Chapter 10

When they take us back outside the weather has gone colder and fog is covering the entire block, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. I can feel the cold seeping into my bones – or maybe it is just my nerves.

"Come on," the guy with the gun murmurs and grabs my upper arm, pulling me with him. He is rather rough and I hope I don't stumble since my hands are still tied behind my back.

I glance over my shoulder and meet Eric's gaze. There is worry and concern in his eyes so I quickly turn my head back around and stare straight ahead. I am embarrassed that he has seen me in such a weak state. I should not have cried in front of him, no matter what Sean might have done to me. I should have kept fighting and cursing instead of begging and pleading and crying. It was probably my most Un-Dauntless moment but I could not help it. Being touched against my will, being seconds away from being raped brought out the Abnegation in me and all I had been able to feel was utter panic and terror. And the thought that Eric would have had to watch makes me want to vomit.

They take us to the train station we have come from earlier and while I am wondering how we are supposed to jump a train with tied hands, I am suddenly pushed down onto my knees in front of what once might have been a souvenir shop. A moment later Eric ends up in the same position next to me, his upper arm pressed against mine, giving me comfort.

I yelp, when someone grabs my hair and pulls my head back roughly.

"Hey!" Eric yells angrily.

I feel the barrel of the gun against my temple and my heart starts beating wildly against my chest while I stare at Eric with wide eyes.

My gaze then lands on Edward who is staring at something above the door of the souvenir shop. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize it is a camera.

"As you can see," Edward says into the camera. "We have two of your leaders. We are willing to let them go unharmed if you meet our terms. We want guns and serums and we want to be acknowledged as an independent faction. We also want to have a seat in the government, of course. You have until midnight to respond. If we don't hear from you until then, we'll execute the hostages."

He turns toward Eric and nods his head. "Go on, tell your faction whatever you need to tell them to fulfill your promise. But don't do anything stupid – or I will let Sean fuck her after all and make you watch before I personally put a bullet in her head."

Eric tightens his jaw, his eyes sparkling with rage as he addresses the camera.

"Well, you heard them. There should be enough guns in the weapons room for them and Jeanine will comply regarding the serums. It might be better to call her private line instead of her office. The number is 101222. And Max? If they hurt Tris in any way, you don't give them shit, got it? Don't worry about me, you know how much I can take. But you get her out alive."

He turns his head away from the camera and looks straight into my eyes again. Before I have a chance to react I am hauled back onto my feet.

We are brought into an empty office building and left alone with our backs leaning against the front desk, our hands still tied.

"You did well," I finally break the silence between us.

"Maybe too well," Eric sighs. "Let's just hope Max catches what I meant to tell him."

I furrow my brows. "What did you want to tell him? Because I couldn't detect any secret messages."

Eric smirks. "That's because you don't know Jeanine's number. Max does."

"Uhm, you've just told everyone? 101222?"

Eric's smirk widens and he looks particularly happy with himself. "Except that's actually not her number."

"Then what is it?"

"The number of my tracking device."

I blink several times. "Don't get me wrong, I think the idea is brilliant, but don't you think they would have tried to track us anyway?"

Eric shrugs his shoulders, which looks kind of weird with his hands behind his back. "Probably. I just tried to save them some time."

"Let's just hope Sean doesn't remember the tracking devices," I murmur. Eric just shakes his head.

"He's not smart enough," he says. "Edward might have been a problem but fortunately, he was kicked out before we introduced them."

I just nod. I don't even want to think about the possibility of nobody being able to find us. If something goes wrong and we are not rescued, we are either going to be killed or Sean will get what he wants after all.

"Stiff?"

"Yeah?" I reply, not looking at him but instead staring at me feet.

"I won't let them hurt you," Eric says softly but with determination. "I promise you, he won't ever touch you again."

This time, I do look at him.

"As long as your hands are tied and they have a gun and we don't there is nothing you can do to stop him, you know that. And so does he."

I turn my head in the opposite direction and close my eyes.

"That's – I just wanted to – you know what, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't even be in this mess!" Eric snaps furiously.

My eyes shoot open again and I whip my head around to stare at him. His jaw is clenched and there is a vein pulsing in his neck.

"Me?!" I repeat. "You think this is my fault?"

"Of course it is!" Eric barks. "If you hadn't volunteered –"

"Oh please," I interrupt him angrily. "Edward specifically asked for me. Max would have sent me anyway!"

"He wouldn't have if you had said no!" Eric yells and the look on his face tells me that if his hands were free, he would strangle me.

"That wouldn't have been very Dauntless, now, would it?" I reply and I swear I can almost see the steam coming out of his ears.

"Stiff," Eric says through gritted teeth and it is obvious that it costs him all his will power not to lose control. "There's a difference between bravery and stupidity."

This effectively shuts me up. I stare at him openmouthed, then just close it and turn my head away again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" I finally whisper, my gaze fixed onto my feet again.

"Do what?" he asks, his voice exhausted and barely louder than mine.

"Be like that," I answer. "So … confusing. Sometimes I feel like we are finally getting along and are becoming close friends. Then, you treat me like shit and like I am the most annoying person in the world. And then, you risk your life for me, you protect me at all costs. And what about yesterday in the training room? You almost kissed me."

"I didn't," he snorts but when I turn my head to look at him again, he is staring straight ahead at the wall.

I don't know why I do it but I lean my head against his shoulder and close my eyes again.

He stiffens for a moment before leaning his head onto mine.

I must have fallen asleep because when I open eyes it is dark – outside and inside.

"You think it's midnight already?" I ask, my voice still hoarse from sleep.

"No," Eric answers and I realize my head is still on his shoulder when I feel his voice vibrate through his body. "The sun's just gone down."

I nod. "You think they're gonna find us in time?"

"Yeah," Eric replies and then laughs. "Your friends may be annoying but I'm pretty sure they're giving Max hell right now."

Now I have to laugh, too.

"Yeah, you're right."

We are silent again and my thoughts drift off. I miss my friends and family but of all the people I could have gotten stuck with in this situation, I am really glad it is Eric. He makes me feel a little saver, somehow.

"If I –" I start, before clearing my throat and beginning anew. "If I don't make it, will you tell my family –"

"You will make it," Eric interrupts me sternly. "I swear to whatever god there is I'll do whatever it takes to get us – to get you – out of here alive."

I want to ask him why and get back to the conversation we have had earlier when the door leading toward the hallway is suddenly opened and a moment later bright light illuminates the entire room, causing both of us to blink several times.

It is the guy with the gun again.

"Get up, girl," he says, waving his gun impatiently in my direction. When I nervously exchange a confused look with Eric, Gun-Guy sighs before advancing and grabbing my upper arm, pulling me to my feet and with him.

"What are you doing?" Eric yells behind me.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask and am proud that my voice is only slightly wavering. He does not answer. I use all my bodyweight to wrench free. Gun-Guy turns around and points the gun against my forehead.

I freeze immediately while staring into his cold, deep blue eyes.

"It's not midnight yet!" Eric yells furiously. "You promised not to hurt her! I won't give you shit if you –"

"For fuck's sake!" Gun-Guy curses. "Will you two just shut up?! I am here to take you to the bathroom. First her, than you."

I blink and look completely stunned. Since Eric does not say anything in return I imagine his reaction to be the same.

"Okay," I finally say, just to break the uncomfortable silence. He takes the gun out of my face and motions for me to walk through the door and out into the hallway. I throw one last glance over my shoulder and meet Eric's hard, yet worried gaze before stepping into the corridor.

After shutting the door behind us Gun-Guy leads me to the end of the hall where the bathrooms are.

"Don't even think about trying to run," he warns while cutting the cable ties. As soon as my hands are free I bring them to my front and rub my sore wrists. "If you do anything stupid, your friend pays, got it?"

I nod and then open the door to the ladies' room. I am glad when he does not follow me.

I walk straight into the first stall and lock the door behind me before leaning my back against it and taking several deep breaths. Then, I hurry to relieve myself before he decides to come looking for me.

When I am done I wash my hands in the sink and stare at myself in the mirror hanging above it. I look pale and tired and my hair is completely rumpled.

I just want this shit to be over and take a long, warm shower.

Taking another deep breath, I compose myself and am already reaching for the door handle when the door is thrown open.

It is not Gun-Guy. It is Sean.

"What are you doing in here?" I ask with wide eyes. Instead of answering, he grabs me and pushes me hard against the door to one of the stalls.

Breathing hard, I stare up into his wild gaze, my heartbeat speeding up. I am paralyzed with fear.

"He just keeps ruining our moments, doesn't he?" Sean spits into my face. "He's everywhere you are. What's going on between you and him, anyway?"

"Nothing," I answer, because it is the truth. In a way.

"Liar," he sneers, his grip around my arms hardening. "But it doesn't matter. We still haven't heard a word from Dauntless. Five hours. I've already talked to the leaders, if we do not hear back from your faction in time, I get to have you before your execution."

"Fuck you."

And before he has time to punish me for it I bring my head forward and – once again – headbutt him. He screams in pain when his nose breaks. The door is thrown open and my guard enters the bathroom, his gun trained at my head. He looks from me to Sean and then snorts.

"Idiot."

While Sean tries to stop the blood flow coming from his nose, Gun-Guy grabs my arms, ties my hands behind my back again and then leads me back to Eric.

Eric realizes that something is wrong the moment I step through the door.

"What the hell happened?" he barks, scanning me from head to toe. "Did he touch you?"

I shake my head. "No. Sean paid me a surprise visit. Don't worry – I broke his nose."

Eric shakes his head in disbelief before smirking at me. "Good girl."

I can't explain it but these two words me feel something that I have never felt before and cannot put into words.

Furrowing my brows in confusion, I watch as Eric is led from the room for his own bathroom visit.

I am pretty sure that about fifteen minutes must have passed since Eric has been taken to the bathroom and I start to get slightly nervous. What if they have done something to him? They probably do not need him anymore after he has told Max what to do. As long as I am untouched, Dauntless will do what factionless asks of them.

I am close to a panic attack when the door opens and Eric walks back into the room. His jaw is clenched and his eyes are sparking and I know that he is trying to control his temper.

"What's wrong?" I ask, already afraid of the answer. His eyes meet mine and his gaze softens slightly.

"We ran into Sean on the way back from the bathroom, right before I could put the cable ties back on" Gun-Guy grumbles whiles pushing Eric down into his earlier spot next to me. "And the idiot here jumped him like a maniac. I was barely able to pull him off."

I burst out laughing and Eric stares at me like I have grown a second head.

"What did I tell you earlier about what would happen if you did anything stupid?" Gun-Guy addresses me and I immediately shut up.

"What's he talking about?" Eric asks, shifting nervously.

"Answer my question," Gun-Guy presses on.

I swallow. "That you would make him pay."

He nods before turning his gaze toward Eric.

"You can't punish her for what I did," Eric growls. "I told Dauntless not to give you anything if she's hurt."

"I know," Gun-Guy replies. "But I can hurt you. And you may act like a tough guy but it'll hurt nonetheless."

Eric grits his teeth when Gun-Guy points the gun at his left leg.

"No!" I scream hysterically, because the thought of Eric getting hurt, of possibly bleeding out right next to me causes me to panic. "Don't hurt him! Please, please don't hurt him! Hurt me! I'll tell Dauntless I asked you to so they follow through. Please!"

"Don't you dare!" Eric snaps, his eyes still locked on Gun-Guy's.

"Please, please!" I beg, completely desperate. Without thinking about it, I bring my legs up and rotate my body to the left so my legs end up in Eric's lap, covering his thighs.

"What are you doing?!" Eric yells at me furiously, but in his eyes, I can see the panic he is trying to hide.

Before I have a chance to argue with him, Gun-Guy pulls the trigger and I scream, burying my head in Eric's shoulder. The noise is enormously loud and my ears ring and therefore it takes me a couple of seconds to realize that I am unharmed and that Eric has not screamed or moved or anything. Slowly turning my head back around I see the hole the bullet has caused in the floor an inch away from Eric's leg.

Breathing heavily and heart pounding painfully wildly against my ribs, I stare at the hole, then at the gun and then at the hole again.

"You should be more careful," Gun-Guy says to Eric. "We need her, not you. Not anymore. If it weren't for the fact that the leaders don't want any more unnecessary bloodshed, I'd put a bullet in your head right now." He sighs and ruffles his hair. "Listen, if you behave, I am able to help you."

"How would you be able to us?" I snort. He glances only briefly at me before returning his gaze to Eric.

"I can make sure that, should your faction not answer, you will at least be executed swiftly. I can make sure that Sean doesn't lay a finger on her."

"Edward has already said-" I start but am interrupted when Gun-Guy breaks out laughing.

"Edward is not in charge here," he says. "We just made you believe that he is because you knew him and would trust him far more easily than anyone else. You think you are so smart, Coulter, originating from Erudite and all, but you are so blinded by your weakness, your fear for her, that you missed what's right in front of you."

"Don't insult me," Eric snorts arrogantly. "I knew from the beginning that you are the one in charge since you are the only person with a gun."

I blink several times, trying to process the information. Now that Eric has said it, it is painfully obvious and I feel absolutely stupid. So much for my aptitude for Erudite.

"I am," Gun-Guy answers. "And for your sake, I hope Dauntless does what we want. I am not some cold-blooded asshole and I certainly don't want your girl here to get hurt. I think it's cowardice to hurt a woman. But I will kill both of you if we don't get what we deserve."

For lack of anything better to do I doze off again. When I wake up, Eric is still sleeping, his head resting on my shoulder.

My shoulders hurt from being forced into a backward position for hours now and the skin on my wrists is sore from the cable ties. My back and neck ache as well.

I turn my head and stare out the closest window, trying to determine how late it is. How much time we have left. But it is useless; the darkness does not give anything away.

The door is suddenly thrown open and Eric awakes with a start.

A moment later, the lights are turned on and again, I have to blink several times for my eyes to adjust. When they finally do, I feel my blood run cold.

Sean and another guy – Ben, I think his name is – stand in front of us.

"Take him over there," Sean nods toward a couple of chairs in what probably used to be a waiting area. Ben nods and immediately walks toward Eric and drags him onto his feet.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Eric snaps and tries to kick Ben, but then Ben pulls out a knife and even Eric is not stupid enough to engage in a knife fight with his hands tied. So he curses and lets Ben maneuver him into one of the chairs.

"Look at me," Sean's voice sounds right next to my ear and then his fingers are on my chin, forcing me to look away from Eric and instead meet his sinister gaze. "Thirty minutes. That's all that's left before I'll get to have you. You want to know what I'm gonna do to you?"

"No, thanks," I squeeze out. He painfully tightens the grip on my chin and I wince.

"Get the fuck away from her!" Eric yells and out of the corner of my eyes I see him try to stand up but Ben holds the knife against his throat and forces him back into the chair.

"Don't, Eric," I say, pleading. I don't want him to get hurt, not for me.

"Yeah, Eric," Sean smirks. "Better listen to what she tells you."

"As soon as this is over," Eric growls, his voice deep and menacing. "I'm gonna kill you. And it will be painful and long."

"If this is over," Sean grins. "If not – and it looks a lot like your faction doesn't care about you at all – you will be dead. After I force you to watch how I fuck her, of course."

Sean's gaze returns to mine. His hand wonders down to my throat and squeezes, slightly cutting of my oxygen supply. He turns my head to the side, my eyes meeting Eric's, and brings his mouth right to my ear.

"I'm gonna bend you over this reception," he says, his voice loud and clear, his lips touching my ear from time to time and I shudder. "And then, I'm gonna push my cock into your tight, wet cunt and fuck you until your raw. I'm gonna make you scream, Tris. And all the while, I will hold your head so you can't look away from Eric and see the torture in his eyes when he realizes that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, he can do to save you from me."

I am shaking and feel bile rising in my throat. Eric grinds his teeth and clenches his fists before turning his head away.

"And after that, I'm gonna fuck your ass-"

I close my eyes and drown out the rest he is saying, fighting with everything I have not to start crying.

"For fuck's sake!" Gun-Guy's voice rings out and my eyes snap open while Sean immediately lets go of me and steps back hastily. "Leave the girl alone."

"I just wanted-"

"I don't care," Gun-Guy snaps. "Now go, we have to round up the others and then take those two down to the old market place. There are enough cameras to film their execution from every angle. Ben, take Coulter back to her side, let's leave them alone for the remaining time."

"I'll see you later, sweetheart," Sean winks before walking toward the door. I watch him leave the room until Eric is forced down next to me. Ben and Gun-Guy follow Sean and a moment later we are finally alone again.

"Eric?" my voice is shaking but right now I don't care.

Eric turns his head in my direction and raises his pierced eyebrow.

"If they don't come for us – kill me."

His eyes widen. "Have you lost your mind? I most certainly will not kill you, what the-"

"I'm gonna die anyway," I interrupt him impatiently. "The only difference is that Sean will torture me before I'm executed. You know my issues regarding sex. Even in a relationship. The thought of him doing all that to me-" My voice breaks and a single tear rolls down my cheek. Eric's eyes follow it down until it drops onto my shirt. "Please. I'm begging you. Push me in front of a gun, a train, strangle me or snap my neck, whatever possibility arises. Promise me, please."

Eric closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"Fuck!" he curses. His eyes snap open again, sparkling with anger and desperation. "Alright, fine. I told you I'd never let him touch you again, so if it really comes down to it, I'll keep my promise."

"Thank you," I whisper and lean my head against his shoulder again.

"Max had better hurry the fuck up now," Eric grumbles and, to my surprise, softly kisses my head.