Haunt

Ch. 8- All I See is RED

2 weeks later...

Time past within a blink of an eye. Days turned into nights faster than the dew on the ground had time to dry. In that time, I learned more about Dauntless and more about Eric. Under the radar, of course. Ebony was quick to make a friend with one of the new initiates who had transferred from Candor. From there, the wheels began to turn and the information poured in.

I learned that the blonde girl who had interrupted my dispute with Eric had come from Candor also the same year that Eric supposedly transferred from Erudite.

Her name is Bethany.

I made a fine mental note of that.

The Candor boy's name is Nate. He became genuinely amused by how Ebony and I would sneak out every night just to see the Dauntless kids but he was friendly enough and I was happy to have met someone who didn't seem offended by our presence.

During the day light hours when they weren't doing any type of training, Nate would come to dining hall and sit with us, talking and telling us stories of the blood, sweat, and tears training that they were being put through.

It didn't surprise me to hear that Eric was the worst of them all. Nate said that Eric thrived on being ruthless.

The more information I learned, the harder it was becoming to stay away. I wanted to be around them all the time but that is easier said than done.

Mom and Dad practically flipped when I told them that Ebony and I had befriended a Dauntless member. Talking them down from their tantrum and persuading them that Nate was only a friend seemed to calm them in some small way.

Dad agreed to let me still hang out with him as long as Ebony was with me.

And so that's what I did.

Until I got tired of it and decided to go out on my own.

Today, though, was different. I had no desire to go see any of the Dauntless. Today I needed to do something else.

I racked through my closet, looking for my favorite dress. It was red, knee length and had a deep v-line that cute down all the way to the center of my chest.

Mom was appalled the first time I put it one but she soon came to grow into loving it and every time I put it on, she knew that I was in the best kind of mood.

And that is the truth. I only ever wear it when I'm at my best.

The pastures look especially green today and I smile as a comfortable warm breeze blows across my face.

Off in the far distance, the first stage of training for Dauntless continue. A group of them run back and forth between the fences. Another group crowds around what I assume to be another fight that is progressing.

My eyes on instinct scan the crowd for the one person they shouldn't.

Standing on one of the large boulders, Eric watches with his arms crossed as the fight continues. Even from this far away, I can tell that there is an irritation to his expression.

Some other members of Amity have gathered to watch as well and so I begin walking, if they can be there than so can I.

I stand behind a few of the Dauntless, in hopes of getting a better look. When I glance in the direction of my fellow Amity, they all look completely shocked by the violence.

For me, I would rather be the one in the ring. Having it out with someone. Just to see what it would be like.

When I look up at Eric, I see that he's already watching me with narrowed eyes. He rolls his head back and forth and then clears his throat.