Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chaptet 45

Tris sits in the court room between Four and Bud waiting for Eric's trial to begin. Mr. Turner said he would be calling Tris first as his main witness for the prosecution. When Eric walks in with the guards, he looks toward Tris and scowls at her.Seeing him again brings back the terror that she felt in that warehouse all those months ago. Four notices her change in demeanor. He takes her hand and Bud puts his arm around her protectively.Tris feels lucky to be surrounded by these two men. They make her feel safe and protected, like no one could ever hurt her again.When the judge enters the room, a hush falls over the room. The bailiff announces for everyone to rise as the judge takes his place in the front of the room.When Eric sees the man that will decide his fate, panic starts to overwhelm him. Even though he knows that he made the decision to kidnap Tris and he had every intention of raping her had Al not been there to stop him, he still doesn't regret his actions. He believes what he did was out of his love and devotion for him. He believes he was just trying to get her away from Four."Will the defendant please rise," Judge Francis announces in a deep authoritative voice. Judge Francis is a large man, about six feet six inches tall. He has broad shoulders and carries an air of authority that only a judge of his stature could carry. "Please state your name for the record.""Eric Singer, sir.""Eric you have been charged with kidnapping, terroristic threats, attempted rape, and violation of a order of restraint how do you plead?""Not guilty your honor," Eric says smirking toward Tris."You may proceed with opening arguments."The prosecutor gets up and describes in horrific detail about how Eric had stalked the victim for months prior to the kidnapping. He tells the jury about his fight with her on a softball field to describe how quickly he escalated to threats and violence. Then he tells the jury about her kidnapping from her hotel in Lexington, Kentucky, and his threats of rape and murder at his hands.The defense also portrays Eric as unhinged, but that is their defense. They are attempting to convince the jury that Eric did these things because he was in love with an image. He was crazy and believed that he was dating the victim. He had convinced himself that they were in a relationship and seeing her with another man had completely sent him over the edge. They also use his weak mental state as an excuse placing most of the blame on Al and Marcus. The lawyers say that Eric was a pawn in Al and Marcus' grand plans to separate Tris from Four and to take down Four for being the key to Marcus' conviction.Tris almost wonders if he gets off for reason of insanity if it would be better for them to keep Marcus in jail for the rest of his life. She doesn't see how this is going to be possible though since they can prove that Marcus has had no communication with the outside world since he was almost killed at the end of May.As his first witness, Mr. Turner calls Tris to the stand. She walks to the front of the room careful not to make eye contact with Eric as she walks by him. She can feel his glare boring holes into her back as she approaches the witness stand. She turns and places her hand on the bible."Do you swear that your testimony today will be the whole truth, so help you God?""I do."She sits in the chair and waits for Turner to begin asking her questions."Please state your name for the record," Turner tells her."Beatrice Marie Reed""Miss Reed, do you or did you go by any other names?""Yes, I go by Tris and I recently changed my last name from Prior to Reed.""Thank you Miss Reed. Do you recognize the man that kidnapped you here in the court room today?""Yes, she says pointing toward Eric but not looking at him.""Please let the record show that she is gesturing toward the defendant," Turner announces. "Now Miss Reed, did you know the defendant before he abducted you in May?""Yes, he used to follow me around campus and he would come to all of our softball games from the time that I was a freshman. He always waited outside of the locker rooms and would try to talk to me after games.""Did you ever talk to him?""Only to say hello and to be polite. I never carried a conversation with him.""Miss Reed, can you tell us about the softball game that he threatened you?""Yes, my sorority was playing a pick up softball game with Phi Delta Theta. The teams were co-ed teams. Eric hit the ball to the right fielder. She picked up the ball and threw it to the second baseman who then threw it to me. I tagged Eric out, but he got mad and started arguing with me. He got into my face and pushed me then one of the guys got in his way.""Who was this guy?""Tobias Eaton, one of his fraternity brothers.""Did you see him again after this?""Yes, he kept coming around my softball practices trying to talk to me. I stopped once because he said that he wanted to apologize for his behavior. But then it quickly turned into him talking about how much he loved me and how he would never try to hurt me again. At that point I told my trainer and he took me to get a restraining order against Eric.""It turns out that your trainer was actually an undercover FBI agent working on the case against Marcus Eaton, is that correct?""Yes."This line of questioning continues as Turner portrays Eric as a stalker who's behavior was escalating to the point of violence over the course of years.Next he calls Brian to the stand to talk about Eric's behavior and what was happening when Tris went to get the restraining order."Mr. O'Conner you are an agent that was undercover in the case against Marcus Eaton, is that correct?""Yes.""Is there any evidence to indicate that Marcus Eaton was ever in contact with the defendant?""No, we had agents on Marcus Eaton all of the time, especially when he came to the college campuses. There was never any record of Marcus Eaton contacting the defendant."After they question Brian, they call Four to the stand."Mr. Eaton, you were witness to the altercation between Miss Reed and the defendant, is that correct?""Yes.""Can you tell us what happened?""She made a good play at second base. She tagged him out which seemed to make Eric mad because he got into her face, was screaming at her calling her a cheat, and then he pushed her.""Did you do anything to stop the altercation?""Yes, I got between them and knocked Eric to the ground.""No more questions."After Four's testimony, the judge called a recess until the next day.On the way home Tris decided that she wasn't going back to the court room tomorrow, she was going to attend practice with her team. She doesn't want to sit there and listen to them try to make Eric out to be some pathetic stalker infatuated with someone who never noticed him.~oOo~The next day Tris joins her team on the field for practice. The changes that were made at the last game seem to be working out well. Angel is a natural at first. It turns out that she played first base on her high school team. Shelley does well in left field also. She is great at backing Heather up and getting to balls that Tris can't make it to.When Tris and Marlene walk back to the sorority house, they are both feeling good about where the team is going. Angel and Shelley are both sophomores and Heather and Jasmine are juniors, so the team will still be strong next season after Tris and Marlene are strong.As they walk home, they talk about rush week."I think we should invite Angel, Shelley, Heather, and Jasmine to rush," Marlene says."That's a good idea, they would all probably be good additions," Tris says. Then she smiles, "But I'm not sharing my bedroom."Marlene laughs, "I think we can avoid you having to share your room. I'm guessing you would prefer a way to have alone time with a really hot team doctor."Tris smiles, "How does this work?""I'll have the girls do what needs done.""When is Uriah's party?""Tonight," Marlene says. "And of course we have to go down and help.""Can I invite Four and Zeke?""Of course. Speaking of Zeke, how's he doing? Is he still hanging around Zia?""Yeah. They claim that they are just friends, but they are together a lot. He either goes to her or she hangs out at the apartment. We've even gone out together a few times. She is really good for him.""But they are just friends?""I think he's afraid of getting hurt again and she's afraid to push. I know she really likes him though. I'll make sure that Zeke brings her to the party, it would be good for you and Chris to get to know her.""I don't know Tris, I kind of feel like I'm betraying Shauna..."Tris cuts her off, "No offense to Shauna, but she left him. Not only to go to another place. She left him for another guy that she had seeing behind his back for months. Shauna made her choices and those choices suck.""I know, but she was like my sister. I was closer to her than you were.""Look Mar, I know. But you can't be okay with Shauna moving on and Zeke being miserable. It has been months. She hasn't called or written to anyone, not even Lynn.""You're right. Yeah, have Zeke invite Zia to the party. She does seem pretty great."Tris and Marlene walk together back to Kappa house. What they don't realize though is that they are being followed. The person hears about the party and plots their revenge.

Please don't hate me because of the cliffhanger. I needed to leave it here so the next chapter can be about what happens next. Bear with me and how slow I'm updating. Also while I'm commenting, It is amazing. I can't believe this story is liked by so many people. Thank you so much, it is very humbling.

shelby_5