The Chasm
I want to do extended sketches of scenes that I find interesting throughout the Divergent series. I will cite the location in the book whenever I can. Please review after reading. I find your feedback to be very motivating and helpful.
This sketch takes place in book one of the Divergent Series, near the end of chapter 19, when Tris sees Four drinking with his buddies near the Chasm. This event occurs before Four figures out that Tris is Divergent.
"You look good, Tris"
Tris couldn't help but smile. Four winked and walked away. She walked back to her friends. She felt his eyes on her but when she glanced back at him, Four was back by the Chasm joking around with the other Dauntless members. He was turned away from her.
Her friends had questions but she just shrugged them off and the subject was easily dropped. This was free time and they were out to have a good time, not dissect the odd behavior of their instructor. After visiting the tattoo parlor again and grabbing some more to eat, it was finally time to head to bed. She was tired.
Tossing and turning in sleep, Tris watched as Four slipped at the Chasm, bottle in hand.
"FOUR!"
Tris woke with a start. She hadn't been able to reach him. There was no way she was going to be able to fall back asleep. Tris grabbed a jacket and didn't bother to zip it up as she slipped from the room. She knew where her feet would take her and it wasn't long before she was standing at the Chasm.
Four was sitting on a ledge that she'd never realized was even there. It was set into the face of the rock wall. There were two empty bottles of beer next to him. He was holding the third to his lips as he watched her approach.
"Remember what I said about making bad choices, Tris?"
"Yes"
"You're making one right now."
Tris rubbed her suddenly sweaty palms against the bottom of her night shirt. His eyes dropped from her face to run over the rest of her body. She was suddenly very aware of her bare legs. "I just came to get some air. I had a bad dream."
"Is that what you were doing?" His eyes met hers. His face remained impassive. Tris felt her face flush. What he must think of her standing there in her night dress. He rose and Tris felt a lump rise in her throat. One misplaced step and he'd fall. He watched her the whole time, walking along, relying on muscle memory alone.
She was suddenly inexplicably angry. The minute his feet touched the main floor of the pit she pushed him against the wall. Her mother would not approve of this, striking out at another.
"You have a death wish or something? Even an initiate like me knows to not to drink alcohol near the chasm."
"What makes you think that you can speak to me like this, Stiff? I'm your instructor, your trainer, you're an initiate. We're not friends. Back up."
"Really? I make bad choices?" Tris says sarcastically.
"One slip, and that would be it. You wouldn't be my instructor or my trainer then." She wanted to back up. Her legs were shaking. She couldn't believe what she was doing. She'd backed Four into a wall, with both arms outstretched pushing him against it. She'd been so fearful of him falling. But she reminded herself that she was Dauntless now and turned her fear into anger. It wasn't like she could just make small talk with him and ask what was wrong, why was he drinking by himself. Four would never answer.
Four offered Tris the bottle he was still working on. When Tris grabbed for it he used one hand and grabbed the wrist of the hand still pinning him to the wall and twisted her around until he was applying pressure on her arm now twisted in his hands behind her back. His other arm was hooked around her shoulders locking her in place with her back against him. The alcohol in his breadth saturating the air around her, she was reminded once again of the factionless man. But the pain in her wrist recalled her to reality.
With his lips on her ear he whispered, "Stiff, You're lucky I'm not in the mood to teach you a lesson tonight." He stepped closer closing whatever small gap was between them. Tris felt all the breadth in her lungs leave her body. Her twisted hand was now lodged against her back and against his chest. Why was her heartbeat racing? Was she scared of Four?
"Better go to bed, Tris, unless you want to continue this match elsewhere. You may find the outcome unexpected." She felt the clamp on her wrist loosen and the feathery brush of fingertips up the side of her arm. She couldn't breathe. When she could again, he was gone.