FINALLY got Alligent! So enjoy! This chapter is going to be a rough ride.

DISCLAIMER: Nope. Don't own Teen Titans or Divergent

Chapter 12

When I open my eyes, I am greeted by a poster on a white wall. My vision is too hazy to read the poster at first, but as I continue to wake up, it comes into view.

It's an old poster; one I can remember seeing when I was a child. A long time ago, the Amity and Dauntless used to run a circus together. When I was seven years old, my father and mother were among the Abnegation volunteers who helped set up, which meant my sister and I got to see the circus. I don't remember much of it, except for the acrobats.

They were called the Flying Graysons, a family of acrobats from Dauntless. Their midair tricks dazzled audiences of all ages.

Until the accident.

The show I saw was their last performance. The next time they performed, there was a malfunction with the cables that caused them to snap and send John and Mary Grayson tumbling to their deaths. It was declared an accident, but many people suspect there was foul play involved.

Knowing what I know now, I understand why.

I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that a poster for their act can still be found in the Dauntless compound. But the Dauntless don't strike me as the type to dwell over loss, so I wonder why it's still hanging here all these years later.

My musings are interrupted as I hear rushing water coming from somewhere in the room. I panic for a moment before realizing it's a sink and not the chasm.

I look over to the source of the running water and see Robin's back. I must be in his room. As I look, I see the edge of a tattoo peeking from the neck of his tee shirt. Huh. He didn't strike me as the tattoo type. He washes his hands and I see the water run pink from the blood on his knuckles.

He shuts off the sink, and walks over to me, carrying an ice pack. I briefly consider feigning sleep, but what do I have to lose?

"Your hands…"

"My hands are none of your concern."

He touches the ice pack to my head and I briefly wince. I remember slamming my head on the floor of the chasm, but not much else. I remember being taken out of my bed by Malcolm, Xavier and…

"Sergei…"

"He was threatened by your strength. He liked you when you were a timid little girl from Abnegation. Your strength made him feel weak. Just keep your head down and stay close to your transfer friends and you'll be safe."

"I thought I was staying close to my friends. But Sergei-"

"-Won't be welcome by your friends anymore. Just trust me; he won't try to hurt you again. But for now, get some rest. We're giving a preview of the third stage of initiation tomorrow."

Robin grabs a pillow and blanket and lies down on the floor. I want to argue about staying in his room, but sleeping in the same room as my attackers to appear brave would just be stupid. I can't sleep yet though. Something is poking at the edge of my mind.

"Robin. Why were you there?"

"I was leaving the control room. I heard a scream."

"What happened to them?"

"Xavier and Sergei ran. I dropped off Malcolm in the infirmary about an hour ago. He said they weren't really going to hurt you; they just wanted to scare you. At least I think that's what he was trying to say, he was having a hard time getting it out."

"Did you really leave him off that badly?"

"He'll live. In what condition, I can't say."

"You're kinda scary, Robin."

Robin sits up to look up at me; I can see his piercing blue eyes shining in the darkness.

"Do me a favor and don't call me that."

"What should I call you then?"

"Nothing. For now." I can hear the smile in his voice.

When I wake the next morning, Robin is gone. I hear a shower running nearby and figure that must be where he is. After checking the time, I slowly get up. I should go to the dining hall before my friends start to worry. But I'll be sure to thank Robin later.

I keep my head down, remembering Robin's words about how people weren't threatened by the timid girl from Abnegation. I look up ever so slightly and spot Gar and Rachel sitting at our usual table with Wally and Jenny. I don't see Sergei anywhere. Good.

I slide in next to Rachel, still looking down and the barrage of questions begins, starting with Gar.

"Kori, what the hell happened to you last night?"

I look up and see Xavier and Toni snickering at the next table over. I swallow hard and speak softly.

"Xavier… Malcom… and… Sergei."

All four sets of eyes currently watching me widened in shock.

"No way…"

"That traitorous son of a-"

All the mutterings cease as Malcolm walks-well, really it was more of a hobble- into the dining hall.

To say he was bruised would be an understatement. There was hardly a patch of skin that wasn't blue or swollen. My friends turn back to me, looking very afraid.

"Did you do that to him?"

"What? Oh, no, that was… somebody else. I don't know who, I didn't see their face." I figured it would be best to leave Robin out of this story. The Dauntless may be pretty lax when it comes to beating each other up, but something told me they wouldn't take too kindly to an instructor basically crippling an initiate.

Speaking of Robin, at this moment he chose to stand up from his seat, far away from all the initiates. "Transfers! You're with me today, let's go."

We followed Robin up to the steep path that lead to the glass floored building above the compound. We all manage to keep up fairly well, except for Malcolm of course.

"Come on, Malcolm, pick up the pace!"

It's a cruel joke but I press my lips together to keep from laughing. I hear Malcolm grumble under his breath but it doesn't sound like real words through his swollen face. As I'm looking back, I see Gar to my side looking very uncomfortable. He must not like heights. I offer him my support, but am sure to make it appear as though I need his. He offers me a grateful smile as he releases me when we reach the top.

The building is actually fairly bland for having a glass floor. The walls and ceiling are made of crumbling concrete. There are ropes for obstacle courses stretched between the walls and there's various other training equipment along one of the walls. Maybe this is why I never noticed the Dauntless compound from the street. Robin leads us to a room that completely made of concrete, except for a window in front of us. Someone spray painted "Dauntless" in red letters on the wall adjacent the window.

"This is called a fear landscape. It's similar to the simulations, except you know you're in a simulation." Good. Level the playing field so everyone thinks like the Divergent. "This is your final test. The fear landscape will make you face all your fears. Once you've calmed down in one fear, you'll move into the next. The goal is to face all your fears as fast as you can. A panel of Dauntless leaders will be monitoring your final test and see all of your fears"

"But that's not fair! What if one person has seven fears and someone else has twenty!"

Even the sound of Xavier's voice makes me sick to my stomach. I want to punch him. Robin looks even more furious than I do as he saunters forward and gets right into Xavier's face.

"Don't you dare talk to me about fairness. Of course, last night did reveal how much of a coward you really are. I'd be worried about the final test too if I didn't want everyone to know I'm scared of pretty ginger girls from Abnegation."

Everyone burst out laughing at that, even Toni, as Robin walked back to the front of the group.

"There is nothing unfair about the final test. If you think that there is, then you can leave right now. Understood?"

We all nod; Malcolm somehow manages to make the motion look painful.

After we make it back down into the compound, Rachel, Gar and I head back to the transfer dorm before dinner and see Sergei sitting on his bed. Rachel and Gar immediately step forward, as if to shield me.

"Kori, please…"

"Just stay away from her!"

"Shut up Gar! Just let me talk to her!"

I lightly tap on both Gar and Rachel's shoulders and step forward. Gar reluctantly stands down, but Rachel remains defensive. Sergei's tear-stained face almost looks hopeful at this small gesture.

"Kori… Please… I know what I did was wrong, and I can't even explain it, but please… Can you ever forgive me?"

Somewhere inside of me, there is a merciful person. This person wants me to forgive Sergei and welcome him back with open arms.

But I am not this person.

I step forward once again and look him right in the eyes.

"If you ever come anywhere near me ever again, I swear I will kill you."

And with that I turn on my heels and leave for dinner.

Despite the events of last night, sleep comes surprisingly easily to me tonight. Yet once again, I'm not asleep for very long before someone is shaking me awake. I begin to panic again, until I see Rachel is the one shaking me. I'm about to yell at her, until I realized she looks scared. Rachel tends to come off as almost uncaring in most situations. If she's afraid, she's not one to usually show it. Something must be really wrong.

"Come quick, it's Sergei."

Without another word or even stopping to put on shoes, I run out to the Pit with Rachel. They're hauling something large and cumbersome out of the Chasm. Slade walks over to the men.

"What happened?"

"We've got another one sir."

"Oh, come on, dude it could've been an accident."

"Really, how would this accident happen? He just tripped and stumbled 15 feet forward? No, this was definitely suicide."

They get the body up over the rails and I feel myself numbly dropping to my knees.

It's Sergei. He is pale and swollen, but it still looks like Sergei. Warm, goofy, bumbling Sergei. Or, that's how he was. That is death. Changing is to was.

And there's not a doubt in my mind that his death is my fault.

Okay, so I know it's been a while, and for that I am sorry. Life got in the way and I never found the time and inspiration to write at the same time. And now that it's summer, I have a job and I don't know how much updating I'm going to do. But I tried to do a fairly long chapter to make up for the break and there was quite a bit of information thrown at you. Next update is going to hopefully be Don't Look Behind You and then next time on Dauntless Titans, stuff! Thanks for reading lovelies and I'll see you next time! -starprincess