My eyes fling open to the sound off my alarm buzzing.
Fighting day. It's time for the initiates to show us what they're made of. I worry about some of the smaller ones. Especially Tris. Peter, Will, Al, Edward, and Molly are the ones that I'm sure will do fine today.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stretch out my arms. I walk over to the bathroom and undress. I look at the person before me in the mirror, taking in every detail. I remember when that person had no muscle tone and wouldn't even meet his own gaze in the mirror. What happened to him?
I left him in Abnegation.
I step into the shower and feel the hot beads of water pounding against my back.
Breathe, I tell myself. Just breathe.
I know that today is going to send me over the top. I can't lose control. Not in front of Eric. Not in front of the initiates.
I get out of the shower and immediately put on my clothes. I wear the same familiar black shirt with my black pants and Dauntless instructor jacket. I look scary. I look tough. I look like Four. The instructor.
I brush my teeth and then I check my watch before I leave.
6:25. Just enough time to grab a muffin and head to the pit to warm up alone.
I head to the dining hall. Zeke and Shauna see me, but obviously can tell what kind of mood I'm in because they don't invite me to sit with them at the table. I don't want to anyways. I just need to be alone.
I grab myself the first muffin I see and bite a piece off as I walk towards the pit.
As I enter the pit, the familiar smell of sweat fills my nostrils. I have spent so much time in this place. It is the one of the only areas in the dauntless compound that I feel comfortable in.
I toss my muffin in the trash can and walk towards one of the punching bags suspended from the ceiling. I start throwing a combination of punches. The bag swings back and forth as I hit it with as much force as I can. I kick and punch until my knuckles begin to split open. I feel a sharp stinging pain and I notice that my knuckles are already starting to bruise.
As I turn around, I see Tris standing there, quietly observing me. I meet her gaze for only a moment. Suddenly all of the other initiates start filing in and her face is lost among the crowd.
I wipe the palms of my hands on my pants and begin.
"Today, you will be learning how to fight. Each of you will be paired up with a partner and you will fight each other on the mat." I breathe deeply before continuing, "After each fight, you will be scored according to technique and obviously, by winning. At the end of each stage of training, your scores will be posted and the lowest ranking initiates between both dauntless-born and transfers will be cut."
"Excuse me, but I don't think I heard you right. Did you say 'cut'?" Christina asks.
"Yes, cut." I say.
"Why didn't anyone tell us?!" she says. Before I can respond, Eric stands up and walks to the front of the room.
"It's a new rule. It doesn't matter anyways. If you are truly dauntless, you won't care if you might fail. You chose us and now we get to choose you." He says.
I look at him smirking at Tris. He must be thinking that she will be the first to go. He might be right.
"Alright. I will be demonstrating different combinations of punches and kicks. Also, I will teach you different tactics to use while in a fight. Pay close attention because you'll only see this once." I mutter before I turn to the punching bag.
I repeat the movements over and over without even having to think about doing them. I've done this so many times that it's as easy as counting to three.
Before I know it, the initiates are paired up, practicing the new techniques against each other. I observe each of them carefully.. Easily spotting each of their strengths and weaknesses. Al is slow, but he is powerful. Will is quick, but he doesn't have a lot of skill. Christina is quick and strong, but she doesn't block well. Molly is clumsy, but dangerous. Edward looks like he knows what he is doing. Peter, I hate to admit, is good. I'll have to keep an eye on him.
And then there's Tris. She is quick. Her small frame makes it easy for her to move around, but she has no strength. I go up to her and watch her closely.
"You're weak. You have no upper body strength.. You'll never win that way." I say harsher than I'd like. I know Eric is watching, so I have to be careful.
"Thanks for the encouragement.." Tris replies. I can tell that she's aggravated with me. She doesn't give up though and she punches with even more force than before.
"Keep tension here I say." As I press my hand to her lower back. I forget she is from Abnegation, but the discomfort in her face from my touch tells me she still has an Abnegation wired brain. I let my hand linger longer than I should have and end up dropping back to my side. I turn and head back to the front of the room and hear her let out a gasp of air. I guess I must have scared her.
The first few fights go by quickly and the results are as expected.
Edward, Al, and Molly win each of their fights. Tris was exempt from today because of the uneven number of transfers. That's not good. She needs al the practice she can get.
I dismiss the initiates for lunch and tell them to meet back later for knife throwing. We are going to take a break from the fighting, which is fine by me.
Lunch flies by. Before I know it, I'm back in the pit listening to the familiar clanks of the knives falling to the ground. I turn and face my own target in front of me.
Breath.
Aim.
Throw.
And just like that, each of my knives hit the center of the target.
I turn to see Eric watching each of the initiates throw. None off them seem to be making them stick. I look at Tris and notice she hasn't even thrown one yet. She is going through the motions.
Eric must have noticed to because he looks at me and says "I think the stiff forgot what a knife is!"
She must've heard the comment because she picks up the knife in her hand and aims at the target. I see her go through the same exact steps as I do.
Breath.
Aim.
Throw.
And just like that, Tris is the first to hit the target.
Eric lifts his eyebrows in surprise and walks on to the next initiate.
I look at Tris just long enough to see her grin with satisfaction.
All of the initiates seem to be doing just fine now, except for Al. He has yet to hit a target.
I turn back to my target and block everyone out. I continue practicing hitting the target until I feel everyone's eyes on me.
"Four, can you give me a hand here?" Eric says with and evil smirk on his face. I look up and see Al standing in front of the target and I know what I have to do.
I pick up four knives and walk in front of Al.
"I want you to stand there while Four throws these knives. If you flinch, you're out!" Eric says.
I can see the panic in Al's eyes.
I try to focus and remain calm. I know I won't hit him, but Eric will only be satisfied if I get as close as possible.
I take my stance and get ready to go through the motions.
Breath.
Aim.
"Stop!" I hear a familiar voice yell. I turn around and of course Tris has walked to the front to face Eric and I. God. What is she thinking?
"Anyone can stand in front of a target. It doesn't prove anything except for what a bully you are. And bullying is a sign of cowardice." She says.
"Fine, then it should be easy for you to take his place" Eric replies.
I watch Tris as she walks to replace Al in front of the target. He sighs with relief.
"Same rules apply!" Eric shouts.
I meet Tris's gaze. She doesn't look afraid. She takes a deep breath and stands there.
I look directly into her eyes as I feel the first knife being released from my hand.
She didn't even blink.
I grab the second knife and aim again. This time, I hit close to her arm.
"You done yet Stiff?" I tease her. Hoping that she knows I am doing this to make her stronger, not to be mean.
"No!" she yells.
I release the third knife and it strikes the target, right above her head. A lock of blonde hair falls to the ground by her feet.
"Eyes on me, Stiff!" I yell.
As long as I look into her eyes, I know I won't hurt her. I need her to look at me.
Her eyes flutter open and her face is filled with disgust. She hates me. I can see it.
I throw the last knife, just barely grazing her ear.
I hear everyone gasp and I know that my job here is done.
"Points for bravery Stiff! Not as many as you just lost for opening your mouth. We are training soldiers here, not rebels!" Eric yells.
The initiates follow Eric out of the room, but Tris remains standing in front of the target.
"You cut me.." she whispers.
"I meant to." I say.
"You meant to?" She snaps back at me.
I look up at her and I can see that she's upset.
I wasn't trying to hurt her. That is the last thing I want to do. I see the electricity in her eyes, it's as if she has just been woken up.
"If I wanted to hurt you, I would have Tris... Are you okay?" I say, my voice comes out soft.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She says as she drops her head and turns to walk away.
Something in me says that I should go after her. To stop her.
But now is not the time.
She will learn sooner or later that I am one of the only people here in Dauntless that she can trust.