Invergent

Chapter Seventeen

McKell's Perspective:

I walk straight to the infirmary after leaving the training room. My footsteps echo loudly in the empty hallway. My hands are shaking and I take slow breaths to try and calm myself down. I don't know what they'll do to me for leaving training without finishing my fight with Mia, but now's not the time to worry about that.

I open the infirmary door and scan the beds, looking for Parker. As soon as I see him, lying on a bed towards the back, I run to him. He's passed out, possibly from the medicine they gave him. There's a hard wooden chair set up next to his bed and I sit in it. His fists have been bandaged and some sort of ointment has been applied to the bruises and cuts on his face. The blood has all been wiped away, but he still looks barely recognizable. Edwin is nowhere to be seen.

I hesitantly reach out and touch his arm. He doesn't stir. In my mind, I know that he's alive and will wake up any minute now, but that doesn't stop my heart rate from picking up and my breaths from quickening. All I can see is his lifeless form on the mat, sitting in a puddle of his own blood. It feels like he's never going to wake up. Like I'll never get to talk to him again. Like I'll never hear him laugh or see that spark he gets in his eyes when he's passionate about something. Like I'll never joke with him again or hear him say he loves me. Tears pour down my face and my breaths come in short gasps.

Someone puts a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright, hon?"

I look up and see a woman wearing a clean black uniform frowning down at me. "He's alright, you know. It's just a few scrapes and bruises."

"I-I know," I say through my sobs. "It's j-just scary, seeing him like t-this."

She nods knowingly. "He your boyfriend?"

I nod.

"I'll go get you a nice hot drink. You'll feel much better after, I promise."

She leaves and I turn back to Parker. I take deep breaths and remind myself over and over that he's okay.

I just wish he would wake up.

I must fall asleep, because the next thing I register is someone saying my name. I sit up slowly, still blinking sleep out of my eyes. A cup filled with some sort of brown liquid is sitting on the table next to Parker. I was sleeping with my head in my arms, which are folded in front of me on the edge of Parker's bed.

"McKell," the voice says again.

I turn to see Erin standing next to me, his arms folded. His piercings glint in the harsh light. He's glaring at my hand, which is still on Parker's arm. 

"I'm sorry I left training early, but I just couldn't beat up that girl. It wouldn't be right."

"You don't get to decide what's right," he says in a low tone.

I gulp. "How is beating up someone smaller and weaker than me brave? It seems like the opposite of brave, actually."

"It doesn't matter. You were told by your superior that you weren't allowed to end the fight until one of you physically couldn't continue. And that doesn't even address the fact that you left training early and without permission."

I look down at my hands. "I'm sorry. What are you going to do to me?" I try to keep the tremor out of my voice.

He doesn't move for a long moment. "Nothing," he finally says. 

I look up. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not going to punish you. But, in return, you're going to meet me. Tonight. For dinner. Alone."

I blink. Is he seriously asking me out right now? Here? In front of my injured boyfriend?

"Um, I'm sorry, but–"

"This isn't up for discussion! I'll meet you by the chasm at 7 pm. Sharp."

He stands there for another second, then quickly turns and walks out the door. As I watch him go, I almost laugh at the absurdity of what just happened.

I hear a light cough and spin around to see Parker. Awake.

"You're up! How do you feel? Does it hurt a lot? Do you need painkillers? Or water? Maybe something to eat?"

"Was that...Erin?" His voice is hoarse.

"Yeah. You'll never believe what just happened. But first, are you alright? You have no idea how terrified I was!"

"I'm fine. Tell me what happened with Erin."

"He came to tell me off. After you were knocked out, I was supposed to fight Mia, but I couldn't do it. She just looked so scared, like she thought I was about to murder her. So I kind of...walked out. Without finishing the fight."

"You did what? What were you thinking?" He tries to sit up and I quickly push him back down.

"I don't know. It just didn't feel right to hurt someone as small and fragile as her. Plus, I was still shaken up from seeing you get beaten to a bloody pulp."

"But your rankings–"

"I know. It was dumb of me, huh?" I give a half-hearted laugh and lean my head on my hand.

"No," he says softly. "It was really brave. I think you're more Dauntless than I'll ever be."

"Yeah, right," I laugh. "Oh, but that wasn't the weird part!"

"Tell me."

"So, I ask Erin what he's going to do to punish me, and he says 'nothing.'"

"Nothing?"

"Yes! So, I ask what he means, and he says that he's not going to do anything to me, but in return, I have to go out with him tonight!"

Parker's face twitches. "So you said no, right?"

"I tried, but he wouldn't let me! He said I had no choice in the matter."

"I see."

"So I guess I have to do it." I sigh. "That's going to be the night of the year."

"Can't you get out of it?" Parker asks. He looks angry.

"No," I say slowly, "I already told you, he wouldn't let me."

He clenches his jaw. "I hate that guy. He already knows we're together, right? What is he trying to do? This is a total abuse of his power."

"I agree. Look, don't be upset. Just because I have to go on the stupid date doesn't mean I have to like it. And don't worry, I'll make sure he knows that I'm in a relationship and not planning on leaving it any time soon." I smile at him, hoping to calm him down.

He lets out a sigh and gives a small smile in return. "Can you help me get up?"

I grab his shoulders and carefully help him sit up. He winces, but doesn't complain. He swings his legs over the side of the bed.

"Are you sure standing up is a good idea?" I ask him. "Maybe you should wait. You could even spend the night here, just to be safe."

"Dauntless isn't about being safe. If I stay here, the other initiates will think I'm weak." He pushes himself forward and I take his arm as he slowly gets to his feet. "See?" He grins. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Your face is at least five different shades of purple."

"I totally pull it off, though."

I laugh and we walk out, arm in arm.