Eric Lets Go

Chapter 9

**Sophia's POV**

I've been avoiding Eric all morning trying to think about what I should say to him later. I at least told my friends because Anna was worried about me last night so I told them. They told me I had nothing to be afraid of and they would always be there for me.

Again I'm the last one called into the simulation room. When Four walks out, I'm already standing and head right to the cold, hard, metal chair I've always hated.

After he injects me with the serum, Four breaks the silence and says, "Remember to try and calm yourself as fast as possible." I nod at that, and am immediately taken to darkness.

I can feel I'm laying on something soft. As my eyes adjust to the dark, I realize I'm in my old room. I hear singing coming from the distance in the field behind my house. It sounds like my mom. Mom? I quickly hop out of the bed and run down the stairs. My dad is sitting on the couch reading the paper.

"Dad? Where's mom?" I asked quickly.

"Remember? She left because she didn't love you anymore," he stated coldly. I just shake my head and run out the back door to the fields while my father yells threats from the back porch. I can hear her voice. I keep running and my legs start to burn and my forehead threatens beads of sweat. I start to realize I'm crying. "MOM!" I shout at the top of my lungs, "MOM! WHERE ARE YOU!?" No reply. I still hear her singing though. I fall into a hole and twist my ankle. I start crying harder now. It hurts too much to get up so I stay on the ground and try to calm my breathes.

Seconds later I'm back in the white room on the metal chair.

"Great job Sophia. That was really good!" Four said giving me a gentle smile. "You got out of there in 9 minutes and 34 seconds!" He exclaimed, placing a hand on my shoulder. I rub my ankle and wipe away imaginary tears. That felt so real. I stayed seated in the chair, finally calming my breathe.

"Do they always get worse as we go on?" I asked hoping for a 'No, of course they get better!' But we are Dauntless and these are our fears.

"Sadly yes, but there are only 2 more days of this left." That didn't help. That meant two more unknown fears eating me away.

"Are you going to be okay with Eric walking you back or do I need to?" He asked concerned.

"I think I'm good. Thanks Four," I said and as I got up he grabbed my arm and said,

"I know about you two," his eyes were stern and I gulped, slightly nervous about what he was going to do. His eyes softened and he said, "Just be careful. If he hurts you, let me know," I could see he was being serious and I was half glad and half mad that he only knows the Eric people made him. I pulled Four into a hug and whispered a thank you.

We walked out together and Eric looked a little agitated until Four nodded and walked away.

Eric pulled me into a hug but as soon as he noticed how stiff I was, he pulled back, with concern in his eyes he asked, "Sophia are you okay? Whatever I did I'm sorry!"

I chuckled at this which made him confused, "You didn't do anything wrong. I mean this you didn't," I pointed to him, "but simulation you did." He immediately looked hurt and I said, "Can we talk about this at your place, please?" I didn't want anyone else to hear as it was very easy to hide in the jagged walls of the Dauntless compound.

He opened the door and led me to the couch. I took a deep breath and started to explain. "So yesterday, my fear was fear of abandonment, and you were there. Along with all the other people I love or have loved in my life." He looked at me confused so I kept going. "Everyone took turns shouting things at me while you threw me off a bus and left me stranded in a desert. The ones that hurt the most were Anna and Jake's, my mom, and yours."