Closer

Chapter 20

"You ready?" Eric asked as I opened the door of my apartment. I'd been asking myself that question all week. I hadn't told Tobias that I would be stuck in the same room as Marcus today, I wasn't sure how that conversation would go and I didn't want to risk anything.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I sighed. The meeting would take place at Erudite's headquarters, which made me even more uneasy about this whole thing. 

I pulled a sleeveless vest over my tucked in v-neck. I pulled the door closed behind me and I stepped out next to Eric. He was wearing a leather jacket over a tight black t-shirt. I saw his eyes scan over my tattoos before looking up at me. "You'll be fine, I promise."

He led me forward, his hand on the small of my back. We met the others in front of the compound where a car was waiting for us. Eric's hand dropped as we piled into the automobile. 

The hum of the car was met by the hum of conversation between the leaders. "You good?" 

I turned and was met by Jennifer and her raised eyebrow of curiosity. "Yeah, I'm good."

"There's a reason you didn't have an aptitude for Candor," she chuckled.

I shrugged as a hint of a smile found a place on my face. It wasn't long until we reached Erudite. The lit building stood out against the night sky. We poured out of the car and made our way inside.

We were greeted by a clean cut gentleman in a blue suit. He led us to the elevator that would lead us to our destination. I noticed the hint of familiarity in Eric's eyes as I looked at him. I had forgotten he had been apart of this faction once. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of a little geeky, tattooless, Eric with glasses and a tucked in, buttoned down, blue shirt. He leaned up against the wall at the back of the elevator next to me.

He grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers. I looked at him while eyed. Out of all places to do this. Right now we were on the down low and holding my hand in a room full of leaders is not a smart way to keep it that way.

He smirked and leaned down, whispering in my ear, "They're too focused on remembering their basic manners to concern themselves with anything else at the moment."

I looked ahead to find Max, Leo, Jason, and Jennifer shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, to worried about the noise in their head to pay any attention to me and Eric.

His hand unfortunately released mine when the elevator doors opened. I walked out ahead of him, following the path traced my those who were ahead of me.

I couldn't help but admire the simplicity, yet technological look to Erudite. We travel through a maze of white before we finally came to a holt.The gentleman that had been acting as our guide gracefully opened a large steel door that opened up into a large conference room. 

My heart began to speed up slightly as I started my involuntary scan of the room. My eyes stopped first on the brightest person in the room. Layered in red and yellow, I assumed to be Johanna Reyes, the speaker of Amity. Next my eyes caught blue. Blue worn by the one and only Jeanine Mathews. Her blond hair contrasting against her navy blue blazer as she smiled at us. Jack Kang, the leader of Candor stood a few feet from her in his black and white attire.

I didn't want to, but something in me pulled my attention in the direction of the two figures dressed in grey. I physically stopped as I saw him, causing Eric to walk into me. 

"Alex," he said lowly, urging me forward. 

Andrew Prior smiled as he laid eyes on me. I smiled back, it was hard to believe such a good man would follow my father. My father, the man standing next to him. I let my eyes drift in his direction and instantly I made eye contact with his harsh, steel blue eyes. I had to will myself to not cower away from his glare. I could see as the rage filled his eyes, the same rage that filled them as I walked out of the Choosing Ceremony with Dauntless.

"Welcome!" Jeanine greeted us. She walked over and began to shake Max's hand. Then moving to Leo, Jason, Jennifer, Eric, and the myself. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Jeanine Mathews." Well, duh.

"I'm Alex," I smiled as I shook her hand.

"Alex, will be replacing Leo in our leadership so we figured it'd best start her off as soon as possible," Max informed her, a smiled on his face. Wow, what a kiss ass. I could just see it in his expression.

"Well, congratulation on the new position, Alex... what was your last name?" My heart nearly stopped at the question. I couldn't just not  answer her question. It was Jeanine Mathews for christ sake. 

"Eaton. Alex Eaton," I said, almost ashamed to have any connection to the man standing barely halfway across the room.

"Eaton? Any relation to Marcus Eaton?" She asked, but I'm pretty sure she already new the answer to that question.

"Unfortunately," I mumbled and received a jab in the side by Eric.

"She's my daughter," I nearly cringed at the sound of his voice as he approached us. His façade was firmly in place as he took on his role as Abnegation's leader and not the enraged father.

I felt Eric tense as he stepped slightly closer. "You must be so proud," god, I wished she would just stop talking already. 

"Very," he smiled, but I saw far beyond the smile.

"Alexandra," Andrew could feel the tension and interrupted, sticking his hand out for me to shake. "You've come a long way."

"A VERY long way," Eric chirped in.

"Yes, very," I smiled as I shook his hand. Andrew was good man, but he still new what my father did to me and Tobias and didn't do shit to help us.

Leo, greatly saving my ass from having to carry on with this conversation, then insisted that I get introduced to the other leaders. 

Once Johanna and Jack had been made aware of my existence we started the meeting. To be honest, as soon as I had sat down I zoned out. No offense, I really could care less what was going on with Amity and Candor. I didn't realize how long it would take to get through all this information. I popped out of my day dream for a few minutes as Marcus and Andrew updated the group about Abnegation, but it was pretty much just all unless information.

"Okay," Jeanine's voice brought me back to the conversation at hand. "We'll take a short break before we continue on with Dauntless and Erudite." Thank god. 

"I'm gonna go use the bathroom," I whispered to Eric as I stood up. He nodded in response.

I made my way to the door and asked the same gentleman who guided us here where the restroom was. He pointed me in the right direction and I was on my way. I didn't actually have to go, I just wanted to get out of the room. Out from under the constant glare of my father.

It was only about a minute travel time before I spotted my destination. I suddenly had an eerie feeling someone was behind me. I couldn't hear them, but I could feel them. 

I turned just in time to see Marcus close the gap between us as his hand wrapped around my throat, thrusting me into the wall. I saw a few spots as my head bashed against up the wall.

"A Dauntless leader? Did you want to come and mock me? To embarrass me with your tattoos and piercings? To show the whole world that I raised a selfish little punk?" He growled, his fingers digging into my flesh.

I knew I should do something. I was trained for this. I was taught to defend myself. Yet, there I stayed, frozen, terrified, as my vision started to fade.

"I'd rather be branded as a selfish little punk than your daughter," I choked.

I didn't think it was possible, but his grip got tighter, my retort pouring gasoline on the fire that reflected in his hateful eyes. He was going to kill me and I wasn't doing anything about it. I couldn't move. I was too scared. I was a coward.

Just as the last sliver of vision began to slip away from me, a fist shot into view, hitting Marcus square in the jaw. I dropped to the floor along with Marcus. My hands shot to my neck as I began to cough, struggling to breath. 

"Well, so much for not starting a faction war."