(A/N: Sorry it has been a long time since I have updated. But I have finally done it! Please comment or message me if you want, I would appreciate it! I hope you enjoy this chapter where you will see more of J's personality!)
J half listened as Four and Eric explained the stages of initiation. She stood there, unaffected; while the others were concerned at the mention of cuts at the end of stage one. For her there was only one acceptable rank and that was first.
They were given new clothes and led to the dorm room, which was one large room with bunks and bathrooms at the back.
She took the closest bunk to the door, on the bottom and started to change into her new black clothes. J had a skinny frame, but still had some curves; she heard cat calls and wolf whistles from some of the other (male) transfers. Especially Peter, but she ignored them as she slipped on her tight, black pants, which had the boxy panels horizontal on her thighs; the panels were the same color and material as the rest of the pants. Her new shirt was a tank top that had wide shoulders. The top had the same panels on the shoulders perpendicular with her collarbone. There were also panels on her sides, on the lower part of her ribs, so they seemed like protection for her sides.
Eric had said to go to the dining hall after they were done training. J saw that Christina had already left, so she strode out of the dorms to the cafeteria. After going through the winding underground halls, J finally arrived at the dining hall. She spotted Christina and walked over to sit by her.
Without looking up, Christina started to say, "Sorry, but I'm saving that seat fo-" she stopped when she realized it was J. "Oh, I was saving it for you, I didn't realize you had gotten here so fast."
J smiled, and Christina returned it, before starting to eat again. J grabbed a hamburger and started eating. Looking around she saw Christina and the other initiates I front of her and to the right. But next to her on the left was Eric and on his left was Four. They were talking together about random things. She was just about to take another bite of her hamburger, when a hand landed on each of her shoulders.
"Decisions, decisions" the voice spoke, "which one to pick?" J looked behind her but before she could say anything, Four spoke up, "Come on Zeke, they just got here. Go bother your brother before them."
Zeke looked at him, slightly confused, then he figured it out and said, "I wasn't bothering the transfers, just my new friend here," then to her he said, "which name do I call you the one I gave you or the one you gave to everyone?" J smiled and said, "I like the one you gave me, so you can call me that, but only you, ok?" A goofy smile spread across Zeke's face and he took his hands off of her shoulders and started to squeeze himself onto the bench between J and Eric.
"Whatever you want, Dredd." She smiled.
Eric raised an eyebrow, remaining silent, but Four, however, leaned forward and said, "What the heck is wrong with you Zeke?! You can't just go around giving the initiates depressing names, that's just strange" he sounded concerned.
J and Zeke looked at each other and started laughing. Four and Eric sat there, confused to no end. "Don't worry Four, we worked it out on the train ride to the compound," J said. Zeke elbowed her in the ribs saying, "more like I figured it out. You were very unhelpful!" She elbowed back and they started play wrestling in their seats. Zeke was pushed back into Eric as he was taking a drink from his cup. He was nocked sideways and water spilled onto the chocolate cake that sat on his tray.
He'd had enough of their fool play. "Would you two just knock it off already?!" He said loudly. Some people around the dining hall started to watch the spectacle. J laughed "oh, is someone feeling deprived?" And with that she literally walked over Zeke's lap, pushing his head out of the way as he swatted at her face.
Then she jumped on the stunned Eric, knocking him backwards onto the ground. They landed with a thud. She started to wrestle with him like she had with Zeke but stopped when he didn't play back. She looked up and saw that everyone in the room was looking at her. She was on Eric's stomach as he lay on his back on the floor. She looked down at him.
His jaw was clenched in anger, he stayed silent. Her toothy smile began to fall off her face as she looked to Zeke who had a terrified expression on his face, 'Did she just tackle Eric? Does she not get that he is a leader and can control her ranking? Or does she just not care?' Zeke thought.
Then she looked at Four, who was covering his smirk with his hand and shaking, trying to suppress a laugh. 'I like her already, she tackled Eric! Ha! But where did she learn to do that, was it just instincts? I know she wouldn't have been taught that sort of stuff in Candor.' Four thought.
"Get off" Eric ordered through gritted teeth, J quietly stood up. Then she offered him a hand which he glared at as he stood up. He brushed himself off once with a sweep of his hands down his front, then shouted "Transfers. Lunch is over. Follow me." They started to get up and J flashed Zeke a look. He mouthed "good luck." She smiled and gave a thumbs up causing Zeke to think 'This girl has no idea what she has gotten herself into.
They ended up in a large room, on one side there were wooden targets with blue human outlines. There is a table with knives back from the boards. "Alright Candor, in front of the targets" Eric said to J. She just stood in the group not making any motion to obey his order.
"Today, initiate" he said getting annoyed. She still didn't move. Everyone was slowly backing away from J as Eric started to slowly walk towards her. Four looked on passively.
Eric stopped a few inches in front of J. He was taller than her, so her chin was at his collarbone. "Did you not hear me, initiate?" He growled quietly. She looked at him, not seeming intimidated at all, "I heard you, sir" she stressed the last word, "but your statement doesn't apply to me" she looked him straight in the eye.
Everyone's jaws hit the floor, including Four's. Eric was getting angry, but he didn't show it on his face or in his voice, "and why is that, Candor?" She looked at him blankly.
"INITIATE!" He shouted in her face, she didn't even flinch.
"Pretty much just like that. You're calling me Candor, but that's not what I am anymore. I left Candor, I'll do what you want, but only if you saw it addressing me as something I am, or my name. 'Cause I do have one."
Eric's fists were clenched together in anger. Four saw this and thought, 'Wow, he hasn't hit her yet, that's strange. Usually he would have beat the snot out of anyone who even spoke to him that way, much less tackled him. But he's just standing there as she sasses him like that. What is it about that girl that makes him act like that? Why is she so different? Whatever it is this is definitely going to be an interesting initiation.'
"Alright, initiate, I front of the target" Eric hissed through gritted teeth.
J slowly strolled towards the targets, her head held high and her back straight. She carried herself with an arrogant posture of confidence.
She reached the target, leaned against it, put her hands in her pockets, and crossed her left foot over the right. The brunette looked completely relaxed.
"Four" Eric said. The other male walked over to the table with the knifes and grabbed a hand full with his left hand. As he walked towards the line a few yards in front of the targets, he spun one of the blades in his right hand.
Eric stood with his arms crossed over his chest and said, "your gonna stand there while he throws at you, and if you flinch your out. Got it?" Four pulled back his arm, ready to throw, but J raised one of her hands, her first two fingers raised up, calling attention to herself, Four stopped.
"What now, initiate?" Eric practically whined.
"Well, I was just wondering why Four is throwing the knives at me. He isn't the one who is mad at me for no reason." She said looking at Eric.
When Eric wasn't looking at Four, he tried to get her attention to get her to stop talking. 'No! No! No! If you keep talking, then he is going to throw at you! Eric plus being mad plus knives equals bad! VERY BAD!' Four shouted in his mind. J either didn't see or didn't acknowledge Four's silent warning to stop.
"Four," Eric said and held out his hand for the knives. Four hesitantly handed him the blades
"Happy now, initiate?" Eric asked with a smirk, "Yes" she responded with a matching smile. He turned to the other initiates, "Pay attention this will be our first training exercise, right after we're done here."
Then, turning back to J, he raised his right hand and prepared to throw.
Thud, the knife hit at her eye level on the right side of her head about six inches from her face. A crazed grin parted her lips, but she didn't flinch. Although, she did straighten up and put her hands by her side.
Thud, the next blade hit half an inch to the left of her ear. J could feel the air move and the board tremble with the force of the impact. Her smile began to fade as she thought, 'Woah, he's serious.' Quickly looking around the room, she saw Four standing with his arms crossed and the majority of the initiates looking very worried.
Thud, the next one hit the board next to her left shoulder, slicing her skin slightly, but not even enough to make it bleed. Eric smiled at the face she made after his throw, 'There, just one more and she will have learned her lesson. Just close enough to scare her.'
He lifted his arm to throw the last knife. The knife shot forward as he releases it. In a flash, Eric realized that he had misaimed, and the knife was shooting towards J's forehead. He cursed in his head and shouted "DUCK!" He leapt forward instinctively, even though he knew there was nothing he could do.