Transition - a fanfiction (Divergent)

Chapter 20 - Struggle

We begin walking back when suddenly Tobias stops me and gently raises my arms.

There are bruises all over them from where Eric grabbed me from behind harshly.

Tobias lets go of me and walks a few steps behind me towards Eric, clenching his fists.

I grab his arm. "Stop, Tobias. We may already be in enough trouble. I don't want you being thrown out of Dauntless, not now," I say seriously.

"Okay," he says, sounding convinced and taking a deep breath. "Don't you have to fight tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I reply.

"But you have a black eye and massive bruises all over your arms," he points out.

"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?" I say, raising my eyebrow.

He smiles and puts his arm around mine, leading me back to our room.

-

I stand on the platform in front of a girl from Candor (I think I heard someone call her Sarah) and I get into my starting position. She gives me a death stare from where she stands. I feel like she's staring into my soul.

Don't hold back. Don't hold back. You need to win this.

"Begin," Max says calmly.

By the time I even acknowledge the fact that we can begin fighting, Sarah's fist has already punched me harshly in the stomach, and I double over, moans escaping from my mouth.

She has good reactions...

Sarah attempts to punch me again, but I gambol across to the other side of the platform and get into yet another standing position.

I will not be the victim here.

My leg pushes into Sarah's stomach, and she stumbles backwards, giving me the perfect opportunity to tackle her down.

But she's too quick and tackles me down first.

She places her legs tactically on my arms, making it hard for me to sit up again, and she continuously punches me in the face.

I begin to ignore the fact that I'm being beaten up in front of all the other initiates and just think of the kisses I've shared with Tobias.

Then I have an idea.

I spit towards her face, and she freezes in shock.

I kick her from underneath, and she rolls over onto her side. My foot makes contact with her face, and she lies there, struggling to whisper something.

"What was that?" Max asks.

"I give up," Sarah whispers louder.

"Congratulations, Octavia Pemberton, you won your first fight in training. Well done."

Everyone claps, but Sarah walks off, out of the training room.

She looks like she's in pain.

After I see her like this, all I can think is: Dauntless is making people violent... making me violent... did I go too far?