Chapter Ten of Divergent, *finally* up. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Divergent trilogy, or any of the characters
Standing by the back door of the training room, I scan the fight pairs for today. I groan inwardly when I see Tris paired with Peter.
"Eric, are you sure these pairings are fair?" His superior sigh irks me.
"When is life ever fair? Why should they get it fair?" He turns and faces me. Behind his cold, lifeless eyes, for just a split second, I see a pain arise, as though something terrible once happened to him. It is a pain, though he does a very good job covering it, seems to burst through his eyes like an overstuffed bag bursting at its seams. For a moment, I am almost able to pity him. Then the split second ends, and I zoom back out into real life. Eric is a lifeless jerk, and I shouldn't care. But I do. Or, at least, the Abnegation in me cares. But I chose Dauntless.
"These are the pairings, Four. If you don't like it, then feel free to leave." I nod quietly, my face souring as Tris and Al walk in.
"Still I don't want to do it again." Al shakes his head so fast it looks like it's going to fly off his thick torso.
"But you have to." Tris looks grim. She studies Al for a moment, and I begin to wonder if they are together. It's obvious that Al is perfectly smitten, but from my perspective, it looks like she's been simply brushing it off as friendship. The way she studies him causes a feeling to arise that I haven't felt in a very long time, and I have trouble placing it's name. I suddenly find the proper descriptive word. Jealousy. The word feels foreign on my tongue, and judging by Eric's stoic expression, it looks foreign on my face. Jealousy usually adorns Eric's metallic features.
"Oh no. Are they serious? They're really going to make you fight him?" Eric's smugness grows with the rate of his tapping foot at Christina's comment.
"Maybe you can just take a few hits and pretend to go unconscious. No one would blame you." There goes that feeling again. I force it down my throat like an uncomfortable Abnegation dinner. I wonder what I would be doing right now, had I chosen Abnegation. Would I have still met Tris? In another world, would we be married someday? Would I hide my scars from her? Or would she just be a stranger on the street, who earns none but a small nod and brief wave, just another expressionless grey face? I don't bother to think about it. The thought makes me feel stiff. I blink quickly, trying to hide any evidence of emotion.
"You okay there, Stiff?" I realise that Peter and Tris are up, and he's already begun to taunt her. "You look like you're about to cry. I might go easy on you if you cry." My face bitters, and I feel my eyes lock with Tris's. I look down at my feet, trying not to show my utter hatred for Peter. I purse my lips. Eric's feet are only tapping faster, and I want to throttle him. "Come on, Stiff. Just one little tear. Maybe some begging." Now I want to throttle Peter as well. Tris looks like she wants to gag, and I wouldn't blame her if she did. She bends her leg to kick him, but he grabs her foot, and knocks her over. She doesn't fall.
"Stop playing with her. I don't have all day." I had nearly forgotten Eric was there. I avert my eyes as Peter punches her, right across the face. I have a sudden urge to protect Tris, but then I remember that she doesn't need protecting. She's a strong woman who can take care of herself, and I admire that. I will her to stand as Peter kicks her, right in the gut. He grabs her hair as she stands and punches her in the nose. I can tell it's broken. She attempts to shove him, but he punches her in the ribs as blood drips from her face. Tris looks dizzy and it hurts. My stomach lurches, and I know I need to leave before someone notices. I walk to the door as calmly as I can, trying to hide how sick this makes me feel.
…
I stop by the hospital later that day to check on Tris, but I don't go in. Sitting by her bed are her real friends. Will and Christina, and most unfortunately, Al. I've never really liked him. They stay a few minutes, and I can hear their laughter through the thin plaster walls. I smile inwardly at their happiness. I almost wish I could be a part of the happiness. But I can't. I never can.