Spitfire - Eric Coulter

Chapter XXXIII

I am proud to say that my shooting is much better than my axe throwing. Much better. Remembering the tips from Eric and my brother I beat Edward and Uriah and I almost tie on handguns. The worker who overlooks the range offers us to try out some of the long-range weapons which we only used once during initiation. We pass our time as best as we can, eating a late lunch, then going to the boulder hall with Marlene and Lynn joining in until finally dinner time rolls around and I am nervously tapping my fingers on the table. I am sitting with the transfers this time, Tris next to me clasping my hand when it annoys her too much. But even she is fidgety when Max calls all initiates into the pit, where our results are posted and the leaders sit at a table with a pile of papers.

"Initiates, for a very last time, welcome to your ranking. I will cut this as short as possible. When your name is one of the five below the line, you will leave this faction tonight, if you are not, you will receive an offer letter from us with job options as well as housing possibilities. You will have until tomorrow to decide. These jobs are yours for the next two years, after that, you may try to apply for other jobs. Consider carefully. Your ranking is not only determined by your scores in your different stages but by accounting for character, resilience, and bravery. It is determined by your overall acting during your initiation, and how well you represent our values. Now, do not look so surprised, did you think attempted murders would not factor into ranking? Now...here are your final results."

Uriah

Tessa

Edward

My mouth falls open. Second. I had become second, overtaking Edward. Because of...character? It is Sammy who reaches me first, scooping me up and twirling me around.

"What did I tell you, Tessa? What did I tell you? Well done!"

More hugs and claps on the back follow. Not by Peter though. While his ranking is not bad, considering, Molly and Drew are both beneath the red line. I cannot help a grin forming on my face.

Uriah steps up to the leaders first, shaking hands, then receiving his offer letter. Seeing his face he is pleased. With shaky hands I step up, shaking the hands of the leaders, Eric's thumb gliding over mine for a second. Hendrix is the one giving me the paper.

Leadership

Training for Squad Leader (Special Attack Team)

Initiate Trainer - Special Weaponry

Incredulously I stare down at the paper in my hand.

"Are you...is this real?"

"Yes, Tessa, all these offers are real. Hendrix is thinking of starting to work less working towards retirement. We could use some extra hands on deck. Think about it carefully", the woman in the round says, a small smile on her face.

"I...I will, thank you."

I fold the paper as I step down from the stage, putting it into one of the zip pockets of my jacket. Edward almost skips towards me. Proudly displaying his paper. He too got offered a spot in Special Weaponry, as well as a leading position in one of the outpost offices.

"Congratulations!", I smile at him, he throws his arm over my shoulders.

"What are your offers?"

"I got three possibilities. Special Weaponry combined with Initiate Training, Squad Leader for the SAT are the things I wouldn't have doubted are serious offers..."

"The third made you doubt it?"
"The third is leadership."
His eyes grow wide, then he hugs me again.

"Congrats, Spitfire! Won't be able to command you around the training room after that."

I laugh. Tris, Christina, and Will join me. Will got offers for on-street surveillance and membership in a patrol squad. Christina for surveillance and administration in an external office. Tris had two offers, both also mainly administrative, but as far as I could tell she didn't mind too much.

Them, I do not tell about the leadership offer. I will once I decide, but for now I keep quiet, Edward, much to my luck, does as well.

The crowd stands together for quite some time, the leaders having left almost forty minutes ago when it seems to be universally decided to celebrate tonight.

Marlene, who got her job offer as a nurse, links our arms and pulls me towards the exit, where most of the others are moving as well. Curiously it stops in the broad hallway, members piling up, from the back we cannot make out why. We get our answer soon enough.

On one of the metal staircases, Eric takes his place, hands gripping the rail. He looks good. To be fair, he always does, but something about his arms in a vest makes my cheeks warm.

"Congratulations everybody! Before you go to celebrate and drink yourselves stupid, there is one more thing. Each and every one of you will get injected with a tracking device. After recent attacks by the factionless, we want to make sure we can send additional help exactly where it's needed and, in case of a kidnapping, have the ability to take action. Form four lines please, and then you can start getting ready, the first round of drinks is on me!"

The crowd cheers, the fact that we would be monitored forgotten with the promise of free drinks. Already lines form, and let us view what is happening. Vials with yellow liquid, injectors. I stop in my tracks. This is it. Tris and my brother are already queuing, knowing they'll be fine. Marlene looks at me curiously.

"Oh, you go ahead, I left my jacket back in the Pit, got so nervous I was sweating buckets."

She grins and I wish I could take her with me, away from the danger. But it would put her in even more.

"I'll come and get ready with you in a second, maybe this time I'll get the eyeliner right", I grin back and step further away, backing away towards the Pit.

Seconds before reaching the exit, my neck prickles, and before I can react my arm is grabbed from behind me.

"Now, where might you be going, initiate?"

Eric.

"Forgot my jacket."

"You didn't wear a jacket."

"Nice to know you are paying so close attention to me."

I try to turn around, face him, but his grip remains strong.

He hums lowly, reaching up towards my face. He must see the surprise on my face because what happens next is so quick I have no time to react.

A sudden cool sensation and then a stinging.

"What did you...", I gasp, my hand moving up to my neck. He injected me. He...

"Making sure everyone is safe, initiate. Haven't you listened?"

"I am no longer an initiate, I might be your colleague soon too", I say, raising my head to meet his eyes. They are cold and hard, and I know that my Eric is not the one I am talking to right now.

"We'll see how long you last", he says, removing his grip from my arm, and for a second it feels like a soft movement of his thumb against the irritated skin. But I might have imagined that.

I scoff, roll my eyes, and remove my hand from my neck.

"Asshat", I grumble as I turn away and hear Eric snort behind me.