Hey again! I figured why not add in a second chapter today just to get the ball rolling! Obviously our stalker has a few marbles missing, and notice how he sees her differently than what actually occurs. He is an original character, so sorry to disappoint but it isn't Peter or Eric. Long chapter! Once I started writing I couldn't stop. Enjoy! Read, Review, and Follow! I write for you all!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Divergent series or the characters.
Unknown
I watched from the back of the room, anxiously awaiting her to make her way across the stage and make her choice. So beautiful. So perfect, my Beatrice. I press myself closer to the wall in an attempt to blend in further with the Abnegation in their grey. No one would dare look for someone like me here. Stiffs are just that. Stiff. They live their lives devoted to serving others, not themselves. The disguise is so perfect I can't help but laugh to myself. I observe her brother struggling to make his choice and my lip wrinkles in disgust. My Beatrice would never take so long. She is confident. She is sure of what she wants. She was made for Abnegation. I have to choke back the bile that rises in my throat when Caleb chooses Erudite. How pathetic. What a sorry excuse for a man. He didn't deserve to be around my Beatrice every day anyways. No one does. I've proved myself worthy time and time again. She is mine.
My heart beats erratically the second her name is called. Beatrice Prior. A name sent down from heaven, sweet like honey on the tongue. I lean forward so far that I'm almost tipping over in my haste to get as close to her as possible while remaining hidden. She strides up confidently to the stage, her chin held high, the epitome of perfection and purity. She flinches when her finger is pricked and it takes everything I have not to run to her and comfort her. My poor Beatrice, I can't imagine how badly that must have hurt her. I'll fix it though. I'll fix everything for her. She holds her hand over the bowl containing the Abnegation stones and I swear I can hear angels singing. Yes, my darling. Come home to me. Good girl. I shut my eyes and lean back, not needing to watch the rest. I wait for the announcement that will complete my life and solidify my purpose.
"Beatrice Prior, Dauntless."
What?! That little bitch. She just wants to go see all those men with their muscles and their attitudes and their selfishness. I bet she even has a boyfriend there. What was that boy that transferred… Oh yes. Marcus Eaton's son. I bet she was sneaking out selfishly to see him while he was still in Abnegation. That little slut. I bet he touched her without courting her. I am furious. I force myself to take a deep breath and calm down. I'm sure it wasn't her fault. I must protect her from him. I must. If she is going Dauntless, then so will I. I hear my name being announced and easily slip on the mask I wear for everyone. I stride confidently up to the bowls and don't even hesitate. I jab my finger and allow my blood to sizzle onto the coals. I smirk, satisfied. I look over to Dauntless and see her sitting there, ignoring the cheers and claps on the back I receive from my new faction house.
You will not escape me that easy, my love. We will be together soon.
Tris
I pull my tiny frame onto the trolley, my chest rising and falling in quick succession. I stumble and sit down next to a tall, beautiful girl from Candor and mumble a quick apology.
"No biggie. I'm Christina."
"Beatrice." I look up and smile at her then. We talk about everything and nothing at the same time until the commotion starts.
"They're jumping!" Someone screams from the front of the trolley.
Christina and I jump up and race to the door looking out. Sure enough I see the other initiates leaping onto a roof from the trolley as it slows to roll across the bridge. I back up and look at Christina, the adrenaline already beginning to course through my veins. "Together?"
She nods and we grab hands and launch ourselves onto the roof. For a brief moment my heart is in my throat as we are airborne. We land and roll unceremoniously into the gravel and stand, dusting ourselves off. I make my way over to the rest of the group that have gathered around the ledge. A dark man climbs up onto the ledge and introduces himself.
"My name is Max. I'm the head of the Dauntless faction house. Your initiation starts here. This is the way into the dorms and common areas. One by one you will climb up onto the ledge and you will jump. Any questions?"
No one answers and he nods, satisfied. "Who's first?"
Before I can stop myself I step forward. "I will."
All eyes turn to me and I look at the ground, blushing profusely.
"Ah, the Stiff. This is a first. Well lets go, we don't have all day initiate." Max chuckles as though he's made a joke.
No one else laughs. They are too busy holding their breath and watching as I clamber clumsily onto the ledge and stand. I gaze down into the dark hole and my stomach drops. While I'm not afraid of heights, I'm not exactly fond of the idea of jumping first and asking questions later not knowing what I'm jumping into. Don't think, Beatrice. Just jump. Taking a deep breath I close my eyes. Next thing I know, I am weightless.
I choke back something between a laugh and a squeal and all to soon I find myself slamming into a net. I laugh, relieved. Of course there's a net. The net shifts and I find myself tumbling down and into someone. My eyes snap up to find the source and any comment I was going to make is frozen in my throat. Staring back at me are the most beautiful, fathomless blue eyes I have ever seen. His arms wrap around me as he pulls me from the net and I can't help but notice how strong he is. Wow, he is so tan and muscled. I like the way those arms feel aro-NO! Beatrice what are you thinking. I blush and then realize he has asked me a question and I've completely missed it, too caught up in drinking in the sight of him.
"Pardon?" I stammer quietly.
"Your name, initiate. Make it good. You only get to pick once." His voice is deep, low and all man. It sends shivers down my spine and creates a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I don't even have a name for, but I know it isn't normal.
"It's Tris. My name is Tris." I find myself once again drawn into those eyes of his, unable to focus anywhere else.
"First jumper, Tris!"
I hear the claps and whoops from my new classmates and smile. He places a hand in the small of my back to guide me over to the waiting group. Before he returns to the net he leans down next to my ear. Everything in me comes alive and I tense, his breath caressing my neck and he whispers, "Welcome to Dauntless, Tris."
I step into the crowd and turn to study him and thank him, but he is already back at the net helping the next jumper. I focus intently on the way the muscles in his arms and back ripple beneath his tight black shirt as he helps each initiate from the net and by the time he is done my heart is pounding and my cheeks are burning. I slip into the back of the pack quietly. My eyes trace the black mats that cover the floor beneath my feet in a vain attempt to disappear. As if it has a mind of its own, my head snaps up when I hear his voice.
"My name is Four. This is Lauren. We will be your student leaders for your initiation. Let's get on with the tour, shall we? Dauntless legacies with Lauren, transfers with me."
I feel giddy with excitement at the prospect of seeing Four more. Of course I would never act on such irrational feelings. I'm sure they're just side effects of all the drastic changes and stressful environments of the past couple days anyways. As we take the tour I find I can't even focus on anything except the way he moves. It's graceful, but calculated and deadly like a panther. I wouldn't ever want to get on his bad side. We make our way through the buildings and common areas and finally stop in a large communal room. My nose wrinkles at the damp smell and I attempt to ignore it. Abnegation would dictate that I clean it immediately to provide a clean place for my fellow classmates. However this is not Abnegation. This is Dauntless. I nudge Christina and roll my eyes. "Ew, it smells terrible."
"Doesn't it? At least our student leader is hot. He can lead me anywhere." She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I have to fight to choke down a laugh. Ahead of us Four speaks again, his voice dripping in authority and leaving no room for argument.
"This is where you will stay for the next month. Afterwards you will be given your dorm assignments and roommates and will be considered members, though you will still be in training. Through the door at the end are the bathrooms and showers. You will all be thoroughly acquainted by the time this is all over. Get changed. It's time for dinner." He moves through the crowd and walks away, disappearing down the hall.
Christina breaks into a grin. "New clothes? I love this place!"
I groan inwardly and make my way over to the pile and begin to sift through to find something to wear.
Unknown
I chew the inside of my cheek roughly, my blood boiling. I saw how he glanced at her. Four. What a stupid name. I glance at Beatrice out of the corner of my eye and notice her talking to her new friend. She smiles and laughs at something and I relax instantly. She is close by. Here I can see her, talk to her, befriend her. I'll have to watch that student leader or whatever it is he calls himself. I saw him look at her, how he placed his hand on her back and whispered in her ear while I lay in the net. That simply won't do. I add that to my mental checklist of things to take care of and get ready to head to dinner after her. This is going to be much more interesting than I originally hoped.