I'm sorry this chapter is later than usual. I've been busy with college prep before I move in so, I haven't too much time to write lately. I probably won't have much time to write for a while since I'm going to college tomorrow. I apologize in advance for chapter delays.

Also, I'm sorry that this chapter probably isn't written very well. I just wanted to get something up before there is a delay in updating.

Also, since a couple of you said you would like an Eric POV chapter, I'll give it a shot. I already have one chapter in mind that I could make in his point of view, but that won't be for a while, until we get to the final tests. However, I'll try to figure out somewhere to put his POV before then.

Warning: Because of the fights, this chapter contains mild violence.

Disclaimer: All of the original characters and plot belong to Veronica Roth

As I head into the training room, I'm walking behind Tris and Al. They are talking about his fight with Will yesterday. From what I can hear, Al feels really bad for beating up Will and doesn't want to do anything like it again. I feel bad for him. If he doesn't want to fight, then there's no way he will survive initiation. I really hope he gets his act together, unless he wants to end up factionless. Their talking ceases as we walk in and look at the board. Today, our fights are as follows:

Molly – Edward

Tris – Peter

Al – Drew

Monica – Will

Christina – Myra

Matt –

I don't know how I feel about fighting Will. Even though he's my friend, I want to beat him because I want to make it into Dauntless. I decide that I will fight my hardest and let whatever will happen, happen. What concerns me more, however, is that Tris has to fight Peter. Peter is about a foot taller than her and yesterday, he beat Drew in less than five minutes. Today, Drew's face looks more black and blue than skin colored.

"Maybe you can just take a few hits and pretend to go unconscious. No one would blame you," Al suggests.

"Yeah, maybe,"

"Don't worry Tris. I'm sure you'll do fine," I say, trying to reassure her. I know they are only trying to help, but it isn't fair that Christina and Al think that she doesn't have a chance. Yeah, he may be bigger and stronger, but, like me, she is faster. She can use that to her advantage, so she could win.

I turn away from their discussion and watch Molly and Edward fight. He's faster and stronger than she is. I'm positive that he will win. To her credit, she puts up a good fight but, it's not good enough. When Molly finally peels herself off of the arena floor, Peter and Tris are making their way up to fight. Peter has a determined, mischievous look on his face. He's cocky, he knows that he's going to win. I hope that he's wrong, part of me knows that Tris will have hard time winning this fight.

"You okay there, Stiff?" he says. "You look like you're about to cry. I might go easy on you if you cry." Tris goes to kick Peter in his side, but he grabs her foot and pulls it forward, knocking her to the ground. Once her back hits the floor, she pulls her foot free and scrambles back to her feet.

"Stop playing with her," snaps Eric. "I don't have all day." The mischievous look that Peter had on his face disappears. He punches her in the face and then kicks her hard in the stomach, which knocks her to the ground. He grabs her hair and punches her in the nose and then in the ribs as she smacks him, trying to fight back. He then shoves her away from him and then kicks her in the side, which causes her to scream. He kicks her again in the side, seconds after the first, and she passes out. After someone comes to carry her to the infirmary, Drew and Al make their way up to the arena. As they take their positions, I notice that Four left the room. It must have been during Tris' fight. Considering that he is more honorable than Eric, I guess he didn't want to see Tris get beat up. I don't blame him. It was really awful to watch.

As I expected, their fight doesn't last long either but, not for the reason that I expected. Al throws a few punches at Drew but, after a while, I realize that they're weak, sloppy ones. Drew blocks them with ease. I also notice that Al is not even trying to protect his face. This gives Drew an advantage and, not even 20 seconds after the fight began, Drew gives Al one hard punch to the side of his head and knocks him out cold. I guess Al feels worse about his fight with Will than I thought. I hope he doesn't think that that one victory will be enough to keep him in Dauntless, because I don't think that it is. After they carry Al out of the room, it's time for my fight with Will.

When we step into the arena, Will gives me a small smile, one that I return. This is not us being friendly, this is us forming a mutual understanding with each other. Neither one of us wants to hurt the other, but we will each fight our hardest and, no matter who wins and who loses, there will be no hard feelings between us. This is very reassuring.

Will makes the first move, reaching up to punch me in the face. I easily block it and punch him in the jaw. He stumbles back, but quickly regains his footing. He raises his arm up to punch my face again, so I block my face with my hands but, he quickly changes directions and punches me in the stomach, which makes me stumble back. The move makes it obvious that he is former Erudite because it was very clever. Before I can regain my footing, he punches me in the side of my face and I black out.

When I wake up, I'm in the infirmary. The first thing I notice is the pain in my stomach and my head. The feeling reminds me of the last time I was sick. I had a massive head ache and a bad stomach bug. I was so miserable, that my mother, per Amity rules, had to keep stuffing my face with the Amity bread to keep me happy. This feeling isn't quite as bad as when I was sick, but it's close. When I look up, a woman, I'm guessing a nurse, walks in with two paper cups and a pill bottle.

"How're you feeling?" she asks me.

"Alright, I guess."

"Good." She hands me the two paper cups. One has two pills in it and the other contains water. "Take these now, they'll help with pain." She then hands me the bottle. "Take two of these twice a day for the next few days. They should make your pain completely subside within a few days. You can stay here and wait for the medication to kick in before you go."

"Thank you." As she leaves the room, I take the pills. While I lay there, waiting for the pills to work, I look around the room. It is very dark and almost looks like our dorm room, except smaller and only for one person. I am so absorbed in observing my surroundings that I jump when I hear a knock at the door. When I look to see who it is, I see Matt.

"Sorry, it's just me. Can I come in?"

"Uh, sure." I don't know why but, as he approaches my bed, my stomach drops. I don't know if I was hoping he was someone else or if I was just hoping that it wasn't him. For some reason, he makes me feel uneasy.

"So, how're you feeling?"

"I've felt worse."

"I guess that's a good thing. So, I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Do you want me to beat Will up for you?"

"What?!" What the hell is he talking about? Why would he even think that I would want him to do that?

"Well, it's just that he beat you up pretty bad today and I thought I'd get him back for it."

"No. First of all, he didn't beat me up that bad. I'm fine. Second of all, I don't need you to defend me. I can take care of myself. And third of all, I'm not mad at Will. We had a mutual understanding before we fought. We're both trying to make it into Dauntless, so we both are trying our hardest. Honestly, I'm not upset that he beat me and neither should you. He's my friend and I'm glad that he won. You know what. I think that you need to leave."

At first, he looks shocked and confused at my outburst. But then, he just nods and leaves without a word. I can't believe him! The fact that he thinks he needs to defend me is offensive and degrading. I knew that there was something off about him.