Candor or Dauntless: Truth or Dare (Watty Awards 2013)

Part 11: Drama and Fights

His lips are warm and soft. His body presses me to the door. I run my hand through his hair. The kiss is so familiar, so unreal. I pull away after realizing who he is. He's the one who cheated. He is dating her. Her being your kidnapper.

I pull away and cower backwards. A look of sorrow passes across his face, but he hides it. I scramble to get passed him but his arms keep me in place.
"Tobias! Let me go!" I demand.
He speaks, "Tris, we can get through this. I love you, you love me! We are meant for each other. Please...please?"
I shake my head, "I think you've got the wrong girl. Konnor is your perfect girl. She has no moral. She'll do whatever you need." I say as I duck under his arm. I open the other door and leave. I storm off and to the dorms. I crawl up into an empty one and fall asleep. I wake up hours later and all the Initiates are asleep. I yawn and stand. I see Alex. He looks peaceful. I shake his shoulder and he jolts awake. I nod toward the door and start to leave.

The Training Room is eerie. I sit on the table that usually holds the knives. The darkness swallows me and I feel abandoned. I wonder where Alex is. I jump down off the table and hear a blood curdling scream.

I run out the doors and toward the scream. It was definitely male. I see Tobias and Jaden. They're standing near The Chasm.

One of Tobias's hands are across the boy's mouth. Jaden is holding the mystery boy's arms. The boy is flailing around, desperately trying to escape. Tobias and Jaden lift up the body and hang him over the Chasm.
"Stay away from her. She's mine." Tobias hisses. It's Alex. Alex hangs lifeless over the edge, only being held up by his attackers. I run as fast as I can to him. Jaden drops his arm and runs. Tobias drops him too, but doesn't run. Alex is barely awake, he hooks his elbows around the railing.
I look up at Tobias, "I will never be yours again. Never. I swear to God!" I yell and then slap his face. I bend over the railing and grab Alex's arms. I help him lift himself up and over the railing. His fist feebly hits my cheek. My cheek pounds. Alex collapses on the ground. I gather him in my arms and collapse next to him. Eventually, I shake Alex. He stirs and groans in pain. I wince.
"Alex, you're going to have to stand. I'll try my best to help. We're closer to my room than the dorms. We'll go there." I say. It's going to be hard, but I think he can do it.

We wobble to my room and he lays down on my bed. His face is battered and smudged with dirt and blood. I grab a washcloth from the cabinets and dampen it. I carefully wash his face, removing the dirt and blood. I lift his shirt to look for other injuries.

He's more black and blue than tan. He has a tattoo across his muscular chest.. I clean up the rest of the blood off his chest and grab an icepack from the freezer. I lift his head gently and put it under his head. I leave quietly and head to the Cafeteria.

I grab two muffins and two bottles of water. My apartment is still and quiet, except for the hum of the fridge. I put his food on the nightstand beside the bed. I grab a spare blanket and pillow from the cabinet and make a bed on the couch. I wake up hours later to Alex whining in pain.

I walk over to him and he makes an exasperated sound. I grab another ice pack and put my knee on the mattress to place the ice pack behind his head. He lifts his hand and caresses my bruising cheek.
I shake my head, "How are you, Alex?" I ask him. He doesn't move his head.
"Ah...I'm okay. I'm fine. What happened to your face?" He asks me.
I smile, "I'm fine. It's nothing. You know, I could report this..." He shakes his head.
"Alex, who did this to you?" I ask. I already know, but I want to see if he remembers.
"Um, I don't kno-ow" His voice cracks and he sobs. I sit back, not offering him any comfort. He's Dauntless now.
He stops sobbing, "Six, can you...um...help me sit up?" He asks and I nod. I put my arm behind I shoulders and pull him gently up. He winces.
"Want some water?" I ask him and he nods. I walk to the fridge and pull out a bottle of water. He drinks half the bottle in one gulp.
"Alex, training starts soon. You have to go, but you aren't fighting today. There's seven of you." He nods.
"Muffin?" I ask.
"Yes. Please, I'm starving!" He says. I hand him his muffin and he eats it in three bites.
I smile, "Want mine?" He nods eagerly. He eats it slower this time.
"What's your tattoo say?" I ask him.
He blushes, "How'd you know I had a tattoo? Well, anyway, it says 'Life and love go on.' Cheesy, I know. It's just that my mother loved that quote." He's so sweet and so handsome. I lean in to kiss him.