The Distance Between Us | Eric Coulter

four

"This is the Pit, the center of life here at Dauntless." The net guy- whose name I learnt is Four- says as he leads us into a large underground cavern-type place that was buzzing with energy.

I peered up to see sunlight spilling through a glass roof and marvel at how much more lively it all is around here.

"Alright, let's move on." Four says, turning to leave without waiting for any of us to follow.

Everyone scurries after him, not wanting to be left behind and we walk through hallway after hallway until we arrive before a set of twin doors.

Four shoved the door open and we enter a not-so-glamorous looking room filled with rows of single metal-framed beds and shared baths...think prison-styled...yeah, that's exactly what the shower area looks like. Scratch that, that's what this entire dormitory looks like.

"You're going to be sleeping here for the next ten weeks," Four announces as he leads us deeper into the room.

"Girls or boys?" A Candor-transfer asks.

"Both," Four answers, drawing a bunch of chatter from the crowd, "If you like this, you're going to love the bathroom."

Judging based on the glimpses I've got when I entered the room, it was horrendous and like I said, very prison-esque.

"You should feel right at home, Candor." He makes a jab at Christina- a Candor girl that got a little mouthy with him before. "Everything out in the open."

I snicker at his words, earning myself a well-deserved glare from the girl and I shrug apologetically at her.

"Eric," Four greets, making me spin around. "Is there a reason why you're here?" He asks my- I suspect now, ex- best friend.

My eyes immediately met the familiar blue gaze I haven't seen in years that glared back at me.

"Just seeing how everyone's settling in," Eric replies, never taking his cold gaze off of me.

I could see Four raise a curious brow at us from the corner of my eye, but refuse to break eye contact with Eric. For some reason, doing that felt like it was giving in to him, and I sure as fuck wasn't about to do that.

"Everyone's fine," Four says slowly, "I was just about to tell them to get changed."

Eric hums thoughtfully, closing the distance between us until he's towering over me.

"What about you?" He asks in a mocking tone, "Picked bed yet, initiate?"

I paste on a sickly sweet smile, "Don't worry your pretty little head, Eric. I will." My retort draws a couple of gasps from the sidelines.

The corners of Eric's lips pull into a cocksure smirk, "Go on, then. Don't let me keep you." He waves his arm out towards the rows of beds, "Take your pick."

I narrow my eyes at him but step forward to pick a bed anyway. I don't know what he's up to, but I sure as hell was not going to let it intimidate me. I can take whatever he throws at me, and when the time of right, I'll give him a taste of his own medicine.

"This one," I stop beside one that was right in the corner.

Eric nods, "The one that's furthest from everyone else? Good choice," He says, "Saves me the hassle of having to sort out the trash. I'm sure you'll do just fine without a mattress, right?"

"Eric-" Four interjects, but before he could jump to my rescue, I cut him off.

"Sounds perfect," I smile Eric's way.

Letting Four swoop in to save me would've just shown that I couldn't handle Eric and his bullshit, and I couldn't allow that.

"Great," Eric returns a smile that makes my skin crawl before spinning on his heels and making his way out of the dorms. "Get rid of her mattress." He throws over his shoulder at Four when he passes him.

Enraged at his little display, I storm after him, vaguely aware of Four shutting the door behind me as I leave.

"What exactly am I getting punished for?" I ask, my voice bouncing off the walls and making it seem louder than it really is.

Eric halts at the end of the but doesn't turn around to face me, "Don't act like you don't know what you did."

I scoff at his back, "I really don't."

"Tell me," He starts, finally turning to face me. "Did your mother send you to do her dirty work?"

I frown, "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"The whole innocent act doesn't work on you, Aurora."

"And the asshole routine isn't working on you either, so fucking drop it, Ricky." I use the nickname kids used to use on him when we were younger- the one I know he absolutely despises- and he scowls at me.

Somewhere along the way, he grew out of it and everyone stopped using it. I think it's mostly because the name 'Ricky' didn't really suit the tall, intimidating man he had grown into, but I still liked to use it to piss him off sometimes.

I hear Four snickers softly behind me and turn to raise a fist towards him. Surprisingly, he raises his hand to fist-bump me, making Eric's scowl deepen.

Eric turns his glare on Four, "What the fuck are you hanging around for?"

Four shrugs before moving to leave with a smirk on his face, "Kind of just wanted to hear what the initiate has to say."

Before Eric gets the chance to tell him to fuck off- which I know he will- Four leaves us.

I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at Eric just as he did me.

"Now, are we going to talk this out maturely or are you dead-set on acting like a petulant child?"

"Don't go acting like I'm the villain here, Rory." He growls, "Why are you even really here?"

"I'm here because you're here!" I yell at him, "I came for you, dickhead! I'm here because I missed my best friend, but now here he is, acting like a giant douchebag. I don't recognise you anymore!"

Eric's eyes flash with something I can't quite decipher, but it's gone before I could think much of it.

"You've made your bed, Rory." He mutters, giving me his back once again, "Now it's time for you to lie in it."