His Amity | Eric Coulter x Original FMC |

Chapter Nine

The train ride back was filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter as Four's winning team basked in their victory. However, Eric's face was a stark contrast to the joy around him, his murderous glare fixed on Lia the entire ride back. She ignored him, and laughed with her friends.

As they headed back to the pit, the initiates were buzzing with excitement. Before they were dismissed, Four stepped forward, his expression softer than usual. "Alright, listen up," he called, earning the attention of the group. "Congratulations. You have officially ended phase one. Tomorrow the rankings will be out, and there's a party for the initiates who made it."

The announcement was met with cheers and whoops of joy. The prospect of a party after the intense training and the victory of the war games lifted everyone's spirits even higher.

Four continued, "You have tomorrow off. Enjoy the party tomorrow night and get some rest."

Christina, barely able to contain her excitement, turned to Lia, her eyes sparkling. "We are going shopping first thing tomorrow morning! We need to find something perfect for the party!"

Lia smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Sounds like a plan."

The initiates headed back to their dormitory, the energy of the day's events still buzzing around them. As they prepared for bed, Christina was practically bouncing with excitement. "I can't wait to find something amazing to wear! It's going to be so much fun!"

Lia laughed, feeling a rare lightness in her chest. "Let's make sure we get some sleep first."

Christina nodded eagerly. "Of course! Tomorrow is going to be great."

As they settled into their beds, the room gradually quieted, the exhaustion of the day's activities finally catching up with them. Lia lay back, her mind replaying the events of the war games.

She thought about her encounter with Eric, how he called her his "plaything." She knew one thing for certain, and that was that she was going to dress as slutty as possible for the party tomorrow. Suck it, Eric.

Lia woke up feeling more rested than she had in a long time. The dormitory was quiet, many of the initiates still deep in sleep after the excitement of the previous day. She quietly got out of bed, she was absolutely starving.

Slipping out of the dormitory, she made her way to the dining hall. The smell of food was inviting, and she loaded up a tray with bacon, eggs, and a mountain of hashbrowns. She found a quiet corner to sit and took her time enjoying her meal, savoring each bite.

As she ate, she couldn't help but overhear a group of initiates at the table behind her. They were talking about the war games, their voices carrying over the quiet hum of the dining hall.

"I don't even know how she got the flag," one girl said, exasperation clear in her voice. "I know Eric had it, and then all of a sudden she had it. I wonder how she got it off him."

"She probably sucked him off or something and he gave it to her out of pity," another girl replied snidely.

"Yeah, right," a third girl chimed in. "I doubt someone like Eric would go for an Amity."

They laughed together, their derision evident. Lia rolled her eyes and continued eating, determined not to let their petty comments bother her. She knew the truth, and that was enough.

Before she could fully tune them out, she heard Four's voice, sharp and authoritative. "I would suggest you shut your mouths. She got the flag by outsmarting your precious leader. Worry about your low rankings instead of better initiates."

Lia turned and looked up at Four, who stood behind the table of girls, his expression stern. She felt a surge of gratitude and a bit of surprise. "You didn't have to do that," she told him.