Lost Truths

Integration

Eric showed me to the initiates quarters and left with a smirk.

When I walked in, I was reminded heartbreakingly of Caleb. There were teenagers in groups all over talking about various things. I saw a group of four, two boys and two girls, that seemed nice enough so I went over to them.

"Hey. Is it okay if I sit over here?" I asked.

The girl with blond hair nodded. "Sure! I'm Tris, and this is Christina, Will, and Al."

"I'm Ari."

Christina looked at me oddly. "It's weeks past choosing. Why haven't you been here all this time we've been training?"

I was about to use my 'it's a long story' excuse, but decided against it.

"Well, I was from Amity...." And so I started to lie the now familiar lie once again.

When I was finished they looked like they believed it, so that was good.

"What was your illness?" Will asked with genuine curiosity.

I raised an eyebrow, already feeling more comfortable with these four. "Don't you think that's an odd question for someone you just met?"

Christina cut in, "He's from Erudite. Don't mind him."

My fists tightened hearing the word Erudite. Will wasn't Jeanine though, I had to remind myself. He wouldn't hurt me.

I forced a smile. "Oh that explains it. My illness was plant related, to answer your question. Too curious for my own good."

He nodded.

"Well we've got training in five minutes, so let's get down to the pit, shall we?" Al asked.

The five of us got up and walked down to the so called pit together. There was a man who looked no older than eighteen already there. As the students filed in, he looked us over with sharp eyes. He must be the instructor.

His eyes landed on me, frowning as he took in my face. I stared right back at him, refusing to back off.

"Who are you?" he asked finally.

"Ari," I responded.

"Well, Ari, I don't remember seeing you in any of the classes, so what's your excuse?"

"I-"

"I can vouch for her." Eric came into the room with a small black gun hanging at his side.

The instructor turned around to look at Eric. "Really."

Eric nodded. "I'll fill you in later Four."

So the inquisitive instructor's name was Four was it? A rather odd name, so I concluded it must be a nickname.

"Ari and Peter. In the ring," Eric called.

I saw a boy across the circle smirk like he had already won the upcoming fight.

"Good luck with that," Christina said.

Now that I looked around the circle, everyone was acting like Peter had already won. Well, from personal experience I knew the kids who acted like that had major weak spots if you could find them.

The two of us got into the circle with our arms up in a defensive position. We danced around each other, waiting for the other to strike first.

"Stop playing around," Eric said in a bored voice.

He wanted real stuff? I'd show him real stuff.

I lunged toward Peter and jolted my fist away from my body towards his throat. I connected, causing him to grab at his throat while coughing, desperate for breath.

"You're dead girl."

I wasn't intimidated by his empty threats. I threw out my fist again, this time connecting with his jaw. Eric looked more interested now that Peter was the one getting beaten up. My guess was that he was some sort of hotshot here. A hotshot that needed to be taken down a few pegs.

I punched him in the stomach again and again. He could barely block my punches, much less try to hit me. Finally, though, I began to tire and Peter took full advantage.

He threw his first punch at me and I casually dodged. This was a dance I had perfected long ago and it felt good to be doing it again.

He punched empty air next, as I sidestepped his hand. His third try, he hit me dead on in the face.

I fell to the mat as blood sprayed from my nose. Thick, hot blood was rushing down my face as Peter jumped on top of me, one of his legs on either side of me, pinning me down. This would usually be the time to yield and the fight would stop,but Peter brought his fist back down on my face.

When he drew back, I saw my own blood on his fingers. This wasn't a normal fight. This was a fight until unconsciousness deal. The thought sent a rush of adrenaline surging through my veins.

As he bent down, I threw my head at his and our skulls collided with a nasty sound. I was seeing spots now, but at least he was off of me. He was clutching his head in one hand, but the other was still poised for a fight. I decided to end it by hitting him in his face. He collapsed on the mat, eyes closed and unconscious.

I felt a bit bad seeing his body like that, but if I hadn't hit him, that would have been me on the mat.

Everyone around me either looked astonished, happy, or angry. Christina gave me a high five and my newfound friends were all cheering for me. I could tell just from this short hour that I would fit in perfectly at Dauntless.

A/N: Just a note for the readers, Ari took kickboxing classes, as well as some other select fighting classes back home. That's how she knew how to beat Peter.