𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | E.C

FIVE

ERIC POV

My throat burned as the cool, amber liquid slid down. My face scrunched but I forced it down, slamming the glass on the counter. My apartment was silent, so silent that it made the noise in my head louder. The moment I saw her she threw me off, seeing her pleading, fearful eyes as she held onto the edge of the building for dear life triggered something instinct in me. I don't know why I saved her, I should have let her fall- then I wouldn't be here, drinking alone in my dull, lifeless apartment.

She doesn't understand what her being here does to me, it pains me to see her hurt by my actions but it is necessary. I couldn't live in the past with her, no matter how much I wish I could. I had worked too hard, sweat and bled too much to give it up for her. Jeanine would find a way to punish me if she were to find out, I had to keep her as far away from me as I could.

Lexi hadn't changed a bit, her blonde hair had grown a bit but her eyes still held the same curiosity and determination. I had fallen in love with those eyes. I threw the glass toward the wall, watching as it shattered on impact and fragments spilled across the floor. I could see her in the mess, frowning with disappointment. That hurt. Everything she did hurt me now that she was not mine, every time she smiled I knew I was not the reason, every time she laughed it was not my joke but every time she cried it would be because of me.

I was a leader, I did things I didn't like and many hated me for them so I was used to being hated. So why did it bother me so much that she might hate me?

ALEXANDRIA POV

My legs burned with every step I took but I pushed forward, desperate to keep up with Four at the front. Running had never been this hard before but the weight of fear was wrapped around my shoulders, I couldn't fail, I wouldn't fail. A few of the other transfers fell in line with me, a girl and boy from Erudite. "Not bad, Matthews." The boy, Aaron, commented whilst smirking. I saw Four's head turn slightly, clearly listening to the conversation.

"Don't call me that." I replied in a monotone voice before pushing on my feet slightly harder to pull infront of them. I didn't want to be Alexandria Matthews anymore, I was simply Dria. We came to a stop as a community of factionless came into view, a few of them being helped by Abnegation members.

"Take a good look, that'll be you soon." The girl, Francis, laughed as she tied her red curls into a bun. I glared at the pair as they laughed, turning away to face the factionless. They moved so slowly, so gently as they took the offered food. I'd make sure that would never be me.

With my new found determination, I took off right behind Four once more, ignoring the pain shooting through my body as it begged me to stop. I kept up the entire way back to the compound before collapsing on the floor of the gym. "We are moving into fighting, now, watch and learn." Four announced as the others spilled into the gym. He took his shoes off and climbed onto the large mat in the center of the room, another man followed behind. He had darker skin and buzzed hair, a scar travelled from his eyebrow to his lip. "Marcus here is going to help."

The pair lifted their arms in defense, moving slowly around the mat before Marcus threw the first punch. Four quickly dodged and threw a punch to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. I watched carefully as punches and kicks were thrown, mapping each of their moves down to the pattern of their breath, Four would always take a breath before throwing a punch. I had become an extremely observant person growing up in Erudite, I took in every detail.

I also took note of Eric in the corner of the room, his eyes trained on the side of my head unwavering. With a final kick, Marcus was on the floor and the fight stopped. Four reached out a hand and pulled him up, patting him on the back before he walked away. "On the bags." Four commanded and we each walked to a punching bag that were lined up beside each other. Positioning myself, I threw my fist forward with as much force as I could muster and winced as it collided. The bag felt like stone against my knuckles, sending a sting throughout my body that made me step back and shake my hand.

"You'll break your hand if you keep doing that." Eric stated, standing beside me with his arms behind his back. The stance defined his muscles through the black t-shirt he wore, the tattoo on his forearm now visible- a maze. He took a step forward and grabbed onto my hips, turning them at an angle toward the bag. "Engage your core," He placed his hand on my stomach for a second before removing it, "and put your bodyweight into the punch." My skin burned in the places he had touched, a foreign thrill rushing through me. He stepped back before I did as he had instructed, the pain was still there but it was more bearable when I saw the bag moving. Eric nodded and walked over to another initiate. 

He truly threw me into a vortex with every interaction, sometimes he hated me and others he went out of his way to help me. Perhaps it is simply his job but something inside of me screamed that there was more to it. As much I wanted to be done with him, I couldn't seem to pull away. He was a blackhole that kept sucking me in, never letting me truly escape- or forget.