Danger is Near

Chapter 4

Before we began to run, we all looked at each other. Matisse gave both Amy and I a cheeky wink. With this we made a run for it out of the moving train and into the crisp air. We were screaming girly and childish screams. They weren't screams of terror or fright though. They were screams of hype and enjoyment. Like the squeals of a young girl who had just unwrapped a present that she had been dying to get.

I landed awkwardly on the roof. I can tell I also didn't land as gracefully as I had planned. The three of us looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Your hair looks like a dying rat!" I told Amy as I laughed.

"And your the one to talk", Amy said sarcastically, pointing at my hair.

It was all messed up like hers.

I turned and looked back at the train, and I caught a glimpse of the last carriage. I saw someone. It was a boy, he looked extremely afraid. He was now factionless. My heart ached for him. I had no idea who he was yet I mourned over his loss. He hadn't died or anything like that but he basically had lost a chance of having a future.

"Ok, everybody listen up!" a loud, booming voice shouted out, silencing everyone on the roof.

Amy, Matisse and I made our way over to where everyone else had gathered. I spotted Tess and Jem and lead the girls towards them.

"Hey guys. How fun was that. Did we miss anything?" I whispered to Jem and Tess.

I waited for a response but nothing came from their mouths. I turned to look at them and Jem looked me in the eye and directed me to look towards the front. As my eyes trailed towards where she was looking I saw another pair of eyes glaring at me. Only at me.

He was tall and he had a very strong looking build. His hair was slicked back and shaven on the sides. He had two piercings above his right eyebrow, and in both of his ears. He also had two barcode looking tattoos beginning at his jaw line and trailing down both sides of his neck.

He must be some sort of high and mighty leader here at Dauntless. I thought to myself.

I could tell by the way he stood standing on the ledge of the building. If he took one un-balanced step he would fall into the dark hole beneath him. He didn't even look like that worried him.

"Finished?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows, making his piercings arch with them.

He was shooting daggers at me with his eyes.

He wasn't waiting for an answer from me though. The question he asked wasn't really a question. He was just showing everyone that he was in charge.

"My name's Eric. I'm one of your leaders here at Dauntless" he stated, putting an emphasis on the word 'leader', and looking straight at me.

What is this guys problem? I say a few words and he acts like I've committed a serious crime!

Although I know I already hate him. I can't help but notice how attractive he is. His strong features, cold eyes and intimidating aura. And, although he is wearing a jacket, I could tell he had buff arms.

"You wanna be Dauntless? Well this is the way in." he continued, turning a little and pointing down the drop.

"Is there water down there or something?" an Erudite transfer asked.

"That's for you to find out" Eric said sickly. "Are you brave enough?" he then finished, looking down at the transfer.

The Erudite boy just stood there. Trying to escape Eric's daring eyes. Nothing was said, so Eric moved on.

"Now, someone needs to go first... Who's it gonna be?" he said, confronting the nervous faces before him.

Everyone looked around at each other. Waiting for someone to be brave and go first. There's no way I'm going first. I'm not even sure if I want to at all.

I looked at Eric and saw him smirking at everyones cowardliness. He looked at me, and I quickly looked away. I hated it when people caught me staring at them. After a few seconds, I looked back at him. This time he was the one who was caught staring. Why is he looking at me? Can he please not, its starting to scare me.

Before any other awkward stuff happened a girl from Abnegation stepped forward. "I'll go." she said. Although the way she said it was like she was questioning herself.

Eric seemed very impressed. He stepped down from the ledge, making way for the girl. He had a smug look on his face, as if expecting her to cower at the last second. She stepped up onto the ledge, peering down the dark hole between the buildings. It looked like she was going to step down. But she began taking off her thin, grey coat. A boy in the crowd shouted "Yes Stiff, take it off!". Then finished by saying "put it back on". It was funny I had to admit, the way he said it. I tried to hide my little giggles. Shit. Eric had noticed me giggling, he was watching me, intrigued. He chuckled as he turned his attention back to the Abnegation girl. She still hadn't jumped. Eric didn't look too impressed. "Today initiate" he said blankly, you could hear how fed up he was. Like he would prefer be hanging out with friends rather than taking care of "stupid" initiates. If he even has any friends. I said to myself.

The girl had jumped. I expected to hear her scream but she didn't. Eric waited for a while before turning around and saying "Who's going to be second jumper?". In my head I began planning when I would volunteer to jump.

Definitely not yet, maybe when five more people have gone... Yeah I'll jump around that stage.

"How about you?" I heard a deep voice say. Must've been Eric. I looked up not realising it was me he was talking to.

He was looking at me, eye brows raised in question. I looked back at him. I had to admit, I was in shock. But there was no way I was backing down, especially in front of him.

I walked towards him, staring at him as I did so. I hated him for electing me. I stepped up onto the ledge.

I looked back at Eric and gave him one of my bitchiest glares. His face was like stone, it's like he didn't even notice the look I was giving him. I turned my head back, I looked down and regretted it. I'm not afraid of heights but it's not like I jump down deep, dark and dangerous looking holes for a living.

"Too afraid?" Eric questioned behind me.

Ugh, he is so annoying.

I replied to his last question with a smile.

"Nope."

Then...

I jumped.