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❝Our world doesn't play out like a fantasy. We aren't some carefree princesses getting handed happy endings on a silver platter-you make one wrong move, and it's game over.❞
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In a world where all control over their lives is illusory, a grou...
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—Part 7.4— Home Sweet Home
❝..the people here truly never change.❞ —Emiko—
Jaehyun and Johnny eagerly dismissed the red and black section of the crowd, ushering us into the pit where the energetic clusters of Dauntless roared with cheers and hollers at our arrival. The two mentors then sank back into the halls, ominously flashing red lights guiding them out of sight. Off to deal with more events brought on by the day of the ceremony.
I wished I could follow after them slightly, to avoid all the clamour before me.
Not wanting to be congratulated endlessly by elders for a decision that I didn't have much willing or conscious part in, I settled into a back corner and watched the Pit live and breathe. Its grey, jagged stone walls burned with a golden glow, the warm light pouring in through the massive glass ceiling. People moved in groups, by themselves, some fought, some trained, some mingled and made their way around the room. Despite its off-putting name, the Pit truly was Dauntless' centre of life.
Unless you entered it in the dead of night, you'd never witness the Pit inactive. It was surging with life constantly.
"And...fight!" A loud voice announced, probably one of the many mentors on the Pit floor.
I looked down from my concrete perch as an orchestrated brawl broke out. Many Dauntless onlookers gathered around, their fists pumping, and voices booming enthusiastically. The attention went straight to the two men circling each other with slow, tentative steps, their fists flexed. Jeno was one of the two, staring straight across the spontaneous arena at his opponent.
After a moment of suspense, his rival-a younger member of Dauntless-lurched forward with his calloused mitt of a hand barreling through the air. Jeno being the target, ducked out of harm's way and quickly reoriented to catch the next barrage of hits.
The fighter whirled around on his heels, catching Jeno's hand as it came rocketing towards him. He stifled a groan as the older male took the upper hand, yanking him forward and flipping him onto his back with a thud. Attempting to get up, the youngest collapsed instantly as Jeno was quick to send him to the floor once more.
I shook my head with a small smile, glancing down at Jaemin, "..it's been barely five minutes and these meatheads are already hosting fights."
"Hm, home sweet home, I guess," humming, his lips cracked into a grin as well. He continued to watch the fight through waves of people, back pressed against the wall of the stone ledge. The crowd shouted and waved their hands vigorously as Jeno rose to his feet, unexpectedly met with a punch to the gut.
Jaemin winced accordingly, but when he turned to face me, his face fell with worry, "Hey, why don't you get in there? You look on edge, maybe punching someone will fix that." He suggested, motioning to the growing cluster of red and black.
