A/N* I have changed the main character's hair colour from Amity to Dauntless to a light blonde because I want her to dye it brunette in Dauntless. Hope you guys like this chapter, also i'm thinking about making the next chapter Eric's POV, so let me know how you guys think about that idea. Thanks for reading and I really do hope you enjoyed it. Please review and vote, it really motivates me to write more often. Thanks!
The next morning Myra and I got up at 5am to start our practice. Everyone else was still asleep and in all honesty, a few more hours of extra sleep sounds so tempting. However a promise is a promise and I am determined to help Myra improve. Myra herself happily accepted my help and have no problem getting up early while dragging my dreaming ass up with her. Guess the thought of staying in Dauntless with Edward was really motivating.
The training room was dead silent, seeing the free punching bags and the empty tracks got me excited. I have always loved running, especially when it's nice and quiet, really allows you to think. Myra and I started with jogging the tracks 3 times as a warm up, however we didn't quite finish because she looked like she was about to pass out after 1 and half laps. Didn't want to risk explaining to Edward why her girlfriend is in the infirmary due to a heart failure, I decided to work on some punching techniques with her. I was teaching her to stable her feet before a punch and use the core when throwing a punch when Four and Eric walked in. Both were very surprised to see us.
'What the hell are you two doing here so early?' Eric grumbled, unlike his normal neatly styled hair, his hair looked a little messy with a few strands stick up. Just woke up I assume. He wore the same black track pants with a sleeveless vest, showing off all his impressive arm muscles. From the scowl he wore on his face, I can safely bet that he is not a morning person. Four on the other hand looked genuinely surprised to see the best ranked initiate and the last ranked initiate practicing early in the mornings. I think I even saw an approving glint behind his eyes.
'Just helping my friend Myra practice.' I casually responded, like it's my daily routine to wake up at 5am in the morning dodging punches from a girl who hated my guts until last night. Myra seemed surprised at my ease towards using of the word 'friend' but just went along with it. Eric made a disbelieving scoff and walked off setting up the mats with Four. I ignored their presence while telling Myra to continue, however it soon became obvious that having Eric and Four there judging our practice makes her extra nervous because she begins to punch rapidly in all direction. Her punches were weak and messy, and surprisingly, pretty painful. I would know because the pressure of having our trainer and a dauntless leader there has somehow magically erased the punching bags in Myra's world and her 'multi-direction' 'random' punches mostly ended up on me. The lucky person that can not dodge because securing the punching bags is her responsibility. After a few pointless and irritating blows, I decided it's time to move on to something safer. Myra agreed as she walked towards the targets and picked up a gun. Great, shooting.
After breakfast, Four announced that we will be taking a break from fighting today and instead move on to knife throwing. I was beyond grateful because the 5am practice and dodging punches...then bullets, really wore me out. I watched carefully as Four demonstrated the techniques to throwing the knife, I noted how he didn't use his wrist and instead it is a single flow of the arm movement. He also did not try to use too much power but instead the the right angle and speed was what got the knife to stick. Unfortunately for the other initiates, the idea of throwing a knife was simply too exciting that most of them didn't even focus on Four's demonstration. Eric stayed behind us, his eyes watching our every move. Soon he made eye contact with me, and raised an eyebrow. I realized that I have been staring for too long and am now the only initiate that haven't attempted one throw.
'Is there a problem initiate?' Eric shouted, I didn't need to turn around to know he was referring to me. I quickly weighed the options. I can not respond and risk pissing him off even more for him to punish me for disrespecting a leader. Or I can respond, and say what? However Eric is not a patient person. 'Are you ignoring me, initiate?' his tone was bitter but almost a little amused. Dark humor. Challenging me to challenge him. Although I'm not erudite, I'm not exactly an idiot either and even a dumbass knows challenging Eric is like committing suicide. Hell maybe jumping in the chasm has a better chance of surviving than challenging Eric.
'No, sir.' I responded as politely as I could and quickly throw the knife, to my surprises-and everyone else', it actually stuck. Of course it's not near the heart, but it's the only one so far that actually managed to stick in the target. Not to mention it was my first throw and I had thrown it under the pressure of Eric's intimidation. Luckily, Eric thought so too because he did not taunt me further. However not before adding 'pathetic, try hitting an area that actually makes a difference.' That was all the motivation I needed, who does he think he is? First trying to pick on me in front of everyone because I didn't throw when everyone else did? Then he has the guts to criticize my shot when it was clearly the only one that actually hit the target? I stood on my spot and mimicked Four's demonstration without actually throwing the knife, finally on my fifth practice I released the knife. I was met with a ping and a knife in the very heart of the dummy. I smirked at Eric's direction and he narrowed his eyes, but didn't say more.
After a few more tries, Myra was the only one whose knife still haven't landed on the target. It became obvious that Eric's patience was beginning to run out because he was slowly making his way towards her. The atmosphere in the room was as tense as ever, everyone watching Myra as the last knife in her hand hit the floor 2 meters from the target. Eric coughed once and Myra finally realized Eric's presence, the disappointment from her eyes quickly flashed to fear and panic.
'Nice job initiate' Eric's tone was surprisingly calming. 'Not one hit the target. Not fucking one.'
Myra was shaking at that point, she stared at the ground too scared to face Eric's cold but calculating eyes.
'Answer me when I'm speaking to you.' Eric's voice was getting more and more aggressive with each and every word.
'I..I'm sor..sorry..sir.' Myra stumbled 'I'll try...harder.' She quickly added when Eric didn't respond.
Eric laughed, just laughed. Like Myra trying harder is the funniest thing he's heard. Although the laugh sounded crazy, it's perfectly controlled. 'Well I think you should go get it and practice again.' No one dared to make a sound while Myra slowly makes her way towards the nearest knife. 'Everyone, go back to throwing.' That same cold voice commended the rest of us. Instinctively, Myra backed out of the throwing zone. Wrong move Myra, terrible move. Eric was not impressed with Myra's cowardice and Myra seemed to realize it too because when her eyes met mine, they were practically begging me for help. Suddenly Edward's voice rang in my head
While I'm away, can you help her?
That voice terrified me, because helping Myra would require standing up to Eric, standing up to Eric is already a risk. It's even a bigger risk because he's already not impressed with me. However no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Edward's voice out of my head. Before my brain processed what I was doing, my stupid mouth spoke up.
'Stop.' Great, that got everyone's attention. Eric directed his attention to me while Four pursed his lips.
'What?' Eric asked, like he almost couldn't believe someone would actually challenge him. There's no going back now, so may as well be Dauntless till the end. I had a feeling my end was approaching very rapidly.
'There is a high chance that she might get hurt because it's our first time using a knife. Dauntless is about bravery when confronted with danger, not seeking pointless danger to prove bravery, it only makes them an idiot.' I realized I just called Eric an idiot the minute it left my mouth, however it was a minute too late because if looks could kill, I'd be long dead from Eric's stare right now. Luckily though, looks can't kill so I let my eyes meet him and hold his stare until he finally decided to look away. Instead of killing me, Eric relaxed his stance and turned around.
'Everyone back to practice. Including you' He glanced at Myra. 'Go get some new knives and TRY to at least hit the target once.' Myra gladly took the opportunity and disappeared out of sight. I let out a breath of air I never realized I was holding in and went back to throwing. However out of no wear a pair of strong hands grabbed my waist securing me tightly preventing me from making a single move. Eric's lips were so close to my ear that it tickled when he spoke.
'Watch yourself, initiate. I like a challenge... because I have never lost one.'
And with that, he left the room. Slamming the door behind him as he exit.
I'm dead. So very dead.