Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it. Review and tell me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.
Chapter 4: Eric is just like him
"Do you always sleep in?" I hear a faint laughter next to my ear. I sit up and back as far as I can into the corner as fast as I can. "Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you." My eyes focus and I see Christina sitting against the railing of my bed.
"Don't do that. I frighten easily." I whisper to her as I place my hand to my chest. My heart is racing. "And no, I don't normally sleep in. Just easier to sleep here than my old home." I tell her as I relax my body against the wall. She is already dressed and ready to go. I look at the rest of the room and the only one up is Tris. "And I wasn't sleeping in."
"If you want to get ready in peace." She crawls over to my ladder and goes down. "You get to change in peace now." I nod slowly as I hang my head over the edge of the bed and open the drawer. I pull out a similar outfit from yesterday. The pants are looser and the shirt is tighter. When I fought with my father, I would have a hard time with the big clothes. So the tighter the shirt, the harder to use it against me. But I do need loose pants for range of motion. The room is fairly dark still so I change. The burn is a lot better now. I'm able to change faster. I pull my hair into a bun and get down the ladder. "That was fast." She smirks.
"My back is a lot better." I tell her as I pull the shoes on.
"There was something wrong with your back?" Tris asks from behind me. I didn't know she was there.
"I got hurt the morning of the Ceremony and I had to get it checked yesterday." I tell her. "But I feel better now."
"Is that why you were wearing that big sweater and no shirt?" She asks as she stands up. Her eyes look different.
"Yeah, what's around your eyes?" I suddenly feel Christina's hand pushing me to Tris's bunk.
"Eyeliner. Now stay still and let me do it." She tells me. I am too stunned to do anything. Christina pulls out a stick and brings it to my eye and starts drawing on my face.
"It's not that bad. It makes me noticeable." Tris says with a small smile. So I sit there until she is done.
"I need to look at myself in the mirror. Is there any way to take this crap off if I don't like it?" I ask her as I hear Al stir.
"Not really. But you will love it." She tells me. "Now let's take that gauze off and look at it." She doesn't even let me answer; she just rips it off and looks at it. "Pretty."
"Ouch, thanks a lot, Chris." I groan as I rub my arm.
"Ripping off a band aid has to be fast or it hurts a lot worse. Now let's eat." Christina says as she pulls me up. Tris laughs a little bit.
"It looks pretty." She says.
"Thanks." I don't know if I'm looking forward to eating muffins. They are really rich, but I guess that's what's for breakfast.
0000
"Gather around." Four announces and the room falls quiet. He is next to the chalk broad. On the board are our names paired up someone else in the room. "Each one of you will fight today. Three matches before lunch and two after." I look on the board and find my name right next to Tris's. So I have to fight with her. That's fine. I can call the match off if one of us can't handle it. Or if I might hurt her. That is the last thing I want to do to her. She is so little.
"This isn't good." Christina whispers to Tris and I. "I'm going against the tank."
"The Tank?" we both look to her name. Molly's name is right next to it. That girl does seem huge. "Molly."
"Yeah, Peter's slightly more feminine-looking minion." Christina must really hate them. "Those three have been inseparable since they crawled out of the womb, practically. I hate them." I was right. I turn away from the ranting girl to see what's going on with the rest of the room. Al and Will are in the arena now and getting ready to start their fight. Al is a lot taller than him and will have an advantage. Not really sure that Will would be able to win this fight. Christina goes on talking with Tris, but I choose to ignore it so I can see how a true fight happens. Not one that starts off with a man going after his kid. The fight begins and Al hits Will in the jaw. I know how that feels. It is painful. Al takes his other fist and hit him again. His swing is slow because of his size, but it's strong. There is already blood from a cut lip. Will blocks the next one; I think he saw how slow he is too.
"I think they know we are talking about them." I hear Tris's voice next to me trying to whisper. If she didn't try to change her voice, I wouldn't have caught that comment.
"Talking about Who?" I ask as Will tries to block the punch, but Al ends up breaking the block and hitting him in the face. I wince.
"The three." Christina says "And they already know I hate them." Al throws another punch and it seems to be a pattern. Al lands a punch and Will is able to block the next one. Will tries throwing some, but it doesn't seem to faze him at all. There is blood on both of them, but Al doesn't seem to care about his. I notice his movements get slower and slower until they both stand still in the arena. I think their done.
"Do you think this is a leisure activity? Should we break for naptime? Fight each other!" I jump and stiffen at Eric's sudden shout. I didn't really know he was in here.
"But… Is it scored or something? When does the fight end?" Al seems scared of him too. I don't blame him. He is like the devil himself.
"It ends when one of you is unable to continue." Eric snaps.
"According to Dauntless rules, one of you could also concede." Four states annoyed with his leader. I don't blame him either. Eric is a jerk, like my father. He looks at Four and gives him a freighting glare.
"According to the old rules. In the new rules, no one concedes." Eric hisses out.
"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others." Four protests.
"A Brave man never surrenders." The leader corrects. They are both right, but I kind of sides with Eric with this one. I told my father that the first time I stood up to him. Sadly, I think Eric is right, to a small point. I will understand that I probably have no chance against someone, but I am willing to try to change the odds.
"This is ridiculous. What's the point of beating him up?" Al's protest breaks the heated stare. "We're in the same faction!" Will smirks at this.
"Oh, you think it's going to be that easy?" He asks. "Go on, try and hit me, slowpoke." I understand the erudite. He doesn't want something break out between the other two, so he is provoking Al now. Will pushes it farther and gets ready to fight again. Al goes and tries to hit Will, but can't. He is moving too fast for the big guy, which makes Al get upset a little bit. He doesn't seem like the fighting type, but he will have to do this to get through initiation. If Al gets in one good hit… Will will go down. Right now he is doing well at dodging. He will get tried soon. When that happens, Al will win. I watch as Will's arm is inches from his jaw as Al tries again. This time, since Will is off a little bit, Al is able to make contact and knock him to the ground. Will's body hits the ground with a sickening thud. I look back at Al and his eyes widen. He crouches next to him and hits him in the face until he wakes up. Part of him isn't there, but he will be fine. A little concussion, but that's it.
"Get him up." Eric says with a small smirk. He is a cruel man, no child. He is only eighteen. Al doesn't question him. He merely grabs Will and helps him up and out of the arena, towards the door and us. I can't see much activity in Will's green eyes. Bad concussion. No wonder Al was concerned. He grip on Will is getting lose, so I move before his can fully drop him and hold my arm out so I can grab around his chest and to his other shoulder. I look at Al.
"You ok?" I whisper to him as Four walks over here silently.
"Next up- Molly and Christina." Eric shouts, probably to try and freak me out again. But I'm focused on something right now.
"Will be." Al tells me in a quiet voice. His voice sounds the same as the first night. Four comes over to us and looks at me and him with silence. Al steps to the side and Four stares at me. I really unsure if I want to give Will up. He just got beaten up. I'm sure Four is going to get him to the Hospital, but still. That will mean he will leave us with the sadistic Eric. He wraps his arm around Will's waist and I feel his weight being lifted from me. I plead with him to not leave, but he ignores it and leaves. Al and I watch him leave before turning and watching the fight before us. Just in time to see Molly tackle her to the ground. It is never good to be pinned to the ground. That is when I start losing most of the time. The bigger girl just wails on my friend. Hitting here over and over again. My body feels stiff after watching Will get semi knocked out and Al not being able to hold him up because he is too tired and hurt to hold him. I'm in my down state now. The meek version of me. The quiet and Abnegation side of me. I don't want this to happen, but I can't do anything to stop it. So I will take her body to the hospital, like yesterday when she took me there. I can half carry her with some help from Al, maybe even Tris. I can't handle watching Christina getting hurt. I shut my eyes and try not to shake. This has be what it looked like to be beaten by my father. Just Molly is another sixteen year old girl.
"Stop!" I open my eyes at her cry. "I'm… done, please stop." Her throat is stained. I can't breathe. Her face is soaked in blood and she has moved and is now holding onto her side. I see Eric step into the arena with a cruel look on his face.
"I'm sorry, what did you say? You're done?" He says in a sickening mocking voice. Christina struggles to stand and I can't find make myself to move. I'm not sure if I will make it worse. "Get up." his voice got a lot quieter. Is Eric related to my father? He seems to act like him. She still can't get up. Finally, I find enough will to step forward, but by now Eric has his hand on her arm and is yanking her up hard. I can't help but let out a quiet strained sound from my throat. He shouldn't be doing that if her ribs are fractured. "Follow me." Again, his voice is low as he drags her out the door. No one moves at first. My breathing has become shallow as I look at AL and Tris. He has pulled her to him and is trying to calm her down. I don't blame him. This is a lot. The first to go out is the three Candor kids; Peter, Drew and a smirking and bloody Molly. That isn't her blood. I feel Al's other hand on my shoulder as he gently pushes me to the door. We are the last ones out. What is he going to do to her? He can't kill her, can he? I don't know. It's Eric. You never know what he is going to do.
Eric leads us down the halls as my body shakes. The only reason I am walking is because of Al is pushing me. He knows I will get in trouble for not following orders. So I'm glad he is helping me. He takes us into the pit and I understand. Eric is leading us to the Chasm. My body freezes despite Al pushing me. Eric is going to kill her. I feel water form in my eyes. He enjoys people in pain. That cruel man. I watch as the group heads into the small area and Eric throws her to the railing. My body moves again, he isn't going to throw her over. That's good.
"Climb over." I hear him tell her with no emotion. My face pales.
"What?" She asks in a freighted voice.
"Climb over the railing. If you can hang over the chasm for five minutes, I will forget your cowardice. If you can't, I will not allow you to finish initiation." This is worse. He is torturing her. Her body shouldn't endure this. I can't move from the place I found in the middle of the group.
"Fine." Her voice seems like she was trying to seem brave, but it doesn't convince me. I watch as she throws her leg over the railing and gets ready to pull the other leg. Where is Four? Can't he do anything? I don't want one of my first friends to die. She is annoying, sure. But aren't most friends. I really won't know, but that's not the point. She shouldn't die this way. Christina shouldn't die now. Next thing I know Christina is ready and started to hang of the railing. The cold wet railing. Why did Will have to be so small? Al should have broken a bone or something so Four can be here. But then again it would have been worse. I just don't want my friend hanging off the railing. I feel a nudge on my shoulder and I barely look. It's Al and I see his watch. 1:30, it's been a minute now. 4 minutes and 30 seconds left. She can do this. I turn and see a wave crash over her and get the people in front of me wet. Her head hits the bars and I hear her cry out in pain. Christina's fingers are barely holding on now. I feel Al grip my shoulder as I control myself from pulling her up. Another crash of the river and she loses grip with one hand. I jerk forward, but thanks to Al I don't move much. Now she starts to sob. The strong girl from Candor is crying now. How cruel? I look at Eric and he doesn't seem concerned.
"Come on, grab it Christina." I hear Al's voice next to my ear. "Come on, grab it again." Eric doesn't seem upset by this. I look at her and see some panic. This needs to stop.
"Chris, grab the rail." My voice comes out firm. "Grab the railing." She looks at me as she tries to swing her arm up. No one else talks as I hold my breath. Her fingers graze the cold metal and finally grips it. Al starts to get loud and removes his hand from my shoulder to clap. I just look at her.
"Come on." I hear Tris now. "One minute left." A little louder now. Her eyes move to Al's and I still can't breathe. Before I can process, another wave hits and I don't see her. Where did she go? I hear her scream, but it stops. I scan the railing and find only her fingers on the bottom rail. She caught it at the last moment.
"Good job, Chris. Good job." I whisper out.
"Five minutes are up." I hear Al spit out almost in venom. Didn't expect that from him. I glance at Eric and I don't know what to do as he takes his time to check his watch. How can he do this to a sixteen year old girl?
"Fine. You can come up, Christina." Eric calls out lazily. Al and Tris shove past Peter and Drew as they walk to the rail. "No, she has to do it on her own." Eric corrects them. I can't handle it anymore. I walk through the gap made by those two and to the railing. I crouch down and grab both of her wrists. To give her more support. I don't want to lose her. Her hair is sticking to her neck from the mixture of blood and water. Christina slowly lifts her head and she looks at me with tired but glad eyes.
"No, she doesn't." I hear Al almost spit out. No one better mess with his friends. "She did what you told her. She isn't a coward. She did what you told her." He tells him firmly. Eric doesn't respond as Tris and him come over to the rail to help. Al reaches over the railing and I help Christina grab his wrist so she can get help up. Once she is secure, I release her wrist so I can reach over the rail and grab it again. Al is still a little weak from the fight. Will might not be as strong, but he is smart and figured out where to hit. I help pull her up and get her standing on the other side on solid wet ground. Tris supports her under her arms now as I pull her over the railing, back to us. Tris is not strong enough to hold her and I don't have a good grip anymore and Al… doesn't have a hold of her. Christina sinks to the ground, bringing Tris with her. So I join her in a crouch to assist her injuries. Why did I come here if there is a person like my father here? Someone who could care less about others. I shake my head and look at the apathetic man. He really doesn't care. I can't stand looking at him, so I turn back to Christina and focus on her. He just pissed me off.
0000
"I'm fine." Christina says and I roll my eyes.
"Good thing you're not in Candor anymore." I scoff. "You would get in so much trouble." She knows I don't believe her.
"She will be fine." Tris says. Right now we are walking back to the fighting room. I'm not looking forward to fighting Tris.
"I know she will be." I glance at Christina and smirk. "She is like a baby. She will always get right back up and try walking again." She looks at me confused.
"A baby? Really?" She asks with disgust and I laugh.
"They are the only cute things I could of think of to call you." I tell her, now she and Tris laugh.
"Thanks." She says as we get to the door. We are the last ones in the room now.
"Nice for you to finally join us." Eric deadpans. I could care less. "Because you two were late you have the privilege to go next." I didn't want to fight yet. I look at Tris and she doesn't seem worried. I have only fought to defend myself. I hit to hurt badly. I don't know how that will go over since she is such a little girl. She is nowhere close to my father. I glance at Christina worriedly before walking into the arena with Tris. "Two Stiffs fighting each other. This should be fun." He mocks us as we get into our places. I glance at Four and hope he is understanding my silent plea. This is the first time we saw him since he left, but he knows what happened. He could not know. Four just shakes his head slowly so Eric doesn't catch on. I blink, sigh, and look at Tris. She doesn't seem to be worried.
"Good luck." She whispers to me. Good luck for what? Not killing you?
"You too." I nod to her and I hold my fists up and we start. Tris comes at me and does her best to get a hit in. I need to disable her quick and with the least amount of pain possible. I could pull her arm back and tell Eric that I'm done. Snapping her arm and making it so she can't fight anymore wouldn't be ideal. But he would just say do it and don't be a coward. Tris might be factionless after that move. So what am I to do? I throw her fist to the side as it comes to my head. Over and over again, I grab her fist and throw it to the side as I move away from her. The punching isn't getting her anywhere, so she tries kicking. I get kicked once and then the rest of the time I move out of the way or catch it and throw it to the side.
"What is this?" Eric groans. "Fight her. Don't just deflect her." He yells. I grab her foot and pull her to me.
"I am fighting with her." I snap back as Tris stumbles over to me. She would be better with a gun than hand to hand combat. "What do you want me to do? Let her knock me out?" I'm not in the mood for his crap.
"Fight her and make it so she can't fight back." He tells me in a snarl. I whip her foot to the side and let go. She stumbles and lands on her knees.
"I can only think of one way and I'm not going to risk killing her." I snap at him. Tris looks at me confused. As the rest of the room, except Christina. She is unsure. "She can't handle most of the moves I can think of."
"So you think." Eric says. "Don't be cowardly. I don't think you want to be over the rails like your friend." I narrow my eyes as I feel a punch to my face. Her fist is little, but enough to turn my head to the side. Out of reflex, I grab her wrist and pull it around her.
"She can't fight anymore. Can I be done?" I ask him boredly. "She can't move from this position." I add. Tris even tries. I simply push her to the ground and hold her wrist closer to her back, twisting her arm in the process. A little cry comes from her lips. "She can't move. You said until they can't fight. Tris can't fight." Eric and I lock eyes. I don't want to hurt her.
"How do you know she can't handle another Stiffs fighting?" He asks me.
"I'm here and not Abnegation anymore. There must be a reason." I tell him sharply as I push on her back more.
"It does technically follow under the rules." Four states and Eric glares. "We can change it today, but right now it fits." He says.
"She needs to learn how to inflicted pain. Not every opponent will be as weak as the girl." Eric tells him.
"Pain? You want pain?" I ask him. He looks back at me. "I can give her some pain." I have no emotion in my voice. I take one of her fingers, her middle finger and bend it the wrong way. Tris bites back some tears. I bend until I can until it fractured. "There is some pain." I stand up and get off of her. Tris gets up and holds her finger.
"Fine, whatever. But none of this crap later. You will fight next time." He tells me in a low voice.
"Fine." I really couldn't care less. I just can't hurt someone that I'm not even sure can handle it. It's sick to hurt people you know is weaker than you and hasn't done anything to deserve it. Tris, no, she did nothing. I will not have her blood on my hands unless I'm helping her or she can handle it. Right now, she cannot. My body can take a beating. Not her. I really don't want Christina to be able to, but she is better to endure it than Tris. I turn and step out of the circle with Tris. Eric is pissed and just moves on. I feel Tris's eyes on me. She doesn't talk until the fight in going.
"I'm not sure to be glad or upset." She states quietly.
"Glad. You have no idea what this girl can do." Christina tells her. I look at her trying to figure out what she meant by it. "She is taller than anyone here. You saw Al hit Will pretty much once. Just think what she could do, if she is strong enough. I think it was smart of her to not test it out on someone who has never fought ether. They paired you up wrong. It should have been with even people." Christina tells her for me. That's not really my reasons. But ok. "She was wanting to make sure she didn't kill you if she could. Seeing Will kind of freaked her out."
"Ok." Tris seems to understand. Eric doesn't seem too happy with my choice, but I don't care. He glances at me every so often throughout the fight. Each look with disgust. I think tomorrow is going to be hell for me. At least I know Tris won't be hurt today. Tomorrow, I think Eric has something planned for us three. We will have to see.
000
I walk down the stairs of the dark house. It's about 1 in the morning. My emotions are going out of control right now. Tears running down my face as I feel my head and legs hurt. Up the stairs I hear someone yell my name.
"Aundrea, get back here you ungrateful brat." I run down the stairs, my goal is the front door. My heart is racing badly and my foot hurt as it slips on one of the steps and tumble down the stairs. My head and the rest of my body hits each step and finally land on the hard wood floor at the bottom of the stairs. My face sees the stairs and the tall figure walking down with the belt in hand. I try to scrabble to my feet, but he is able to get to me. He grabs the back of my shirt and yanks me up. "You're a stupid brat." He bites out as he drags me up the stairs. I start to tremble now as I feel him lifts me up. He is going to hang me over the railing. My body is so tired. "Why do you keep trying to run? You are too weak to fight or run. What's the point?" He taunts me. He knows I can't fight back now. "You're just as weak as your brother. I am stronger and you know it." More tears fall down my cheeks as he moves me over the railing.
"Stop it, please." I plead with him quietly. "Please stop. I have school tomorrow." I don't like being hung from the stairs, it's frightening.
"You will just wear one of his sweaters you keep in his closet. So what does it really matter." I feel more hot tears run down me. He is silent now; even to the point I can hear the sound of my tear drop hit the floor. Or at least my mind makes it seem like it. I hang there not facing him, starting to be choked from the shirt up to my throat.
"People are starting to ask." I sob out. "Please just stop it. Set me back on the stairs, please." My voice is strained as I try to plead with him. It becomes harder and harder to breath as I hang here. Is this what a noose feels like around your neck? Must be faster, though. You would be using your own weight against you. At least my father is holding me in a way that I won't die right away. I wish he would just kill me. The throbbing in my head would just vanish and my legs won't hurt. "Just set me back on the stairs please." I sob out. I feel myself turning. He turns me so I am facing him. He doesn't seem to care.
"I don't believe you. People don't notice you, you're from Abnegation. They don't care." His voice is level.
"The Erudite kids are asking. They have been keeping an eye on me." I tell him as I look straight into his eyes. "Ever since he left they have been." His face changes for a moment. Then his arm moves and sets me on the stairs.
"Then I will do something they can't see." He says as he moves his grip to my top bun and pull me up the stairs. My eyes widen with fear when he drags me to my room.
"No, No, NO." I scream out.
000
"Andy." I shot up and crawl to the corner.
"Don't touch me." I sob out quietly. "Please."
"Andy, it's me. Christina." I hear the girl's voice whisper to me. Slowly I open my eyes. "Come here." She opens her arms and I hesitate going into her arms. But when I do, she wraps her arms around me and rubs my back. "You're quiet in your sleep, but you toss and turn a lot when you have a nightmare." She whispers into my ear.
"Today was too much for me." I tell her as I shake. "Kids beating up on other kids. You, being hung from the Chasm. Me having to fight Tris. I can't fight her. She is small. It reminded me of my father and me when we fought. It's always unfair. This was unfair." I sob out. "Can't I just stop this and go home. I can handle getting knocked around. Some of these kids can't." My face is in her shoulder so my voice is muffled. Only she can hear me. "I feel bad for hurting Tris's finger."
"It's only a finger. She will be able to fight." Christina tells me. "And you will be safe here. Trust me. Eric is more hot air than anything. He actually might be afraid of Al. He didn't even respond when Al told him off." I smile and look up and look at her.
"Your right." I laugh quietly as I wipe my face. Then the funniness leaves. I shake my head and sigh. "I'm so weak and stupid." I mumble to myself. "I'm crying."
"If crying is a sign of weakness, than I am very weak." She tells me firmly.
"You're not weak." I tell her.
"My point. If I'm not weak for crying, you're not weak for crying." Christina is a good friend.