His Amity | Eric Coulter x Original FMC |

Chapter Eight

Lia's mind was a whirl of confusion after her conversation with Four. The fact that Eric, of all people, had changed the rankings to place her higher was baffling. Eric, who had been nothing but harsh and critical towards her since day one. Why would he do something that seemed almost... supportive?

As she made her way back to the dormitory bay, the weariness of the day's training settled over her. Most of the initiates were lounging around, their exhaustion palpable. The bay was filled with the low murmur of conversations and the occasional sound of laughter.Lia spotted Christina and Peter on their beds, deep in conversation. She offered them a tired but genuine smile as she passed by. "Hey guys," she greeted.

"Hey, Lia," Christina replied, smiling back. Peter gave her a nod, though his eyes lingered on her a bit longer, as if he had something on his mind.

Lia headed towards the showers, desperate to wash away the grime and tension of the day. The open showers were a stark reminder of the lack of privacy in the Dauntless compound, but she had grown used to it. She quickly undressed and stepped under the warm spray of water, letting it cascade over her, washing away the sweat and stress.

As she lathered her hair with shampoo, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning slightly, she saw Peter standing there, his expression a mix of curiosity and something more. Lia's initial reaction was confusion—why was he here, now, of all times?

"What did you and Four discuss earlier?" Peter asked, his tone casual, but his eyes keenly interested. He was clearly too curious to wait for a more appropriate moment.

Lia frowned, the absurdity of the situation striking her. She was standing naked under the shower, and Peter was grilling her about her conversation with Four. "Seriously, Peter? Now?"

Peter shrugged, a grin playing at his lips. "Couldn't wait."

Sighing, Lia rinsed the shampoo from her hair. "Four just told me I was doing a good job," she said, her tone clipped. "And I asked him about how the rankings work."

Peter's grin faltered. "So, five on the rankings isn't good enough for you, huh?"

Lia turned fully towards him, unbothered by her nakedness. She met his gaze steadily, her eyes serious. "No, it's not good enough," she said firmly. "I want to be the best."

Peter's playful demeanor faltered for a moment as he took her in, his expression shifting to something more intense. He stepped closer, but Lia, feeling the need to reassert control of the situation, turned back to the shower, dismissing him by focusing on rinsing her hair.

There was a moment of silence, and then she heard Peter chuckle softly. "You're something else, Lia," he said. 

Once she was finished, she made her way back to her bunk and fell asleep almost immediately. 

The sharp clanging of metal against the wall shattered the silence of the dormitory bay. Lia jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. Four stood at the entrance, banging a pole against the wall with a relentless rhythm.

"Two minutes. Get up and get ready," he barked, his voice cutting through the groggy murmurs of the other initiates.

Lia groaned, her irritation obvious as she scrambled out of bed. She quickly changed into her training clothes, her mind racing with curiosity about what lay ahead. The initiates, still bleary-

eyed and sluggish, followed Four out of the bay and towards the pit.

In the pit, Eric and Four waited, their expressions serious. Eric's eyes scanned the group with a