Tris POV:
I wake up around 5 am and get ready to go to training. I get dressed in the all black training clothes that Four gave us. Marlene and Lynn are awake, but Christina is still snoring. I try to wake her up gently, but she throws a pillow in my face, so I pull her out of bed onto the floor. She starts slapping me like we are in a petty catfight, and we both end up on the floor, giggling. It's 5:45 and we go to breakfast to eat. I look at the array and diversity of foods in the hall. There are bright yellow eggs with crisp bacon and spicy sausage. There are these things that are flat and fried. Christina tells me that they are hash browns. There are pastries that hold blueberries, blackberries, almonds. There is granola cereal, too. I fill a bowl up with granola and a take a muffin with almonds. This is already a step up from the burnt toast that only I had to eat. I sit down next to Christina, while Marlene and Lynn sit down on the other side of the table. The guys promised they would sit with us at breakfast today.
I see Caleb walking toward us. He. Sits. Right. Next. To. Me. I grip Christina's wrist and she looks at me, then at Caleb, then at me again. She finally understands when Caleb says, "Hey, Sis! How was your first day of school?" He looks completely innocent, but I know what he really is. If he was in Candor, everyone would know. The boys start to sit down, and since Caleb isn't getting any words out of me, he stands up, not hesitating to elbow me in my side. I grasp Christina's hand tighter. I squeeze my eyes shut and brace myself for the blow. I hold my breath, while my blood turns cold.
I open my eyes and see that instead of Caleb, Uriah is next to me. Will and Al sit on the other side of the table, next to Marlene and Lynn. I let out a sigh of relief. Uriah speaks, "What just happened?" His face looked concerned. I look at Marlene and Lynn, shaking my head. I assume they understand because they nod.
Christina looks at me, "Um. I forgot something in my room. Tris, can you come with me?" I nod and I realize that she is covering for me. I get up and run out of there quickly, while throwing out my half-eaten granola. We walk into the hallway, "So… That was your brother, huh." I nod.
Tears welling in my eyes. "I-I was s-scared. What am I going to do next time? What if you aren't there? I am never going to be safe here!" I start to hyperventilate.
Christina puts a calming hand on my shoulder, "One of us will always be with you." Then my mother's words echo in my mind. Tears stream down my face. I look at Christina and she comes over and hugs me.
I start to choke on tears while saying, "That's what my mother said before she died." Once I am calm, we realize that we have only five minutes to get to training. We start running to the training room and we make it just before the bell rings. My face is dry and I look at Christina for reassurance. She nods and smiles. We stand together and the teachers are there with assistants. Four is one of them. Next to him is another boy. Uriah tells me his name is Zeke. It is Uriah's brother.
Four shouts, "Today, we will be working on aim! Everyone, grab a knife and start throwing at the bulls eyes! My name is Four. To my right is your teacher Eric, and my left is Zeke, another assistant. Start throwing." I begin to throw, unused to the feeling of the knife in my hand, rather than the blade in my arm. People can see my scars. I throw a knife and it hits the corner. I know that I probably won't see Caleb in my classes, except for a few. Four walks up to me and looks me in the eyes. "Try it like this."
He puts his arm around my waist and his hand on mine, trying to show me how to throw the knife into the center of the target. "Thanks." I say politely, unlike many others.
Then I stop throwing when Eric starts screaming at Al, who wasn't doing very well at throwing. "You idiot! Even the Stiff can throw better then you!" Everyone is still throwing their knives. Everyone except me. "Go get the knife and try again." Poor Al. It was only yesterday when we came and he cried because he thought he would never see his parents again. They only told him to choose Dauntless. Al doesn't move and Eric starts to get angry. "Go! Get! The! Knife!" He screams, almost spitting in Al's face.
He stutters, "But, I-I could get hit." Al says quietly "I am almost positive that you can trust these people. You are expected to!" Eric is flipping out. "No." Al says simply. Eric's face turns tomato red and yells, "Everybody! Stop!" We all turn to look at him. "Come over here and see what happens when you show cowardice or defy me!" He turns to Al. "Go and stand by that target! I am going to throw knives at you until you don't flinch!" Al slowly walks toward the target.
But then the words fly out of my mouth, "No! Eric, don't make him do it!"
I hear Peter snicker when Eric turns to me, "Oh, look everybody. The Stiff is speaking up! Let's all hear what she has to say!"
My hands begin to sweat when I feel all the glowering looks falling on me, "Yesterday, the speaker told us that Dauntless blamed cowardice for the war. I think that you are a coward to abuse your power like this."
"Oh, really." He says in mock surprise, I look at him in the eyes. This is the first time I have ever really stood up for anyone. "Then, you won't mind taking his place."
"No, I would love to take his place," I say sarcastically, walking up to the target. Then Eric says, "You have to stay there, without flinching, while Four throws three knives at you. If you fail, Al must complete his task. Understood?" I nod and Eric tells Four to get the knives. Four stands in front of me. I brace myself as I have many times before, like when Caleb would shove me up against a wall. He would normally throw punches or slam my head against the wall repeatedly. Except for the one time he slashed my face with a knife. Other times he would only threaten and then slam the knife into the wall right by my head. I see Four throw the knife and I squeeze my eyes shut as it hits the board beside me.
I hear shouts from the gang, "Come on, Tris! You can do it!"
I feel like I am actually wanted, but Four just pulls me down. "A Stiff can't do this! You better not flinch. This kid will have to take your place. He would probably do way better than you! And keep your eyes open!" I think I see a little compassion in his eyes, but it disappears in an instant. He throws the second knife and it lands above my head. I hear the gang chanting my name, trying to give me power. They are able to drown out Four's voice. The third knife is thrown, and it makes a cut in my ear. I barely even feel it, compared to the torture I endured at home.
I start to step away, touching the part of my ear where it is bleeding. It will heal quickly, it was only the cartilage. "Stop!" I hear Eric yell, "Go back there! I am going to throw one." He aims, and the knife accelerates right toward my face. But then the world goes in slow motion. The chanting is barely audible and the knife that is soaring toward my face is slowed in my mind. I catch it right when it is about to pierce my flesh. The world comes back to normal. My gang, including Al, pick me up over their shoulders shouting my name. When they get near Eric, they set me down, Eric says, "I don't know how a Stiff pulled that off. But, I am very impressed. I'm going to have to keep an eye on you." I think Eric is grinning slightly, but you aren't able to tell with him. For the rest of the day, we can go to whatever classes we want. It is a Dauntless privilege, but also an Erudite one.
We are only required to show up for training. So, Christina, Uriah, Will, and I go to music. The other three go to the gym. We all walk in the classroom. I sit next to Christina, and Will sits between her and Uriah. The teacher, I think her name is Lauren, starts talking. Someone sits down beside me, it's Four. My heart starts beating out of my chest. I hear Lauren say, "I need a volunteer for someone to sing. Anyone?" There is a pause. I raise my hand and she nods to me. "Come on up." She says perkily. I walk up and start softly, shakily. "Dry lighting cracks across the sky," my voice cracks. I hear a snicker from Caleb and Peter. I move the microphone a little. "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous. This is Blown Away, by Carrie Underwood,"
I say, determined to show them up.
"Dry lightning cracks across the skies
Those storm clouds gather in her eyes
Her daddy was a mean old mister Mama was an angel in the ground
The weather man called for a twister
She prayed blow it down
There's not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There's not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past."
I smile, and sing even louder. "Shatter every window 'til it's all blown away,
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away
'Til there's nothing left standing,
nothing left of yesterday
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,
Blown away
She heard those sirens screaming out
Her daddy laid there passed out on the couch
She locked herself in the cellar
Listened to the screaming of the wind
Some people call it taking shelter
She called it sweet revenge
Shatter every window
'til it's all blown away,
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away
'Til there's nothing left standing,
nothing left of yesterday
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,
Blown away
There's not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There's not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past
Shatter every window 'til it's all blown away
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away
'Til there's nothing left standing, nothing left of yesterday
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,
Blown away, blown away, blown away, blown away, blown away" I smile, and everyone is clapping.
I am breathing heavily and Lauren tells me to sit down. I am so relieved. Christina and I turn around, holding back a spiteful remark, but unable to stifle our laughter as we see Caleb and Peter sticking out their tongues at me. Caleb is so going to get back at me later, I have to stick by Christina.
Tobias POV:
Tris had to do that on purpose. I tap her on the shoulder and her beautiful blonde hair whips around. I look into her eyes, bright but still having a trace of fear.
"That was amazing, what song was it?"
She stutters, "Um. Um. Blown Away, by Carrie Underwood." She rubs her shoulders. The class is almost over and Lauren starts talking.
I ask Tris, "Do you want to hang out sometime, maybe tonight?" She nods.
I say, "How about 6?"
She nods and continues to listen to Lauren. "I want all of you to write a song for next week's class, but for now, we have time for two more volunteers."
She calls up a boy from the back. "What's your name?"
"Caleb Prior." He states. I look at Tris, and I notice things that I look in some people that I see every day. Both hoping and fearing of finding someone like me. Her muscles tense, she holds her breath, and quickly grasps my wrist.
She looks into my eyes, slowly taking her hand away, hesitantly, "Sorry. I-I don't know why I did that." I hold her gaze for a few seconds, but she breaks it and Caleb starts to speak.
"This is a song that I wrote. I'm only going to sing one verse though." Lauren nods. Caleb starts and I see Tris wringing her hands and she moves them to grip the sides of the chair, knuckles white.
"I am going to get you back I'm gonna see you hurt,
You can't run You can't hide,
Don't let your friends bide you time,
Because a friend of yours is a foe of mine."
He looked at Tris the whole time, giving her the death stare. She is shaking, when I first came, all I wanted was support.
I'm going to help her. "I would like to volunteer, but I need a person to sing it with me." I look at Tris, "Can you do it with me?" She nods and gets up, still shaking. "This song is called Brave and it's by Sara Barreilles." I start,
"You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle 'neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out Honestly
I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave"
Then I cue Tris, "I just want to see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave"
I start again, "Everybody's been there,
Everybody's been stared down by the enemy
Fallen for the fear And done some disappearing,
Bow down to the mighty
Don't run, just stop holding your tongue
Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
And since your history of silence
Won't do you any good,
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don't you tell them the truth?
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave"
Tris starts again, "I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
See you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you."
I add in two more words, "Be brave."
She looks at me in amazement and the whole class is in an uproar. The bell rings and it is time to leave. I wonder if she wants to go to another class. Tris walks next to me in the hallway, and she brings me to the side. "Um. Do you think that we could hang out now?"
"Sure, let's go. I'll show you my room." We walk up two flights of stairs. I open the door and she walks under my arm. It is the first time that I realize how small she is. I am surprised how strong and brave she is even with what I think happened.
Her face turns bright red, "I guess you know what's going on?" I nod. She starts yelling, "Do you know what you just pulled back there? Do you know what I just pulled?"
"Listen, I know what you are going through─"
"No, you don't. You have no idea."
"Yes, I do. My father abused me, too."
Tears form in Tris's eyes, she turns around when she speaks, "Your abuser didn't follow you to school." With that, she walks toward the door, walks out, and slams the door.
These songs are not mine, except for Caleb's. They were found on the A-Z lyric website.
*Please Review* I need some ideas so if you have any, PM me. I will see what they are and try to incorporate them in the story if I can. Please give me any opinions, critical or if it was good. I will try to post a new chapter within the next few days!