Thank you so much to Bamberlee for editing this for me!

Full Disclosure #1: I wrote this as a one shot, but Amber refused to edit 200 pages at once, so she split it up. I'll try to update on Saturdays (my literal only day off) and it's not an insanely long story. It's already written, and follows the usual set up: Eric is Eric, Everly is Everly , Rylan and Jason are themselves, and Four is...there.

Full Disclosure #2: I will update The Leader soon. I have not had any idea time to finish the chapter I was working on, nor the motivation. I finished up the next chapter and will have her edit it. I had an unbelievable amount of stuff going on at work, I was out of town multiple times, and my schedule is just...not amazing these days lol. But I will finish it, and for those who read it, thank you :)

Full Disclosure #3: I don't own Divergent or it's characters, only Everly and Rylan's antics.

Full Disclosure #4: Happy Saturday!


The serum is pink.

When the scientist holds it up for us to see, it first appears clear, but it turns a dreamy iridescent pink when he swirls it around. The color is bold against his white lab coat but less against his blue shirt. Impressed with his own genius, the scientist smiles, but not at us.

He throws us a condescending nod, as though we are too stupid to understand why his serum is so important.

"I assume there are questions. Who would like to go first?"

"I have several. What exactly does it do? Is it for allergies?" Rylan leans forward, his stiff jacket creaking as he tries to get a better view. "Will it stop my seasonal depression? Or is that just because I was assigned to help Four with next initiation?"

There's a huff of laughter from Jason, which only encourages Rylan.

He's beside me, and on the other side of him is Jason. To my left is Eric, and it's not his first choice of where to sit. He'd arrived with Harrison, breaking away to speak to Max before the meeting started. He didn't want to sit by me, nor did he think I should be in this meeting. He dropped into the seat with a sneer on his face, and when our eyes met, his narrowed in displeasure.

I've been working with Four for exactly six months. I secured the position two weeks after my own initiation, and it was going well. I wouldn't say Four adored having someone help him with the initiation class, but as one of the few girls to make it through the group, I was offered the job right after I became an official member. It was an odd move that I didn't understand at the time. I had no prior experience training anyone, I'd made it through initiation by the skin of my teeth, and Four had never once appeared interested in my existence. Max insisted it would be good for morale, and it might even be inspirational to girls who were afraid to pick Dauntless. He offered me the job alongside a tense faced Four and hinted that if I didn't accept, I'd be sent to work on the fence with the lowest ranking initiates.

I accepted the offer without a second thought. I figured I'd have time to settle into the job, but I quickly learned another initiation class happened a few months later, and until then, I would train with Four.

Unenthused with me and life in general, he showed me what to do, but he insisted I let him take the lead while assigning me some of the more trivial work. We developed a decent understanding of one another. I wouldn't call us friends, but he no longer grimaced when I walked through the doors, and he trusted me enough to really help him. I learned just how rigid the scoring truly is, along with how to develop a thick skin when the initiates failed to meet our expectations. Once the actual initiation started, I had a hard time docking points from the ones who were actively trying, and an even harder time awarding points to the ones who didn't have to try.

Four understood. He shook his head at the ones who arrogantly assumed they'd be awarded a leadership position upon initiation ending, and he grit his teeth when the ones struggling gave up completely. The experience was eye opening, but defeating when I watched a few stare in silence, having been cut since they didn't rank high enough by mere points.

And though I wanted to point out how unfair the rankings were, I couldn't. Four eventually admitted that this was how Dauntless had always run their initiations, and I couldn't change anything. Trying would only put me on Eric's radar, since the assumption would be I was trying to skew the faction in favor of those who didn't belong here. I understood. I kept my mouth shut, and though Four still seemed to think of me more as his assistant than anything else, I was okay with it. I used the time to learn as much as I could, then planned to move on when Max could be persuaded.

Today, Four and I had shown up to the meeting together but were immediately split up.

Jeremy was in charge, and he quickly told us we couldn't sit near the people we worked with. When Four dryly reminded him that we all worked together, he rolled his eyes and sent Four to sit by Tori. I was told to sit near Rylan and Jason. They were polite and interested to see me, but their attention was on the man near the front.

Erudite had sent their finest scientist to give a presentation on the new serums they were developing.

I stared at the vials curiously, wondering what was going to happen next. I might be new to the Dauntless faction, but I wasn't blind to what went on with the Leaders. There was a link to Erudite that was obvious if you knew what to look for. Our Fear Serum came from there, as did Amity's Peace Serum, and Candor's Truth Serum. I knew nothing about the Memory Loss Serum, and the Death Serum was rarely mentioned.

Unless you attended these meetings.

Today's meeting is centered around updating the serums and the delay in getting them, but also showcasing the newest creations. The first had been a Stun Serum, meant to paralyze a person for up to twelve hours. It was being marketed toward the hospital as an aid during surgery, though it hadn't been tested to the surgeons' standards. The second was a Smart Serum, not only helping speed up the process of learning, but allowing them to link their health stats to an app Erudite was still working on. The third and fourth were more basic, a Vitality Serum meant to keep you healthy, and a lesser version of the Peace Serum that they claimed would let you feel at ease, without the loopy side effects.

The fifth one is pink, a mild variant of both Peace Serum and Vitality Serum, with the added bonus of creating long lasting bonds between two people.

"I said, will it cure my allergies? My eyes have been itchy lately." Rylan asks again, impatient that the man is ignoring him. "So has my throat."

"Sure. If you're allergic to feelings." The scientist laughs at his own joke, though no one else does. The room is split between those who look bored, Eric, and those who look suspicious, everyone else. When no one says anything, the man sighs and shakes his head furiously. "This serum is designed to help people connect with one another. We did a survey, and over half the participants said they'd love to meet new people and make friends that last long term. With the state of the factions, we thought we'd come up with something to speed up the process."

"Who took this survey?" Rylan leans forward even further, and his chair threatens to tip over. "Because I, for one, do not need any more friends."

"Me, neither." Jason agrees. The two of them nod at each other, then high five when the man sighs. "Did you take the serum? Have you tried it?"

"No, I have not. But we have had fantastic results with our test subjects." He smiles enthusiastically, then his smile wanes when he looks at Rylan. "Would you like to volunteer to try it?"

"No, I would not." Rylan smiles back exaggeratedly. "But Eric will. He's happy to help."

"Oh, great. Eric, would you –"

"No, I will not."

I turn to look at him, inching away so my arm won't touch his. He's seated with his spine straight and his arms crossed over his chest. His jacket is newer than everyone else's, and the blue stripe on his arm is more vibrant. When he cocks his head to stare down the scientist, the man becomes nervous, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Eric's stare is cold and unfriendly, darkening when he leans back.

"This is what you've brought before us? We have an issue with the factionless, some flu making everyone sick, and a shortage on the Fear Serum so severe that it won't be available for our initiation. And you chose to bring us…this? A serum to make friends?"

His tone is nasty enough that a chill runs up my back.

He's terrifying.

I've had the misfortune of interacting with him twice. Once, when he uttered a very sarcastic congratulations at me when I ranked high enough to stay, and a second time when he learned that I worked with Four. He stalked in with his jaw clenched, and our interaction was brief and nerve wracking. He mocked Four for having someone help him, then left with a warning that if this initiation had a single problem, Four would be removed from the position and so would I. It was obvious he didn't like Four, so it would make sense that he didn't like me by association.

Since then, I had avoided Eric like the plague.

If I saw him around, I went the other way. I took all the information I knew about him and made sure to stay out of his sight. Every so often, I was pulled into a meeting like this one, and it was unavoidable that I'd see him.

Today, I was unlucky enough to sit by him.

Beyond his dazzling personality and an air of disdain for anyone breathing the same air as him, Eric is unfairly good-looking. He is tall and broad, designed for war and disciplined enough to stay that way. He makes me nervous, like my brain can't function properly when I see him, but I know better than to say anything he can use against me. I've seen him slam members out of his way, take them by the throat if they dare to talk back, and more than once, I heard that he disciplined unruly or disobedient members by making them factionless.

Despite all this, I liked that he had a confidence no one else did. He was unafraid of almost everything. He never seemed truly bothered by what happened around him, and he lived a life that was his own. I also liked his clean, sharp haircut, and the way his skin reminded me of the marble walls. Though his stares were violent and emotionless, he occasionally would smile if something pleased him. It was rare to see him around the training room, but I'd often catch sight of him patrolling through the faction with his arms behind his back and a smirk on his lips.

It was always a moment when my heart nearly stopped, and I knew if I pissed him off, he would hang me over the Chasm just like he'd done to Christina.

I'd made a few friends here, and she was my favorite. We met in line for lunch, bonding over the slimy looking potatoes and the limp lettuce. She was the one who told me he'd overseen her initiation, nearly killing her when she asked to stop fighting. He was pulled from training the classes shortly after, but his reputation continued to worsen as things between the factions became tense.

It was rumored he worked for Jeanine and was placed in Dauntless purely to connect the two factions. I often wondered if it was true, but I had no real way of finding out. I knew better than to ask about him, and I also knew better than to get close to him.

Which is why I'd spent most of the meeting inching closer to the edge of my chair, until Rylan forcefully shoved me back then apologized when he realized why.

"The Fear Serum is being produced as we speak. It's…gone through some production delays. We should be caught up by tomorrow, and you'll hopefully have a shipment by Friday. As for the factionless…" The man trails off, avoiding Eric's vicious stare. "I'm not sure I'm qualified to speak on that. Though, I'm very qualified in other areas."

"Of course." Eric retorts. "You don't allow the factionless in your faction, so why would you know what they're doing? Now do you have something we need, or just more useless things to show us?"

"Are you selling the serums? How much for one vial?" Rylan interjects. He gives up sitting to stand, and next to him, Jason watches with a grin. "I'm interested in the love one. But not for me. I have a girlfriend. Just throwing that out in case anyone in here was thinking of trying to date me."

"Rylan, sit down," Tori presses on her temples, and next to her, Four looks just as pained. "No one here is trying to date you."

"Good. Because I'd refuse." He gracelessly makes his way through the row of chairs, after purposely kicking Eric as he walked by. "How many points do you want? Five hundred? A thousand? Is there a deal if you buy two?"

"They aren't for sale." The man panics as Rylan approaches the table, picking up one of the vials of a clear serum. His eyes widen as Rylan shakes it, then tosses it in the air, catching it at the last second. "Can you please put that down? We only have so many testers. Um…Jeremy, someone stop him?"

"No." Jason answers seriously. "No one can stop him."

"Rylan, knock it off. Stop touching everything. We're almost done. Damien, is there anything else you need to show us?" Jeremy makes no move to stop Rylan past glaring at him. He watches as Rylan does stop, but only to rifle through the other vials on the table. "I appreciate what's been brought. Is there anything we could use in the initiation until then? What about the Confusion one?"

"There isn't a confusion one. Did you mean the Memory Loss serum? It's also being reworked. We need a few more days to really look at what's being produced, then…"

He keeps talking, droning on about the production process and how they were hoping for faster impact rates. When I grow bored with his speech, I dare to sneak a peek toward Eric, and it's a mistake.

He throws me a withering stare, then stands up and shoves the chair back.

"Eric! The meeting isn't over," Max calls out, but Eric doesn't listen. He walks to the door, then leaves without another word. "He must not have heard me."

"Oh, he heard you." Rylan answers. "Maybe we should give him the Love Serum. He could use a little romance in his life. Sir, can you leave the pink one here? We'll need two vials. Maybe three. Actually, considering Eric's outlook on life, maybe a whole case."

"It's not a love serum." The scientist protests, but it's drowned out by the smatters of laughter. Even Tori snickers, shaking her head and elbowing Max. "It's not even available yet. It's –"

"Oh shit."

He stops when Rylan drops another vial. It hits the table with a bang, exploding in a dramatic fashion. Rylan makes a face when it gets on his uniform, then reaches for another vial.

"Wait! No! Rylan! Don't touch anything else!"

My eyes widen as the man lunges for Rylan, and the pink vial goes flying. It lands somewhere on the thick carpet, and he shrieks as Rylan steps backward.

"You're going to step on it!"

"Can we go? Or do we need to be here for this?" Four asks, crossing his arms as Harrison slinks by to take a picture. He captures the moment Rylan dives beneath the table, and there's a loud shuffle followed by the sound of more glass breaking. "Everly and I have work to do."

"You can go. I'll call the cleaning crew," Jeremy sighs. He looks disappointed, and he should be. His first official meeting is a disaster, and I have to say I prefer it when Max hosts them. "Everly, Four, thanks for coming. I'll see you guys around later this week. If there's anything else you can do to stall before the Fear Landscapes, just…do that. Please. I'll reach out once the serum is here."

Four's answer is a wordless nod. He looks at me, jerks his head in the direction of the door, and I stand to follow him. Jason looks up with a pained expression, then it turns intrigued. He stares when I smile, putting his finger to his lips, then he looks at Rylan.

The front of the conference room is nothing but chaos. Rylan grumbles that he's cut his finger, and the scientist is yelling that it's likely he's touched the serums. He ignores him in favor of demanding someone call Arlene, and by the time I reach the doorway, Four appears to have a headache.

My own head throbs, but it might be the exhaustion of knowing we still have to finish today's class. We'd left them on an early lunch break, which meant the afternoon would seem even longer.

"Well, that was a waste of time." Four mutters the words beneath his breath, speeding up as we walk toward the elevators. "Next time, I'll decline the invite."

"Can we?" I keep distance between us, having learned he doesn't like anyone too close to him. He doesn't even like when I lean to see what he's doing, and sometimes, I get the feeling he'd push me away if he could.

"Does it matter? They don't want us there." His tone is frustrated as he storms ahead with his hands in his pockets, and I hurry to keep up. I say hello to Linda as I pass her desk, then round the corner to see Four jabbing the button repeatedly. I silently head over to him, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Eric.

He stands with a mid-ranking guard, squinting at something.

I risk my life by staring because it's rare to see him not paying attention. The muscle of his cheek clenches, and his shoulders shift as he points to the paper. He must sense that I'm looking at him, because his head jerks up and his stare goes right to me. For a moment, he stares, unblinking. His eyes stay on mine, and his expression is blank.

Then, like someone has hit him over the head, he shuts his eyes, yanks the paper back from the guard, and turns on his heel.

"Are you alright to head back downstairs? I need to grab something on the way, but you can start the class if you're okay with it." Four's voice brings me back to Earth. "Everly?"

"That's fine. Should we start outside?" I glance back at where Eric was, and Four shrugs.

"Whatever you want. We have an hour to kill before they need to practice knife throwing."

"Sure."

Pleased with my answer, and the ability to run whatever errand he has, Four perks up. We step into the elevator when it dings, and I forget about Eric. I push the button for one of the lower floors, and Four spends the entire ride in the elevator staring at the buttons until the doors open.


By the time next Friday rolls around, I am exhausted.

The initiation class had eaten up most of my time, even at night. Mildly appeased with having a lighter workload, Four is able to help the initiates on a more personal level. Some like this, but others do not. My job is now to oversee half of them, but only when he wants them split up. Otherwise, I follow his lead, and assist wherever I can. As a newer trainer, I get to do most of the paperwork. I enter the scores, make sure everything is filled out accurately, and sign off on it. If there are any discrepancies, it's on me. I've stayed up late making sure the numbers were correct, and it's starting to catch up to me.

The fighting is harder to score, which means this week has been grueling.

Training the initiates and having them fight against one another is interesting now that we're a few weeks in. Each one holds some arrogance, and the belief that they already know what they are doing. Several refuse to listen, and oddly enough, the girls who have shown up are just as cocky. Their training outfits have become more and more revealing, which proved to be detrimental when we began the actual fights. A blow to the stomach hurt more against bare skin, and a pair of tiny shorts gave no friction when they were pinned to the ground beneath their opponent. Four had already pointed out they needed to focus more on actual fighting and less on what they were wearing, but they seemed determined to stand out against me.

Which made no sense.

I am already a member here.

I sigh as I watch someone get punched in the side of the head, sending them stumbling to the side. They're growing tired of the fighting, but we still don't have the serum, and Four suggested we really make sure they could fight before the Fear Landscapes.

"Hey, Amity. What the fuck are they doing? Did Four leave you here by yourself to go take a nap?"

I turn as soon as I hear the nickname. I know it's Eric, and my stomach sinks when I see him up close. I want nothing less than to discuss initiation with him. He won't care what I have to say, nor will he want to hear it. Anything I say will be an excuse, and it'll sound defensive. When I don't answer, Eric eliminates the space between us, and it's hard to miss how tall he really is.

It's also hard to miss how he smells; like the woods on a cold winter night, right before it snows.

"Did you hear me? I said, what the fuck are they doing?" Eric's gaze scrapes over me, not quite sizing me up, but more like he's never seen me before. I don't meet whatever standards he's looking for because his lips turn up cruelly, and his next barb is equally sharp. "Are you setting them up to head back to Amity, Amity?"

"We're practicing fighting since we don't have the serum yet." I summon every ounce of courage to look right at him. It's interesting to speak to someone who makes you nervous, and heart stopping when his eyes find mine. "They're being scored the next round. Today is the final practice before we rank them."

"I see."

His arms flex as he shrugs, and he's intimidating in the black vest. His pants are the same utility pants every member has, and his boots are heavy looking. His posture is relaxed, but that's not a good sign. He cocks his head as a girl notices him, and her smirk dies when he stares at her. She swings at her opponent to show she can fight, but her distraction costs her the final blow.

Her opponent, the one not staring at Eric, hits back harder. She tumbles to the ground with a thud, and Eric lets out huff of exasperation.

"What are your thoughts on these hopefuls?"

"Well…" I glance up, surprised that he wants my opinion. He doesn't, though. The way his lips press together tells me he's down here for his own entertainment, and nothing more. "I think some are doing great. Others are…not good. They know the basics, but probably could use more training." I step back unconsciously when he steps toward me, and he all but smiles. His stare follows my every move, darkening when he doesn't blink. "Have you been watching them?"

"I have better things to do than watch the initiation classes." Eric shoves past, purposely knocking into my side. He nears the mats, and his casual stance is terrifying. I'm not the only one who notices. A few of the initiates stop, and one girl ducks behind the boy she's partnered with. "Where's Four? Did he go home for the day?"

"He's on the other side of the room."

Eric doesn't answer me.

His stare sweeps over the sawdust covered mats, the hundreds of young adults fighting, over to the punching bags. Four is speaking to a boy who has the potential to be great but can't listen to save his life. Eric's stare is displeased, but it turns gleeful when Four realizes he's here. They glare at each other from across the room, an odd, silent standoff as they both seethe at the mere sight of the other, before Eric turns and walks out.

He saunters away with a final sharp glance in my direction, having gotten whatever information he came for.


"Can I have sixteen packets of sugar?"

I stand behind Rylan in line for coffee, pushing my hair out of my eyes before checking my watch. The line is long, stretching through the store and into the seating area. There are a good thirty people waiting behind me, and a few groan when Rylan leans over the counter, resting his elbows to really look at the barista.

"Please?"

"Rylan, that's going to taste disgusting. I can give you four." She looks over his head at me, and her stare is pleading. "Four is more than enough."

"Yeah, you know, Four is more than enough. Have you ever spoken to him? It's like talking to paint drying on a wall. You know what? I'll take five." Rylan huffs. He straightens up, then glances back to see who's behind him. "Oh, hello, Everly. How are you? Did Four bore you to the point of exhaustion and that's why you're down here?"

"No, I'm on my way in now." I smile brightly, struggling not to laugh. Four is boring, but not in the way Rylan thinks. "We're normally off today, but we have a few things to go over. Are you working?"

"I've been working since last night," he rolls his eyes. "Another ten soldiers are down. Arlene is short staffed and when I offered her my help, she told me to leave and that, oh I can't help because I'm a Leader and not a nurse." He waggles his hands dramatically. "Like it would be hard to take someone's temperature. You aren't feeling sick, are you?"

"No." I stare at his hair, almost as long as mine, his unbuttoned uniform jacket and the bright green shirt beneath it. "What are they sick with?"

"Pig flu. Measles. Explosive diarrhea. No one knows or seems to care." Rylan answers, startlingly serious. "Hey, I'll get your coffee. I'm already getting Eric's. What would you like?"

"You don't have to do that." Hearing Eric's name makes me nervous. I haven't seen him since he wandered down to the training room, and knowing he's out in the faction means I might see him again. "Hey, whatever happened with that scientist from Erudite? Did they get the serums we need? I never heard anything from Jeremy."

Rylan ignores the barista and the line, and he turns to look at me. Really look at me. His eyes find mine, his head tilts, and something pleases him because he smiles like he's just solved a problem he's been working on.

"Order your coffee and I'll tell you," Rylan bargains. He stands to his full height, and like Eric, my head nears the middle of his chest. "Promise."

"Fine. Can I just get an iced coffee? With vanilla?" I order quickly, agreeing to whatever the barista asks. I wait as Rylan swipes a black card, then follow him to the end of the counter. "I just wondered how long we need to stall. They did their final fighting, but we aren't sure what's next. They could fight again, I guess."

"Damien said he needs another week. They're almost ready. They sent a few over they wanted us to look at, but no one is willing to try them. We might give them to the newest recruits." Rylan answers brightly. He stands by the counter, watching like a hawk, then reaches for one of the coffees. "Eric thinks they're purposely messing with us to make themselves the superior faction."

"It sounds like it." I answer, knowing nothing more about the serums than what I learned in the meeting. I try to sound like I do, but it's hard when Rylan dumps packet after packet of sugar into his drink, then takes a large sip. Pleased with his creation, he reaches into his jacket, takes out a tiny vial, and pops the lid off. "What are you doing?"

"Liquid vitamins. Eric's been looking a little pale these days. I thought this would help. If he gets sick, we'll never hear the end of it. Not to mention, I'm not covering for him. He owes me for the last time he went to Erudite."

"Where did you get that?"

My stare is glued to his hands. He pours the contents of the vial out, then examines the drinks. For a moment, the liquid is the same as the one from the meeting. It's a swirl of pink shimmer, then nothing. It disappears even further when Rylan stirs it around and sticks the lid back on it.

"I got them from the scientist guy. It was the only thing he'd sell me. He promised it would keep me healthy, but I'm already healthy, so I'm helping Eric. This is the second dose." Rylan pauses, then watches as I pick up my drink. "Do you want to try them? If we lose anyone else to this mystery illness, I'll have to work all weekend."

"I'm good, thanks." I take a sip of my drink, and to my horror, Eric appears behind Rylan. He stares us down like he's already furious and it's not even eight am. "Um, thank you for the coffee. I should really get going and –"

"What are you two doing?" Eric interrupts. His tone sends a shiver down my spine, mostly because it's accompanied by a razor-sharp stare. "I thought you said you were getting coffee."

"I am. I got yours. I was just talking with Everly about the initiation class. She was asking how long they needed to stall." Rylan looks at me, and his gaze dares me to tell Eric about the vitamins. "Right, Everly? She said they're done fighting."

"Yeah, we are. Rylan said another week since Erudite hasn't sent the serum." I agree quickly, unable to escape Eric's glare. "I should go. Four is waiting for me."

"What is Number Boy doing down there? Is he following the curriculum?" Eric looks at me while he takes a large sip of his drink, and Rylan watches him like a hawk. "Has he deviated from the plans?"

"I don't think so. He gave me a packet to use, and we've stayed on track. The only part that's off is the Fear Landscapes since we don't have the serum." I feel like I'm talking too much and too fast, but I can't help myself. "We're right on track. We'll keep fighting, maybe take them outside next week. I don't know what he has planned but we'll go over it today."

"Has he left you alone with the class? Has he gone anywhere?" Eric asks, and his grey eyes flash. "Has he mentioned anyone else helping?"

"No. He's always there, and…I don't think he's ever said anything about someone else helping. He doesn't even want me there," I admit, standing up straighter when Eric tilts his head. I can see his mind whirling, and for a half second, I find myself defensive of what Four is doing. Not because I am, but because it seems like I'm covering for him. "He's fine. I'm following what Max gave me and nothing else."

"Good. That's what you should be doing," Eric looks over me, then finishes his drink in a final swallow. "If he deviates from what he's been given…" Eric pauses, and I notice Rylan looking at me. He turns his stare to Eric, smiling even wider when Eric grimaces like he's just drunk something nasty, and then he glances down at the coffee. "You're to report him. Immediately. Is he giving anyone extra help? Some of the scoring seems off."

"Honestly, he's not doing anything. At best, he let them have an extra water break," I counter, knowing that this could bite me in the ass. I know it's not wise to argue with Eric, and I certainly don't care if Four is doing his job to Eric's satisfaction. "A few passed out, so…"

"Fascinating." Rylan interjects. "Hey, Eric, you want to walk downstairs and see what Karl is doing? You said he was on your list."

"What list?"

Fear pricks at my neck. Karl and I went through initiation together, and while we were far from the same skill level, he was always helpful.

"My work is none of your business." Eric snaps, but it's not as malicious as I would expect. He stares at me, his grey eyes boring into mine, then he steps toward me like he's about to shove me into the counter. "Do you know him?"

"Yeah, we went through initiation together," I answer, tilting my head to look up at Eric. My dark shirt and leggings are nothing compared to his uniform, and in front of him, I feel terrified for my life. "He's a good guy."

"Oh, is he?" Eric mocks, but again, it's not as mean as it sounds. He's not even glaring at me. He looks confused, but it's gone as quickly as it came. "What's your real name, Amity?"

"My name?"

Next to me, Rylan coughs.

He chokes on his sixteen sugar packets, but Eric doesn't look at him.

"Yeah. I said, what's your real name?"

"It's Everly." I look at him, wondering if he really doesn't know. "Everly Carlen."

"Right." Eric answers, shrugging as Rylan continues to die behind him. He coughs so hard I expect him to throw up, and I catch a glimpse of him holding onto the counter so he doesn't fall over. The barista offers him some water, and he croaks out a very uneven thank you. "Well, Everly, don't worry about Karl. He's fine."

"Okay."

I step away from Eric, but he doesn't move. His stare stays on my face, then drops to my neck. Then back up to my eyes, then my hair. When he's done examining me, he turns, only to find Rylan red-faced and gasping for air.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, guys."

"Great. Let's go. We're late." Eric ignores him. He tosses his cup away in the trash, then storms ahead and toward the exit. "Now."

"Good luck, Everly. I won't let him kill Karl. Don't worry."

"Thanks." I take a sip of my own drink, sighing when my phone rings. I know it's Four, and I know he's wondering if I'm on my way. "Shit."

I take off as fast as I can without spilling my drink, heading through the faction to find Four in hopes of finishing early. I sprint down the steps, around a corner, and through a hallway, and I'm so distracted I almost miss Eric standing off to the side, talking to someone on the phone while Rylan is furiously texting someone. His stare finds mine, but he remains expressionless. He watches me leave, unmoving, as he dully tells someone they are to report to his office by twelve.


Harrison's office is so dark I can barely see anything.

I enter cautiously, just like the sign says, and it takes a second for my eyes to adjust. Harrison sits at a large desk, working on something. His face is illuminated by the glow of his computer screen. Every so often, he bangs on the side of it, angrily muttering that someone has ruined it. He types quickly, muttering aloud whatever he's writing, and he only looks up when I say his name.

"Oh, hello. Sorry, to keep you waiting. I'm trying to find the going price for Yak, but it's impossible. Johanna hasn't answered in weeks, and Jack claims to know nothing about it." He gestures toward a chair covered in books, coats, and what appears to be a bear trap. "Have a seat. What can I help you with?"

"Uh, I can stand." I pause, caught off guard, and my original plans for coming here disappear from my mind. "Yak? What are you doing with Yaks?"

"We have too many this time of year. Are you interested in helping find them?" He leans back in his chair, smiling brightly. "You're from Amity. I bet you know how to hunt."

"I don't. No one ever took me hunting." I stare at his plaid shirt and messy hair and I wonder if he's from there. "I've never even seen a Yak before."

"They're majestic creatures. I'd love to start a conservation for them. I've run it by Max a few times but I'm not waiting for his permission. They could be used in battle if we train them when they're young." Harrison looks over me, then makes a face. "What do you want?"

"Me?" I startle at the change in his tone, but he's looking over my shoulder.

"Fuck off. I need your signature on the paperwork for Amity, and you've failed to respond to any of my emails." Eric's voice is even but displeased. "Is there a reason you couldn't respond?"

"Is there a reason you couldn't walk it over here? My office is three doors away from yours. I told you; I don't read your emails. They're too pretentious." Harrison rolls his eyes. "What are you doing with Amity? Are you allowed back there?"

"Like I give a shit if Johanna said I can't come by," Eric smiles, though it's far from bright. He steps into the room and stops by me, glancing down with disgust. "Security details. Max wants the cameras updated and online by Friday. I've sent the request six times now. Johanna won't give us permission, but Max thinks you can help."

"I see." Harrison looks at me, then back at Eric. "Did you ask Everly?"

"Why the fuck would I ask Everly about Johanna? Is she going back there?" Eric blinks, and his arm bumps against mine. "Sign the papers so I can head there today."

"I can't. I'm busy," Harrison responds. "Everly was in here first. Let me help her, then I'll read your proposal."

Eric stiffens, and it must be rare that someone tells him no.

"I need a signature. Not your thoughts on the plan." Eric demands. "Everly can wait two minutes."

"Everly, what did you need?" Harrison ignores him, and he looks only at me. "Or were you just here to ask about the Yaks?"

Eric's stare slides to me, so annoyed that I'm surprised he hasn't thrown me into the hallway. I do my best not to look at him, because I can understand his frustration. I'm sure he wants to finish his job just like I want to finish mine.

"I came by to see if you could join us on the fence. Four and I still don't have the Fear Serum, so we're moving the field trip up. He wants another Leader there because there's so many of them. Since we can't move onto the next stage, we haven't made any additional cuts. He thought you might like to come along and help out. Max is busy, and Jason is scheduled elsewhere. And according to Jason, Rylan got banned from the fence, so that leaves you. Or uh…Eric." I answer quickly, hoping Eric doesn't think I'm stupid enough to ask him to go along. "Four is really hoping you'll join us."

"When are you going?" Harrison leans back further, propping his boots up on his desk. "Today?"

"This afternoon. It's about two hours according to Four." I accidentally bump Eric's arm, and there's a dizzying moment when I'm physically against him. I correct myself, and when I catch sight of him, he's looking at me in sheer exasperation. "He said it might snow, and he's worried that–"

"It is going to snow." Eric interrupts, turning to look at me. "Do you have a jacket?"

"What?" I look up in confusion, but he's dead serious. His uniform today is the same one he wore to the meeting, but freshly ironed and sharp looking. It crinkles as he leans down, like he's inspecting my sweater for battle. "I have a jacket."

"Do you have the right boots?" Eric's jaw unhinges itself as he looks down at me again, this time, less impressed. "You're going to freeze."

"I only have these." My tone is oddly standoffish, but I haven't been given an entire wardrobe of uniforms like he has. "Did you want to go with us? I'm sure Four won't mind. He wants an additional person since there's so many of them."

"No, I don't want to go to the fucking fence," Eric answers slickly. "I want Harrison to sign off on this security request so I can get on with my life."

"You're awfully cranky these days. Are you feeling alright? Jason said Michael went down yesterday. Coughed so hard he burst a blood vessel in his eye," Harrison muses. "If I were you, I'd go to the fence. Get out of Dauntless and get some fresh air."

"Harrison, sign the damn papers or I'll forge your name myself," Eric threatens. He shifts his weight, hitting my arm again. "And you, Everly, need better attire for the fence. Tell Four to get you a coat and pay for it out of his paycheck."

"I'll be fine. I doubt Four wants to buy me a coat." I counter, but the world grows dark when he looks at me.

For once, I have the full attention of Eric. I assume he's considered one of the main Leaders of Dauntless, and I also assume he's used to getting his way. His jaw cocks to the side, his lips part, and when he finally smiles, it's smug.

"Suit yourself. Enjoy your pneumonia."

He leaves with a sneer in my direction. Harrison and I are silent as he stomps down the hallway. Eventually, the door to his office slams shut. I jump when Harrison laughs, and lowly informs me he'll go with us.

"He's right, you know. You'll need a heavier coat over your sweater. You can let me know anytime about the Yaks." He stands, checks his watch, and points to the door. "Give me a second and I'll walk you back downstairs. I'll go with you to the fence. I have some things to do out there, anyway."

"Thank you."

Relieved that he's joining us, I walk into the hallway, and though I try not to, I look toward Eric's office. I've never been inside, nor do I really know where it is, but it's impossible to miss the placard on the wall.

Three doors down from Harrison's office is a sign that reads Eric Coulter, and the door is tightly closed.


The initiates swirl around me in total chaos.

I stand on my toes to try and count them, but I'm interrupted by Jeremy grabbing my arm and shoving something at me.

"You need to put this on."

Jeremy stops me before I can find Harrison or Four. His expression is stressed as he shoves a thick coat at me, grimacing when I don't take it. "Everly, you have to put it on. Seriously. I have orders to make sure you have a jacket."

"Is that…is that Eric's?" I stare incredulously at the coat, and my eyes widen. The blue stripe on the arm is brand new, and the thing is clearly meant for someone twice my size. "Did he give you that?"

"Yeah, yeah he did. The orders came down an hour ago. Make sure Everly is in the proper uniform. I have to see you put it on before you can leave." He shoves the jacket toward me again, eyeing me intently. "Please. If you don't, I'll have to write you up for disobeying Eric."

"I don't want his jacket. I have one on!" My protest makes him sigh, but I'm sighing on the inside. As much as I hate to admit it, Eric might be right. My jacket isn't all that warm, and the outside is freezing. The sky is grey, the clouds are thick, and the threat of snow becomes a little higher with each minute. None of that means I want to wear Eric's Leader's jacket, though. "Why did he give you that?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. My orders are to make sure you have it on. I'm supposed to make sure it's zipped up, and you have on the official boots, too." He looks pained, and his brown hair ruffles as the wind blows. "Listen, I don't know why he's chosen to nitpick your uniform, but all official trips require an official uniform. I don't know if Four didn't give you one, or maybe he forgot to order it, but Eric has insisted you wear…his jacket."

Jeremy pauses to lick his lips, and there's some heavy implication behind that last part of his sentence.

"Look, it's not personal. He probably doesn't want anyone else to get sick. We're down another five guys. So, if you get sick, they've gotta pull a Leader in to work with Four. Just…put the coat on and call it a day. He didn't even say you have to return it." Jeremy's frustration increases as the class swarms around us, failing to notice Four calling out orders to line up. "I'll tell him you have on different boots. He didn't send any."

"When did he give this to you?"

I reluctantly reach for the jacket, ignoring the curious stare of Four and the amused smirk of Harrison as they instruct the class toward the train. It's not here yet, but I can hear the whistle in the distance, and once it nears the station, I'll board it with everyone else. The wind blows harder, and my face hurts when the next gust slaps against my skin.

"Jeremy?"

"A half hour ago." He hands me the jacket, and it's heavier than I expect. "He said there wasn't time to have one sent up."

"Fine."

I quickly pull it over my sweater and it's much too large. The ends cover my hands, and before I can protest, Jeremy helps me zip it. He works fast, ignoring the way it catches on my hair and the fact that it's so bulky I can barely move my arms.

"There. You're good. Your ETA is under two hours, but with the snow, they're estimating three. Harrison should be able to handle anything that comes up, but if you have any issues, contact the Control Room," Jeremy instructs. He looks around, then nods as he steps back. "Good luck."

"Why are you telling me this? Did you work with Four? How am I supposed to jump on the train with this?" I adjust the collar, but it's useless. I have no clue how Eric wears this all day, and even less of a desire to find out why he's hellbent that I wear it. "Jeremy?"

"No, I'm supposed to relay that to you."

He leaves muttering under his breath. He glances back to make sure I don't take the jacket off, and when Four joins my side, Jeremy salutes us goodbye.

"Everly," Four starts, and his tone is impatiently curious. "I'm not going to ask why Jeremy came down here to give you a jacket, but is that Eric's? Because that looks an awful lot like the jacket he had on this morning."

I stare at him, wondering if he's truly this dense.

"No, it's my jacket." I glare at Four, and his eyes narrow in response. "Does it look like my jacket? It's Eric's. I saw him in Harrison's office, and he told me I had to be in the official uniform and I guess my sweater didn't cut it." I try to fix the sleeves, and I'm hit with the faint scent of Eric. I can't escape it, but it's not bad. It's rich and clean, alluring if it didn't belong to Eric. "He also asked me if you were following the curriculum."

I stick my hands in the pockets, and there's something in one. My fingers touch the paper carefully, and I pull it out so Four can't see it.

His expression is already unpleasant enough.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him yes. We've followed everything we're supposed to. And any adjustments are purely because we don't have the serums." I wait for him to nod, but he doesn't look any happier. "Did you piss him off?"

"I'm sure. Stay here and make sure everyone gets on. Harrison and I will work the front. If anyone tries anything, call for backup."

With a curt nod, Four leaves to corral a few initiates away from the tracks. I wait for him to leave my sight, then I glance down at the paper. Once I unfold it, I suck in a deep breath, swearing when I realize I'm officially on Eric's list.

There, written in very neat handwriting that I'm assuming is his, is my apartment number and last name.


The fence is a disaster.

The storm hit as soon as we arrived, and most of our time was spent ducking between the snowfall while making sure everyone stayed together. Harrison knew more than Four, so he gave most of the tour, while I hung around the back. I trailed behind the class, remembering my own trip out here, and Four's warning that low ranking soldiers were stationed here for months at a time.

After an hour staring into what looked like a blizzard, Four decided we should return to Dauntless, and to his dismay, none of the initiates seemed particularly wowed by the trip. He scowled the entire walk back, looking irritable as the initiates grumbled over the cold. Every so often, he'd shoot me a look daring me to say something, but I couldn't blame them.

Eric was right.

It was freezing, and the longer we were out here, the colder it got.

I grimace as the storm picks up. I stand beside Four, watching as a third initiate in ten minutes complains that it's snowing. It's like their time inside has erased their memories of weather, and the downfall of snow has caused several meltdowns. Literally. A fourth initiate slips as they wait to board the train, and a fifth whines that their hands are numb. I stumble into Four as we head toward the doors, and I stop only because Harrison is not with us.

"Wait! Harrison isn't here. I'm going to find him."

"No! Get on the train! He's right there. Harrison, we're leaving!" Four pushes me aside. His protest is not at human contact, but at Harrison, marching out into a bank of snow. In the distance, Harrison turns, then yells that he'll meet us back in Dauntless.

"Should we go after him?" I inch closer to the train, feeling a wave of guilt at leaving him outside. "He'll freeze out there."

"He said he saw a Yak," a girl my size offers, peering at both Four and me from behind her coat. "Did you see a Yak?"

"I didn't see anything." I shake my head. "Did you?"

"No, but I'm not exactly sure what that is."

She waits for an answer as Four looks at me, but his phone rings before he can explain what Harrison is doing. He glances down with a weary sigh, then answers with zero enthusiasm.

"What? Yeah, she's right here. Do you need to speak to her?" He looks at me, and his stare is thick with amusement. "Hold on." He pushes the phone toward me with a sympathetic look. "It's for you."

"What? Who is it?"

I know before he can answer. I press the phone to my ear, and I'm met with the harsh, cold voice of Eric.

"Are you on the train?"

"I'm about to be. Why are you calling for me?" I cover my other ear as the train begins to move, and the noise grows even louder. "Is this about Harrison?"

"No. I wanted confirmation that you were on your way back." He pauses, quickly typing something. "And the jacket worked?"

"It did. Uh, thank you." I try to ignore Four's stare because I know he's going to ask me about Eric. "Do you need anything else?"

"What happened to Harrison?" Eric asks, continuing to type. "Why is he not with you?"

"He went out into the snow. Something about a Yak," I struggle not to laugh, because it sounds stupid to say out loud. "Do you need confirmation when we're back?"

I'm met with silence, more typing, and a strange, strangled exhale.

"Yes."

I decide he's merely keeping tabs on Four. He's clever and sneaky, and him asking to speak to me probably thew Four off. I imagine Eric smirking in his office as he dialed Four's number, then bypassing him only to make sure we were following orders. I chew on my lip as Eric orders me to call when we return before hanging up abruptly. I silently hand the phone back to Four, and he waits all of two seconds to ask me what Eric wanted.

"He's messing with us. He said to call when we get back." I frown, wondering if his sudden interest in the training class is a terrible sign. "Do you think he'll meet us there?"

"I hope not." Four's answer comes as we swing up onto the creeping train. I stare at the falling snow, and a strange feeling washes over me. I fully expect Eric to be waiting for us, but I can't figure out why. "You okay over there? Are you sure you didn't piss him off?"

"I was, but I'm not so sure now." When I look at him, he looks uneasy. "I can't think of what I would have done, other than exist."

"Yeah, well, sometimes that's enough for Eric."

Four's words are even but wrought with a hidden stress that I share. I don't know Eric, but I have the feeling I'm about to.

And not in a great way, either.