Jewel's POV
Morning breeze hits my face through the open window. It's turning into fall and the air is no longer warm but a cool wisp. I walk into the bathroom and jump at the sight of my reflection. Bruises cover the bottom of my jaw and the rest of my body. My face is swollen to a point where it looks like I shoved to acorns in my mouth and kept them there.
Sighing, I get into into the shower and hope that the warm water takes the ache away.
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"What exactly do you do in the Dauntless library?" Jake asks me as we eat lunch. I shrug. "Mainly help the little kids find books for their school work. And ya know, make sure everyone stays quiet."
He laughs loudly, making other people at the table stare. "That kinda seems impossible in Dauntless." He says while shoving a piece of chocolate cake into his mouth.
My best friend Addy and her boyfriend Miles walk up to the table and sit down. Addy gasps at the sight of my face. "What happened to you?!" She grabs my chin and turns my head, examing the damage. I pull away from her touch. "Bris got me good, yesterday." "Geeze, I'm guessing Eric set up that fight?" I shake my head. "Actually, Four did. But I don't think he expected this." I gesture to my face.
"He expected you not to let your guard down." I stop eating at the sound of his voice. Jake looks across the table at me then over my shoulder. Everyone stays quiet which just makes me more nervous. A large hand encompasses the small of my back and body heat surrounds me as Eric leans down next to me.
"I need to speak with you." He says then eyes everyone at the table then back down to me. "Privately."
I don't dare question him. His tone was serious which makes me think I might be in trouble. What did I do wrong? I walk through the cafeteria with Eric following close behind. His hand remains on my back, guiding me to wherever he plans to take me. This physical contact is completely unnecessary but I don't do anything about it. What an idiot I am.
He finally leads me through a door and on entering, I see that it's an office. His office. He shuts the door behind him and pushes me further in, gesturing for me to sit down in one of the empty chairs. He walks around to the other side of the desk and takes a seat. With a bored expression he says, "We're planning on cutting the staff back in the library. You need to be placed somewhere else."
He says it so nonchalantly. Like this type of thing happens all the time. I stare in shock until words begin pouring out of my mouth. "You can't do that! It's not fair. I'm good at what I do!" He rolls his shoulders and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. I momentarily glance at his bulging muscles in his arms, but I collect myself quickly. He still wears a bored expression which makes me angry.
"Of course you don't care, though because you're a leader. Everyone else is insignificant."
He narrows his eyes at me and leans up. "Don't talk to me like that." I lean forward, also. My palms press into the front of the desk. "Or what?" I say challengingly.
Eric stands suddenly and moves from behind his desk to my side. In one quick motion, he yanks me out of the chair by my arm and once again I'm pulled into his chest. Only this time, I'm facing him and my feet are barely touching the ground. His face is so close, that I swear I can see the anger in his pupils. His teeth grind together as he speaks. "Don't test me, Amity. I'll throw you out of here."
My eyes dart back and forth between his. I'm terrified. "I'm sorry. Can you put me down?" I whisper. He doesn't make a move. My arm throbs under his touch. I have bruises everywhere and his death grip isn't making things better. "Eric, please. You're hurting me." I'm released immediately. The pain in my arm is worse than I thought as I rub it.
Instead of him backing up, he stands in front of me still. "Do you just let people beat the shit out of you?" Nothing. I say nothing but keep rubbing my arm. He steps closer if that's possible and puts a finger under my chin. "She did some damage." I glare at him. "Ya think?" His hand falls but his gaze stays fixated on me.
"Fight harder next time." I look away and back at my arm. "I'll remember that." He finally steps away and crosses his arms again. "Until we can place you somewhere else, you will be my assistant." My head snaps up at him. "What?!"
I must look horrified because he begins to laugh. "Oh, don't worry, Amity. You won't get beat up here." Somehow I don't believe that statement. "I'm not doing it. No way. There must be something else." His face becomes serious again and a hint of anger has returned to his eyes. He closes the gap between us once again. "You will do this." He makes it sound so final.
Putting on my best innocent puppy dog face, I look up at him. "There's really nothing else?" I try to make it sound sweet. For a brief second his demeanor changes but he recoils, quickly. "No, there isn't."
I nod in agreement. "You start tomorrow. Be in here no later than eight.....now get out." He turns me towards the door and his palm presses the small of my back again. I exit.
What just happened? My mind blurs as I walk back to the cafeteria.
