Life during a war
Chapter 8: Execution
Not ten seconds after we chose our leaders, something rings-one long pulse, two short ones. I look around the room and find two speakers, one on each side of the room.
"Attention all occupants of Candor headquarters. A few hours ago I met with a representative of Jeanine Matthews. He reminded me that we Candor are in a weak position, dependent on Erudite for our survival, and told me that if I intend to keep my faction free, I will have to meet a few demands." Jack Kang says over the speakers.
I'm stunned. I shouldn't be surprised that the leader of Candor is this forthright, but I wasn't expecting a public announcement.
"In order to comply with these demands, I ask that everyone make their way to the Gathering Place to report whether you have an implant or not. The Erudite have also ordered all Divergent to be turned over to Erudite. I do not know for what purpose."
He sounds defeated. He is defeated. That is because he was too weak to fight back.
The announcement ends with the same three rings it started with. The Dauntless rush through the room, throwing their things into bags. A few young Dauntless men cut the sheet away from the door, screaming something about Eric.
Tobias starts packing our belongings and I just sit there, on the bed, watching as everyone else rushes around.
…
The Dauntless stand in a semicircle around the interrogation chair that Eric now sits on. He looks more dead than alive.
"Would you like me to tell you your crimes?" Tori asks. "Or would you like to list them yourself?"
It is raining outside; I can hear it and see it as it streams down the walls of the Merciless Mart.
Eric scans the crowd for a few seconds, and then his eyes settle on me.
"I'd like her to list them. Since she is doing the guy that stabbed me and she obviously hates me. She ought to be familiar with them." Eric says.
"Leave her out of this." Tobias says.
"Why? Because you're doing her? Oh wait, I forgot. Stiffs don't do that sort of thing. They just tie each other's shoes and cut each other's hair." Eric smirks.
"How come he got her pregnant then?" A young Dauntless man in the crowd shouts.
"Oh, you're pregnant. Not very Stiff-like, though. Having a baby out of wedlock. Congratulations on that bastard child of yours." Eric says, smiling.
"What did you just say?" Tobias asks, angry.
"Congratulations on that bastard child of yours. Are you deaf or something, Stiff?" Eric says. I feel tears pool in my eyes.
I notice that all of my friends are angry. Zeke walks up to Eric and punches him, making his nose crack and bleed.
"Don't you dare say that again you asshole." Zeke says.
"I want her to list them." Eric says.
I hold down my tears and begin.
"You conspired with Erudite. You are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Abnegation. You betrayed Dauntless. You shot a child in the head. You are a ridiculous plaything of Jeanine Matthews. And you just called my unborn child a bastard." I say, angrily. A tear falls down my cheek.
"Well, it is." Eric says.
Zeke punches him again.
Eric's smile fades.
"Do I deserve to die?" Eric asks.
Tobias is about to respond but I do before he has the chance.
"Yes." I say.
"Fair enough. But do you really have the right to decide that, Beatrice Prior? You shot and killed Dauntless when they were under the attack simulation. So did your mother. It's a good thing she died. Wait, your dad died too, he also shot and killed Dauntless." Eric says.
I don't respond. Instead more tears fall down my cheeks. I feel something in my throat, like a ball of wax, so thick I can barely swallow or breathe.
"You have committed every crime that warrants execution among the Dauntless. We have the right to execute you, under the laws of Dauntless." Tobias says.
Tobias crouches by the three guns on the floor near Eric's feet. One by one, he empties the chambers of bullets. They almost jungle as they hit the floor, and then roll, coming to rest against the toes of Tobias' shoes. He picks up the middle gun and puts a bullet into the first slot.
Then he moves the three guns on the floor, around and around, until my eyes can't follow the middle gun anymore. I lose track of which one holds the bullet. He picks up the guns and offers one to Tori, and another one to Harrison.
"Wait, I have a request." Eric says as our new leaders point their guns at him.
"We don't take requests from criminals." Tori says.
"I am a leader of Dauntless. And all I want is for Four to be the one who fires that bullet." Eric says.
"Why?" Tobias asks.
"So you can live with the guilt of knowing that you usurped me and then shot me in the head." Eric says.
"There won't be any guilt." Tobias says.
"Then you'll have no problem doing it." Eric smiles again.
Tobias picks up one of the bullets.
"Tell me, because I've always wondered. Is it your daddy who shows up in every fear landscape you've ever gone through?" Eric asks.
Tobias puts the bullet into an empty chamber without looking up.
"You didn't like that question? What, afraid the Dauntless are going to change their minds about you? Realize that even though you've only got four fears, you're still a coward?" Eric asks.
He straightens in the chair and puts his hands on the armrests.
Tobias holds his gun out from his left shoulder.
"Eric, be brave." Tobias says.
He squeezes the trigger.
I shut my eyes.
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