Chapter 3: Training Day
We don't get back until at least two in the morning and after that I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow. I wake up earlier than normal going to set up for training. I'm excited about doing gun training today. I run into the dining room trying to get something to eat. I grab a blueberry muffin and pout when I realize there's no more dauntless cake. I look over at Uriah and realize that it's because he has half a dauntless cake on his plate. I look at Marlene who caught me eyeing Uriah plate she nods. I take it as approval. I punch Uriah in the stomach and grab two slices of cake. The table burst into laughter. "Thanks Uri, you know you should get ready for training soon." I smirk as I take my leave.
When I get there I'm surprised to see someone else there, Four. He is in the training room, practising on a punching bag. My instructor mode clicks in and I notice his bad form and lack of strength. I smile strength can be earned and form can be taught but not dedication. I can work with this I think. "What are you doing here initiate?" I snap, scaring him I guess he didn't know I was here. His face pales.
"I'm sorry I woke up early and already ate," he mutters looking at the floor intently. I sigh.
"Ok you can help me set up," I say not really giving him a choice. "Put the bag away and come help me grab targets." He unclipped the bag and I stare in awe. Those bags are at least eighty pounds and I can see the few muscles he has rippling under a tight V-neck t-shirt. Stop it Tris, I scold myself internally. I grab the guns and set them out on a table. I move to help Four set up the targets. We work in a comfortable silence my Abnegation side showing. When we finish we have fifteen minutes before the rest of the initiates have to be here. "If I were you I'd work on strength training, building up some muscle and warming up for today, you won't get another chance." I try and sound as dismissive as possible as I move to the mats in the corner. I start doing push ups and after about ten I notice he's copying me. I stop to examine his form. "Keep your back straight," I tell him and within seconds he fixes his problem. Four will do great in training. I grab the chalkboard and write the sanding so far on the board. This year we decide to post the standings every night so they can see their improvement and understand that the little things can have big impacts. As they shuffle to the training room I note there attendance. At eight o'clock most of them are here. Four, Eric, Ruth, Quin, Connor, and Sunshine are all here. I look around for the rest of them.
"There still sleeping, I couldn't wake them up." Sunshine answered my unasked question. I nod.
"Push ups now, do them till I get back." They look at me confused. "Four show them." Without another word I leave. I race over to the transfers dorms. "Get to the training room in thirty seconds or you're factionless!" They race to get dressed and run to the room. When I walk in I see a group of half the initiates doing push ups on the mats where other half is lounging around talking. "Initiates are you dauntless or factionless? Can you not follow simple instructions," At this point everyone has stopped working. "Eric, Quin, Ruth, what is your problem?" They stare at me in shock. "Line up," I growl. I walk over and adjust the standings. "Your rankings are based on 1. The order you jumped, 2. Punctuality, 3. Your ability to follow instructions. That being said the rankings are as followed."
1. Four
2. Sunshine
3. Eric
4. Connor
5. Ruth
6. Quin
7. Elijah
8. Greyson
"You will be trained separately from the dauntless born but ranked together," I pause "Only the top ten make it into Dauntless. Grab a gun." The run without being told twice, some of them strangely look comfortable with a deadly weapon in their hands. Others like Sunshine and Four look like they'd like to drop it and run. I look at Fours face and I know him thinking about the girl from his fear landscape hopefully this helps move on. I wish I could take the gun out of Eric's hands, him holding it makes me feel nervous.
"What does shooting a gun have to do with bravery?" Ruth asks. I smirk and hold a gun to Fours head since he's the closest he stands straighter. I click the bullet into place and I feel a barrel pointing into my side as well. I smile and turn away. I do the same thing to Ruth seeing if she caught on. She pales and drops her hands thankfully still holding the gun. "You're holding a loaded weapon," I say to her, then turn addressing the crowd."If you were paying attention you'd notice Four was prepared and could move with a gun pointed at his head while others were too scared to move. If you know what to do you can act under pressure. Pay attention I'm only going to show you this once."
I show them the proper stance and remind them of the recoil and let them shoot. Half an hour later almost all of them have hit the target. Eric being the first one to hit the center with Ruth coming quickly behind him we do this for another few hours having them shoot and hit the target over and over. Most keep all their bullets in a cluster near the center. When it's finally twelve I dismiss them for lunch and set up the targets for knife throwing. All of them leave except Elijah.
"Six can I help you? Someone in your condition shouldn't be doing that work," He says taking the target from me.
"What condition?" I ask confused.
"You obviously fell from heaven with looks like that you must be an angel." He says proudly. I look at him disgust and walk away into the dining hall.
"Hey Six what's up?" Lynn asked. I huff angrily and ignore everyone. I start attacking my plate with my fork and knife. Before I can look up there two slices of cake on my plate I look around confused.
"It looks like you needed it and I didn't want to be punched again." Uriah explains. I smile at him visually calming down. "See cake does solve the world's problems" he mutters and I cluckle. I turn to Lauren.
"What's the penalty for killing an initiate?" I asked curiously. Christina looks at me concern washing over her face.
"What happened?" She asks.
"I have two initiates that can't get out of bed, three that can't follow simple instructions and of those five: one thinks they would be better off with a male trainer because I am unable due to my gender and the one keeps flirting with me." I explain one exaggerated huff. They look at me and laugh. "So much for transfers being easier to break." I mutter. "The only bright side is when someone asked what guns has to do with bravery I held a gun to his head and he pressed his into my side" I say proudly thinking of my one bright spot.
"If it makes you feel better our group is terrified of you, the guys all want you and the girls all want to be you." Lauren says kindly. I raise my eyebrow at her skeptically. "They all know you. They saw you beat up Peter and Max, they know you've never lost a figh, and they know you're a tough-ass dauntless leader." She explains.
"I even threaten them saying that if they don't shut up and act right i'll get Six." Uriah says. We all laugh at his unsuccessful attempt to be scary.
"Shopping after initiation today?" Christina asks changing the subject and Will ends up saving me.
"No you're going to Erudite to met my sister, remember?" he says in a very condescending tone. She nods sighing, she's been dreading this for months.
My phone alarm goes off signalling lunch is over. The three of us get up and walk to our training rooms.
Without talking a grab three knives off the table and stand in front of the target. I show them how to throw it first without the knife than with. Hitting the target in the center each time. I step back to watch them. Connor is smart and practises the motion without the knife and I can see his form getting better each time. Greyson is the first one to hit the target but it hits handle first and doesn't stick. Quin is the first to gets hers to stick, then Four, Eric, Greyson, Connor, Ruth, and Elijah. When the day ends everyone but Sunshine has hit the target. "Once you hit the target once more you can leave," I say
Four's first knife hits the center he reaches for his next one. "Four Good you're done, Eric you too." Poor Eric always in Fours shadow, he just never seems to be fast enough. It doesn't take long for everyone to hit the center except Sunshine. They all leave and I work with Sunshine some more and I realize I really like working with her. Breath in. Aim. Breath out. Throw. We repeat this for half an hour. Then I remember I late for the party.