The Chasm

Chapter Fourty Six (Delilah's Pov)

  It feels weird leaving Eric alone with someone that he knows but I don't, but I shrug it off as I walk into the cafeteria and sit in my usual place with my tray full of food. 

“So is there anything new with Eric? I heard that you brought his mother here.” Peter sneers. He's still mad at me since he found out that I didn't lose my mind. 

“Eric is the same. Nothing different. And yes I did bring his mother here since she is the last thing that connects me to him." 

“David is still mad at us," CHristina says. "By the way, how is he doing?

“I wouldn't doubt it any,” I say. "And I haven't checked in on him."  I look over at Four who is  sulking because of his stupid act that he pulled to get us in this damn situation. Tris probably hates him as much as I do. 

“The damage wasn't that bad to Eric," Caleb says. “In fact there's a 68% chance that he might wake up if that makes you feel any better." 

“Thanks Caleb.” I sigh, picking at my food. There's not a lot left on my plate, but I eat it anyways. 

“68 sounds like an Erudite number,” I say, trying to pick up the conversation. “What number sounds like dauntless?"

“I'll say 72,” Cristina says. Everyone looks at her. “What? It really does."

“Tris,” I ask, poking my fork into her plate. “What number sounds like Abnegation?" 

“I don't know and I don't really care. Can we talk about something else?” She mutters. 

“Fine.” I say under meek exasperation. “What do you want to talk about then?"

Silence. “There isn't much to talk about is there?” Peter says. “Well that's all fine and dandy. More room to think.” He taps Caleb's head as he goes to dump his plate. 

“I'm going back to the dorms if anyone needs me,” Four says. 

“I'll be in Eric's room if anyone needs anything from me,” I announce. I dump my plate and head up, only to find Eric's mother leaning against the opposite wall, crying. 

“What's going on? What happened?” I ask. “Is everything okay?" 

“It's okay honey, but he did go into cardiac arrest and the doctors almost lost him.” The word almost sticks in my brain. “Is he okay now?"

“Yes he's fine, but he's on watch for the next 24 hours. My boy is strong, he'll make it through this."

“Of course he will. He's dauntless, dauntless always make it through.” I say, trying to reassure her. 

“What about all the dauntless that didn't make it through?” She asks, wiping her tears on a napkin. “What about all the ones that you killed?"

“I'm sorry?" 

“I heard your trial. You killed some people. How could you do that?" 

“Mrs.Coulter, I am so sorry, I had to do it under the leadership of Max. And Jeanine.” 

“Jeanine? My leader? Don't you dare try to—” 

“She did. She ordered all the hits on divergents. She would patrol constantly around dauntless looking for them and ordering us to kill them under false circumstances. I'm so sorry.” 

“I can't believe all of this. Why would she do this? She was a perfect leader. I don't understand—”

“I don't either but it won't happen anymore. She also tried to get me killed as well."

“You? You are divergent?"

“Yes."

“This is all insane. I can't even put it together. Excuse me. I need to get some food. Do you know where the cafeteria is?"  

“Yes.” I tell her the directions and she sets off at a pace that I wouldn't be able to handle if I wasn't dauntless. I sink against the wall and I hope that the nurses don't rush in his room again. 

It was a while until someone else goes to sit by me. I look up, expecting Eric's mother, but instead, it's Tris.

"How is your head doing?" I ask. She shrugs. "It's okay. How is Eric doing?"

"Not so great. The doctors just brought him back because he went to cardiac arrest."

"I'm so sorry. David is doing okay. So is Nina."

"What happened with Nina?" I prop my head on my knees and wait for her answer. "I shot her."

"What did she do?"

"She was one of the ones that tried to kill David to get rid of the death serum."

"Oh. And what did Four do?" Saying his name makes my throat pinch up, as he is hated by both of us.

"He tried to disarm the security system so that the others could get in."

"Did he?" Even though he played a small part, he is still hated. He never told anyone either.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing... with all of this." She exaggerates with her hands and for a moment I can see the explosion come to life.

"I'm doing okay. I'll be better when he wakes up."

"Yeah me too. Even though I hate him."

"It's nice to know that someone besides me cares about him." I say. "He  would like it."

"Still i hate him."

"I know. I should probably go in there and check on him. Keep him company."

"I should go and talk to Tobias."

"Alright then." I help her up and she goes down the hallway and I go into Eric's room.

"Hey how are you doing? I'm here. Don't worry." I say as I grab his hand and tell him all about my day.