.

I own nothing!

Chapter 10

Visiting Day

I sit on the edge of my bed gazing toward the phrase "Fear God Alone". I'm still groggy from a long night of nightmares and tossing and turning. Visiting day always has this affect on me. Not because I have any desire to see my father, but because it is the one day a year that I actually think about what it would have been like to grow up in a normal family without the abuse, beatings, and mental anguish. This will be the only moment that I allow myself to dwell on this, and then I will return to who I am now. Four, the so called 'Dauntless Prodigy.' That is what Amar used to call me after I received a first place ranking throughout my own initiation. Although I was from Abnegation, I was a natural in the ring, at knife throwing, and shooting guns. I especially excelled at the simulations. And then of course there is the fear landscape and the reason that I got my nickname. Four fears is unheard of in Dauntless, it is less than half of the norm. These are the times when I miss my old mentor.

I sit for a moment longer staring at the words on the wall. It is time to get up and make my way to the dining hall for breakfast.

The Pit is already bustling with families, initiates, and Dauntless. Today is a day that the Dauntless take to gather.

I walk into the dining hall and spot Zeke, Shawna, and Lauren sitting at our normal table. I have not had the opportunity to really talk to them for the past few days because of initiation, other than our brief conversation about Tris yesterday. I grab my food and take a seat across from Zeke.

"Hey man, I thought you'd already be down in the pit with your family," I say to Zeke.

"I'm getting ready to head there now, just waiting for Uriah to finish flirting with Marlene over there," he gestures toward his brother at another table.

"How is initiation going Four?" asks Lauren. "We have not seen much of you for the past few days."

"It's been busy, and I've been spending a lot of time in the training room."

"Oh really," smirks Lauren. "And why would you be spending so much time working out? Is there someone you are trying to impress with your physique and skill? May a little Stiff that you climbed a Farris wheel with?"

I glare at her and don't respond.

"Wait! What?!" shouts Shauna. "What are you talking about?"

Lauren whispers to Shauna, "I think Four has a thing for the Stiff. At capture the flag, he climbed the Farris wheel with her to find Eric's flag. All I know is once they came back down he didn't stop smiling until we made it back to the compound."

"Four, do you really have a thing for the Stiff?" Shauna asks quietly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Shauna, she is an initiate and I am her instructor and that is all." I avert my eyes so she can't see that I'm lying to her. She has always been able to spot my lies.

"You liar!" she scolds. "You can't lie to me; you have never been able to lie to me! Does she know? Have you made a move?"

"As much as I'd love to stick around for the 'girl talk', it looks like Uriah is ready," says Zeke. "See you in the Pit later!" Zeke smiles at me and walks out of the room.

I finish my breakfast and try to avoid Shauna and Lauren's questions.

"You are going to have to talk to me sometime Four," says Shana.

Shauna has always been the person that I could confide in the most for the past two years. Zeke is probably my best friend, but there are just some things that guys don't discuss.

Lauren finishes her breakfast, tells us she will see us later and heads out to the Pit to see her family.

"So are you going to talk to me about this?" Shauna presses.

"Nothing has happened, Shauna. We climbed the Farris wheel to find the flag that is all."

"But you want something to happen with her. I can tell."

"Look, this is an impossible situation. Even if I did want something to happen, nothing can. It wouldn't be good for either of us." I tell her.

"Look Four, for two years now, you have never once shown any interest in anyone. You keep to yourself, brooding. If this girl really has your interest, you can't ignore it. Talk to her, there are no rules against that!"

I look at Shauna, as always she is right. I have never been interested in anyone like this before. We finish our breakfast in silence and head down to the Pit. Shauna spots her family, says she will see me later and moves through the crowd to see them. I make my way to the chasm. Next to the training room, this is another of my favorite places. I lean on the railing and gaze down at the water thinking about Tris when suddenly I hear her voice behind me.

"There is one of my instructors," she says. Then she mumbles something else that I couldn't hear.

"He's handsome," says another voice. This voice is very similar to Tris' I can only imagine it must be her mother.

I turn to look over my shoulder and there she is, standing with a woman that looks like an older version of her, wearing grey. My eyes widen, I know her! She is Andrew Prior's wife. Of course, Beatrice Prior, they were our neighbors in Abnegation. Her father is an Abnegation leader along with my father.

"Hello. My name is Natalie," she says. "I'm Beatrice's mother."

I reach out and shake her hand. It is awkward for both of us.

"Four," I say. "It's nice to meet you."

"Four," Natalie says. "Is that a nick name?"

Does this mean she doesn't recognize me?

"Yes," I say keeping my voice low and steady.

"Your daughter is doing well here. I've been overseeing her training."

"That's good to hear," Natalie says. "I know a few things about Dauntless initiation, and I was worried about her."

I look over at Tris standing by her mother. I look from her nose to mouth to chin. She really is striking.

"You shouldn't worry."

"You look familiar for some reason, Four." Natalie says.

I knew she would recognize me. She watched me grow up across the street from them. Although I didn't really socialize with anyone because of my father, she still would have seen me around. I also have the same eyes as my father and I resemble him a little.

"I can't imagine why," I respond. "I don't make it a habit of associating with the Abnegation."

Natalie laughs, "Few people do, these days. I don't take it personally."

I give her a small smile, she doesn't seem like a normal Abnegation. I wonder if she was always Abnegation or if she transferred. "Well, I'll leave you to your reunion."

I walk away, hoping she doesn't tell Tris who I really am. I feel like there was enough of an unspoken understanding that she won't reveal who I really am.

I make my way to the tattoo parlor, Tori is working today and I'm going to get the flames on my rib cage done today. Shouldn't take too long, she just needs to finish the shading to make them look more realistic.

About an hour later I'm leaving the tattoo parlor, thrilled with the outcome of this tattoo. This may be my favorite so far. I walk through the Pit to head toward the dining hall when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see Natalie again.

"Four, I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you about Beatrice."

I look at her, curious about what she could possibly ask of me.

"How can I help you?"

"Beatrice is in danger here. I can't explain, but I get the feeling that you will understand and be willing to help me."

"Absolutely, I will watch out for her." I tell her.

Her face relaxes a bit.

"Thank you Tobias, please know that I am in your debt." She turns and walks away.

I knew she recognized me. I also know that she did not let Tris know anything.

XXX

Later that evening, I take the chalkboard back into the initiates' dorm. A few people have already started to make their way into the room when I enter with the chalkboard. They turn in my direction and follow me to the back of the room. I stand there waiting with the chalkboard leaning against my leg, and the piece of chalk still in my hand.

"After the first round of fights," I begin as the initiates gather around me in a tight group. "You are ranked…"

The door flies open and in comes Drew, Tris, Christina, Will and Al, all looking quite frazzled and out of breath.

"For those of you who just came in, I'm explaining how the ranks are determined," I tell them. "After the first round of fights, we ranked you according to your skill level. The number of points you earn depends on your skill level and the skill level of the person you beat. You earn more points for improving and more points for beating someone of a high skill level. I don't reward preying on the weak. That is cowardice."

I glance toward Peter for a second as I say the last line.

"If you have a high rank, you lose points for losing to a low-ranked opponent."

Molly lets out a noise to express her displeasure.

"Stage two of training is weighted more heavily than stage one, because it is more closely tied to overcoming cowardice." I explain. "That said, it is extremely difficult to rank high at the end of initiation if you rank low in stage one."

Tris' is smaller than everyone and is shifting around behind the others to try to see. Is she trying to look at me? Her shifting movements draw my attention, but she averts her eyes when we make eye contact.

"We will announce the cuts tomorrow," I continue, shifting my eyes away from Tris. "The fact that you are transfers and the Dauntless-born initiates are not will not be taken into consideration. Four of you could be factionless and none of them. Or four of them could be factionless and none of you. Or any combination thereof. That said, here are your ranks."

I hang the board on the hook and step back so the initiates can get at good look at their rankings.

"What?" Molly pipes up, pointing a stubby finger at Christina. "I beat her! I beat her in minutes, and she's ranked above me?"

"Yeah," Christina gloats. "And?"

I cut in before Molly has a chance to retort. "If you intend to secure yourself a high rank, I suggest you don't make a habit of losing to low-ranked opponents."

I don't mean to imply anything bad about Tris, but Molly needs to understand that she can't lose to lower ranked opponents and still expect to have a high rank.

I place the piece of chalk in my pocket and move to leave the dorm. I can feel Tris' eyes following me out, but I don't turn to look at her. I continue out of the room and head toward my apartment.

As I walk through the Pit I see Zeke, Shauna, and Lauren. I catch up with them and we decide to go back to Zeke's apartment for a couple beers before bed. Once I'm somewhat numb and safely in my bed, I drift off for what I hope is a good night's sleep.

XXX

Suddenly I am woken by a pounding on my door. Lauren is there, shaken.

"Edward was stabbed in the eye after lights out," she tells me.

"Do they know who did it?"

"Even I know who did it and they aren't even my initiates!" she says.

Of course, Peter. Number 2.

"Edward and Myra have dropped out; they have chosen to become factionless."

I don't get back to sleep after that. I walk around the compound for a while and see Christina and Tris moving back and forth between the bathroom and the dorm. Tris has blood on her hands. It seems she has taken upon herself to clean up Edward's blood from the floor and Christina is helping her gather paper towels. She is always Abnegation when she needs to be her strongest.

I eventually make my way to my sanctuary and begin to work out on the punching bag.