Chapter 7

It has been five days since I have left the infirmary. The nausea stopped after day two, thank god; all that remains is a splitting headache and slight dizziness. Surprisingly, I also got a couple of nights of sleep. It is almost like Eric is – dare I even say it – considerate of my situation. Since that first night after leaving the infirmary he has not taken home any women.

Eric himself is heeling just fine. He abandoned his crutches after three days and if it weren't for the bandage he still wears under his trousers one would never guess that he is injured.

I adjust the pillow beneath my head and switch on my television. Though watching TV does not really help my head get better, I have no idea what else I should do to occupy myself. I have been trying to reach Christina for the last three hours in order to ask her to help me take another shower but she is awfully busy at the tattoo parlor and won't even answer the phone.

I am in the middle of contemplating whether to just ignore Will's instructions and shower on my own when a dull bumping noise resonates from the other side of the wall.

"Fuck," I hear Eric groan a moment later. "Do that again, baby."

I bury my head against my pillow and whine softly. I guess my luck had to run out at some point.

Seems like I am going to take that shower after all. At least the water will drown out any noise from next door.

I slowly get up, ignore the oncoming wave of dizziness, and make my way toward the bathroom.

I strip off my clothes before stepping inside the shower stall and turning on the water.

Standing beneath the hot spray I close my eyes. God, there is nothing more relaxing than a warm shower. And this time, I can fully enjoy it. Letting Christina help me was one of the weirdest experiences of my life. Even though she is my best friend and I have been in Dauntless for almost a year now, letting someone see my naked body still feels wrong to me.

I open my eyes in order to look for my shampoo but am overcome with an overwhelming feeling of dizziness again. I begin to sway and take a step forward to reach the wall – and next thing I know I slip and fall. I am able to bring my arms up to protect my head but land hard on my tailbone, my left shoulder banging against the wall.

Searing pain shoots from my shoulder joint down my arm and I yelp.

Sitting on the floor of the shower stall, water still pattering down on my head, I gasp for breath, my heart pounding hard and fast against my ribs.

When my heart rate returns to normal and my head no longer spins I try to get up – and almost scream in pain. My lower back and ass feel bruised, making any movement unbearable, and I can't move my left arm.

I am not able to get out the shower alone.

I ponder whether to just remain sitting here until my friends come find me but then sigh in defeat. The water is already getting colder, making my teeth chatter. There is only one solution, only one person able to help me now.

I close my eyes and shake my head. And here I thought showering with Christina's help was the most uncomfortable situation I ever had to endure.

I take a deep breath and then open my eyes again. There really is no other option.

"Eric!"

It comes out as a weak croak and I clear my throat before trying again.

"Eric! … ERIC!"

At first, I can't hear anything thanks to the still running water.

"Stiff?" his voice sounds dull, like he is standing in front of my apartment door.

"I'm in the bathroom," I yell back. "I – I need help."

Silence follows. A moment later, though, there is a loud bang and I flinch which causes another wave of pain to shoot through my body.

Then there is a knock on the bathroom door and I panic.

"Don't come in!" I screech. "I'm naked!"

I really should have thought this through.

"What happened?" he asks softly. "Talk to me."

"I was trying to take a shower and got dizzy. I fell," I answer him. "I can't get up."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "I can't move my arm."

Again, there is silence.

"I have an idea – hold on, I'll be right back."

I hear his footsteps retreat. Great. He is probably looking for a camera to record my dilemma or something.

A couple of seconds later I can hear him approach again.

"Stiff?"

"Still here," I reply dryly.

"Do you trust me?"

I blink. Do I trust him? The answer is surprisingly simple. "Yes."

"Okay, I'm coming in now – don't worry, I won't look."

A moment later the bathroom door opens and Eric walks in – naked from the waist up. He is covering his eyes with one hand and in his other hand he is holding a towel and a T-Shirt.

"Guide me, so you can reach the towel and cover yourself," he says. "Tell me when I can look at you, I'll help you put the shirt on then."

I nod, then realize he can't see it. "Okay. Take a step forward and then to your right."

He does as I tell him and I will myself to lean forward a bit. I groan in pain and can see him tense up. I reach the towel, take it and then place it like a blanket on top of me, covering my private parts and holding it up above my breasts.

"Okay. You can open your eyes now."

Eric drops his hand and the moment is eyes find mine he curses.

"Damn it, Stiff, Will told you not to shower on your own!"

"I know," I croak, leaning my head back against the wall behind me. Eric shuts the water off and then crouches down in front of me and takes a look at my shoulder.

"Shit," he cusses. "It's dislocated."

"Great," I mutter. "Will is so going to kill me."

"He doesn't need to know," Eric says, a playful smirk on his lips. "I can fix it myself."

"Hell, no!" I feel myself blanch. "You're not a doctor."

"No, but I do know how to relocate a shoulder," he rolls his eyes. "Done it a couple of times already during longer missions."

"What if you do it wrong?" I really don't think this is the best idea.

"You can either let me do it or I'll carry you to the infirmary dressed in nothing but that towel since we won't be able to put the shirt on you like this," he smirks at me, knowing he has already won.

"Fine," I sigh. "Fine. If you ruin my arm, I swear to god I'll kill you."

Eric roll his eyes. Then he raises his hand and puts in on my cheek.

"It'll be fine," he says reassuringly. "Trust me."

I nod, suddenly nervous, and look away. His hand drops away from my face.

"Alright, bite my shoulder."

"What?" I gape at him.

"It'll hurt like hell, you might want something to bite down on."

"But – your shoulder?"

He gives me a dirty grin. "Don't worry, I'm used to biting."

"Of course you are," I snort before slowly leaning forward. Again, I groan in pain and Eric immediately scans the rest of my body.

"Fell on my ass," I mumble, cheeks flaming. He bursts out laughing before shaking his head.

"Ready?" he asks then. I lean my head against his – very naked – shoulder and take a deep breath.

Has Eric always smelled this good?

"Stiff?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," I say and place my mouth onto his skin and grip his upper arm with my good hand.

I feel Eric's hand on my shoulder and then searing pain, like nothing I have ever felt before, surges through my body and I scream, my teeth clamping down on Eric's shoulder and I hear him groan slightly.

And then the pain is gone. Just like that. I lean my head against his shoulder again and breathe heavily.

"You okay?" Eric asks before his hand is on my cheek again, bringing my face away from his shoulder and level with his.

I stare straight into his eyes and then blink when I realize that he is still waiting for an answer.

"I think so," I finally say.

"Good," he smiles, letting go of my cheek. "Then let's get you out of here."

He grabs the shirt and holds it out to me.

"You should be able to put it on yourself. Tell me when to turn back around."

I take the shirt from him and watch as he gets up and turns away from me.

I hurriedly throw the shirt on and realize that it is one of Eric's and long enough to go down to my knees. I pull the towel out from beneath it and put it on the floor next to me.

"Done."

Eric turns around and lets his gaze travel up and down my body. There is a dark look in his eyes and something else, something that I cannot place.

He shakes his head, like he is shaking himself out of his thoughts.

"Let's try to get you up."

The moment Eric grabs my upper arm I freeze.

"What?" he asks, his tone full of worry. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

I shake my head and swallow, feeling my cheeks heating up. "It's just that – I am still practically naked underneath."

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, mumbling something that sounds suspiciously like "Believe me, I know".

"The shirt is long enough," he says then, louder. "I won't be able to see anything. And I won't touch you anywhere besides your arm – and maybe your waist, should you still be dizzy. Is that alright?"

I nod. "Sorry-"

"You don't need to apologize," he gives me a real smile this time, the rare kind he barely ever lets anyone see. He then tightens his grip around my upper arm and carefully pulls me to my feet.

My tailbone hurts like hell and I bite my lips hard, not making a sound. Once I stand Eric slowly lets go of my arm.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, eyeing me like I might collapse at any moment.

"I'm fine," I say in surprise. "Maybe a little dizzy but not the the-room-is-turning-upside-down-kind of dizzy."

"Good," he nods. "Then let's get you into bed."

"Uhm," I lift my pointer finger up toward my hair. "I'll have to dry it first."

Eric rolls his eyes. "Girls."

I burst out laughing and he soon joins in.

"Want me to wait in your living room until you're done, just in case?" he asks afterward.

"No, it's fine," I hurriedly answer. "I don't want to keep you from your date any longer."

I grimace and consider asking him to at least keep it down this time when he laughs again.

"Don't worry, my date left," he says. "She was quite pissed when I threw her off me once I heard you scream."

"I'm sorry," I mumble, though it does not sound convincing. Eric shrugs.

"She wasn't that good anyway."

"Okay, I did not need to know that," I grumble. "Out, let me dry my hair."

"I'll raid your fridge in the meantime," Eric grins, "I forgot to eat dinner."

"Knock yourself out," I reply and watch him leave, closing the door behind him.

When I'm done and come out of the bathroom Eric is sitting at my table and just finishing eating a sandwich.

"I might have eaten the rest of your cheese," he says.

"Boys," I grin and he laughs. I have never realized how much I like his natural laugh. Probably because he does not laugh very often.

"Alright, I'm heading back to my place if you're still feeling okay?"

"Yeah," I answer. "Just give me a second to switch into my pajamas so you can have your shirt back."

"Just keep it," he answers and there is that look from earlier in the bathroom in his eyes again. "I don't need it right now."

"Okay," I reply. "Thanks, I guess. And thank you for helping me, once again."

"No problem," he smiles and gets up and my gaze travels from his eyes down to his trained upper body. Now that I am no longer in pain I begin to realize how close to each other we have been the entire time while both being half naked.

I blush furiously and look back up into his face.

He smirks at me and gives me a wink.

"Thanks for the sandwich, Stiff," he says. "Sleep well."

I am about to wish him the same when my gaze lands on my door.

"What the hell happened to my door?" I exclaim in shock, staring at the splintered frame and the large whole where the key whole used to be.

"Oh yeah, I had to break it down earlier – you might want to call Housing and tell them you need a new one."

"This must have been the longest week in like forever," Christina groans beside me before taking the first sip of her Mojito.

"Don't know what you're complaining about," Zeke grumbles next to us. "You didn't have to watch what feels like all the video material that's ever been recorded in order to find out more about what happened in Abnegation."

"I would have given anything to switch with you guys," I sigh. "All I got to do was lying around on my couch."

"Oh shut up," both Christina and Zeke snap and I laugh out loud.

"You are a sorry bunch of people," Uriah grins at us, shaking his head.

"At least you get to have fresh air," Four points his finger at him.

"Yeah, patrolling the streets at night, what more could we wish for?" Marlene sighs.

"Some sleep would be nice," Lynn murmurs, suppressing a yawn. Thinking about my lovely neighbor, I feel her, I really do.

"Stiff!"

I roll my eyes. Speak of the devil.

"Eric," I sigh before turning around and grinning at the person in question. "What can I do for you, oh fearless leader?"

Lynn chokes on her drink and begins to cough violently.

Eric raises his pierced eyebrow, his face stern but I can see amusement in his eyes, though I am pretty sure that no one else notices.

"Jeanine is out of the hospital," he says. "She wants to see us first thing tomorrow morning."

"But it's Saturday," I whine.

"A leader's job is never done, trainee," Eric replies. "I'll meet you at the car at eight, so don't drink too much. And if this lot lets you walk back home alone again, call me."

My eyebrows shoot up. "I thought you had a date tonight?"

He smirks, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I did but when she saw the mark you left on me, she all but kicked me out."

My eyes widen when he pulls aside his shirt and reveals a bite mark – my bite mark – on his shoulder.

Eric winks at me before turning around and leaving.

"What the fuck?" Christina exclaims.

"Tris-"

"What – why – how?"

"Nothing happened!" I snap before this gets out of hand. "Nothing happened!"

"So you didn't leave that mark?" Will asks.

"I did –"

"Tris, he's the enemy, he –" Four shuts up when I give him an icy glare.

"Will you let me explain now?" I half shout. My friends stare at me and I recount what happened in the shower two days ago.

"I told you not to shower on your own," Will frowns. "Come to the infirmary when you get back tomorrow. I want to make sure Eric didn't damage your arm further."

I just nod.

"You're an asshole, you know that?" I greet Eric when I arrive at the carpark.

"I know," he replies, amused. "But what are you referring to this time?"

"Yesterday," I answer, while getting into the car. "You damn well know what they were all asking me after you left. You wanted to provoke them."

"No," he shakes his head, sitting down next to me and motioning for the driver to start the engine. "I wanted to provoke Four."

I roll my eyes and cross my arms in front of my chest.

"I don't get it," I huff. "He's not gonna hit you or anything. All he does is scream at me which in turn makes me yell at him because he has no right to tell me who I can and can't sleep with."

Eric just smirks at me.

"If you don't stop provoking him and thereby causing him to annoy me, I'll tell that redhead from the tattoo parlor that you have a crush on her," I threaten.

The smirk vanishes instantly.

"Don't you dare," he warns. "She's already too clingy. I never should have fucked her in the first place."

I do not answer and we continue our ride to Erudite in silence.

When we arrive Jeanine is already expecting us and we are led to the conference room we have been in during or last visit.

"Beatrice!"

The moment I walk through the door Caleb jumps up from his chair and runs toward me before throwing his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug and giving me a kiss onto my forehead.

Overwhelmed, I return the hug. Caleb has not shown me this kind of affection since we were kids.

"Thank god you're alright," he murmurs. "I was so worried after we heard about the bombing."

"Thank god you weren't there," I whisper, hugging him tighter. "You probably would have died with the rest of them."

Jeanine clears her throat und Caleb finally lets go of me. When I see Jeanine's face I swallow. There are healing cuts all over her skin and one of her arms is in a cast.

"Jeanine," I greet her with a small smile. "How are you feeling? Dauntless wishes to express their condolences for the loss of your fellow leaders."

"Thank you," she replies and there is only a small waver in her voice. "I'm healing, no permanent damages."

"That's good to hear," Eric says. I feel his hand on my lower back then and let him guide me to a chair.

"Are there any news about the people responsible for this?" she asks once we all sit.

"It seems that the bomb was placed by one of our former initiates. We do not know who he is working for," Eric answers before he begins to sum up everything we have found out so far.

"We need to find these people and kill them all," Jeanine says coolly when he is done.

I rub my hands together under the table.

"Shouldn't they get a trial at Candor?" I ask and then Eric's hand is on my thigh, squeezing it softly, telling me to keep my mouth shut.

"They have not only killed members of government, they also interfered with our research," Jeanine continues.

"Edgar and Grace were working on the serums with me," Caleb speaks up. "Without their help it will take quite some time to finish them. The same applies for the Divergence testing device which Marc was working on."

I try with all my might not to freeze up. Eric's hand is still on my thigh and I do not want him to get suspicious.

"Alright," I say, my hands balling into fists.

When nobody says anything after that Jeanine clears her throat again.

"Well, if that is all – I'd like to lay down for a while," she gets up and motions for Caleb to do the same.

"One more thing," Eric interjects while standing up as well. "Max asked me to interrogate the prisoner."

I snap my head around to stare at Eric. "Wait, what? I thought they – plural – were at Candor and that Veronika and Harrison didn't get anything out of them?"

"There was one that we might be able to get to talk," Eric explains, scowling. He is clearly unhappy with my interrupting. "He was transferred here in case factionless decides to try and break its people out."

"He's downstairs, Caleb will show you the way," Jeanine says impatiently. "Call me if you have any news."

Caleb has left after letting us pass through some security doors that lead to the holding cells in the basement. They are all empty save for the last one on the right.

"Sure you up for this?" Eric asks, casting me a sideways glance. "Could get nasty."

I furrow my brows. We are just going to ask him some questions, why would that get nasty?

"I can handle it," I reply nonetheless, because that is the Dauntless thing to say.

When we reach the occupied cell I bite down on my lip, almost gagging. It smells of shit and urine and vomit.

On the cot lies a young man, probably only a few years older than Eric. His clothes are torn, his skin is dirty and his hair looks like it hasn't been washed in years.

When he sees us he slowly sits up.

"What do you want?"

His voice sounds hoarse and scratchy.

I cross my arms in front of my chest and glance up at Eric. A shiver runs down my spine – Eric is wearing his stone cold leader's expression, his jaw set, arms behind his back.

"I was told you might be willing to talk," he says, staring the guy down until he looks way.

"Depends on what's in it for me," he replies then.

"Your life," Eric answers. "Maybe even your freedom. Depends on what kind of information you can give me."

The guy suddenly gives us a dirty grin before looking at me and letting his gaze travel up and down my body.

"How about you give me half an hour with her and afterward I will tell you everything I know."

"Okay," is Eric's reply and I freeze, my eyes widening. Before I can say anything Eric produces a key from his pocket and opens the cell door. "Take her."

"Eric, what the –"

Smirking, the guy stands up and walks toward me and I immediately step back until my back hits the bars of the opposing cell.

The guy doesn't make it out of his cell, though. The moment he steps into Eric's range Eric's hand shoots out and closes around the guy's throat, lifting him of his feet before throwing him back into the cell.

Breathing heavily I watch as the guy lands on the floor and Eric steps toward him.

"Now listen up," he says slowly, his voice slightly deeper than before. "You will tell me everything I want to know. Either now and you might go free or in a couple of weeks under truth serum during your trial. But then you will face the consequences for your actions. And regarding her" – Eric nods his head in my direction – "You won't touch her. You try to get close to her and I'll kill you. You look at her the wrong way and I'll kill you. You only talk to her when she addresses you. Understood?"

The guy nods, angrily getting up from the floor. I do not move and stay with my back pressed against the cell while I keep watching Eric doing his job.

"Tell me what you know."

The guy spits at Eric's feet. Fast as lightening Eric grabs his arm, twists him around and pushes him down on the floor again. The guy screams in pain when Eric pulls his arm further back.

The sickening noise of breaking bones echoes through the cellar and I feel bile rising in my throat.

"Wrong answer," Eric says coldly. "Tell me what you know."

"Fuck you!"

Eric raises his foot and then brings it down hard into the guy's hollow of the knee. This time I jump at the sound of his bones breaking, the guy's screams of agony ringing in my ears. I can feel my heartbeat speeding up. I want to interfere because this is just wrong – the look on Eric's face, however, keeps me from doing so. Keeps me from moving at all.

I watch in horror as Eric draws a knife from his boots, crouches down, pushing his entire weight on the guy's back, and holds the knife to his left eye.

"Tell me what you know or I'll take out your eye."

"Okay, okay!" the guy screams, his eyes wide and full of fear. "I'll tell you what I know."

Eric straightens up and takes a step back, letting the guy struggle into a sitting position.

"I helped Edward build and place the bomb," he finally says, still groaning in pain.

"Who are you working for? And what did you hope to achieve by bombing our meeting?"

The guy spits on the floor. "Don't know. I have always been on my own, fighting to survive. One day, Edward found me and promised me a place where I would belong. I don't know who he's working for. Sometimes he mentioned a 'her', other times he'd say 'the leaders'. I never met anyone."

"And their plans?"

"To eliminate the government and take over. And to then eliminate the faction system."

"Is that all you know?" Eric asks, playing around with his knife.

"Yes," the guy groans. "That's all I know, I swear!"

"Okay," Eric replies and then steps forward and plunges the knife into the guy's throat.

I scream, bringing my hands up and in front of my mouth.

Blood spurts out of the guy's throat, covering the walls and floor and even splashing onto Eric's clothes and face.

Eric turns to look at me, his expression unreadable.

I stare at him with wide eyes, my heart pounding hard and fast beneath my ribs, and for the first time in what feels like ages I am confronted with the reality I tried so hard to forget: that Eric is a coldblooded killer.