3 Feet From Freedom

Chapter Five

Sage

      We turn the corner and suddenly the sound of waves crashing echoes down the hall. We approach a river that runs right through the Dauntless halls. I step a little bit closer so I can see down into it. Jagged rocks cause the water to splash up the rocky walls due to powerful currents.

     "The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy. One daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again. You have been warned"

     Four's words echo off the walls of my mind as people begin to cross. I carefully take a step back just before water splashes up on my boots. I watch as the small Amity girl slips slightly before regaining balance. What if that happens to me and I fall. I look around for Michael but quickly realize he has already crossed.

     A little bit of panic threatens the air in my lungs and I grip the bottom of my jacket.

"What's wrong Little Miss" I hear a familiar voice call behind me. I look back at Eric, glaring at him as my rage slowly returns. Water splashes up and the cold water nips at my pale white skin, I gasp quietly turning back to the water.

"You scared?" He laughs obviously enjoying this. I look back again and he's nearly less than a foot away.

"Yeah, a little bit" I mumble trying not to sound terrified. I hear him laugh again before he appears next to me.

"It's completely safe" he says as he passed me. His greenish blue eyes growing darker as he adds"As long as your careful"

I roll my eyes and mumble "Well that's real helpful" with a fake laugh. I lock eye contact with Michael and he nods, making his way through the crowd to cross the chasm again and this time to help me across.
     Just as he's about to pass Eric, Eric lifts his arm and Michael almost runs right into it.

"No!" He yells. He looks at me them back at Michael, a sarcastic smirk spreading across his face. "If she's really Dauntless she should cross this bridge on her own"

No no no. I need him. Please be kidding. He leans close the Michael and says something I can't hear. Michael looks at him like he's holding back from punching him. He looks at me with an apologetic look before he turns and walks away.

     'No please come back' I think to myself as he re-joins the other transfers. My knees start to shake again and the emptiness in my stomach returns. My knuckles turn white from holding onto my jacket too tight. 'Stop. You are Dauntless now so act like it' the little voice in my head shouts. I'm not sure why but I decide to listen to it. I take a baby step forward just as Eric interrupts my thoughts

"Come on Little Miss. We don't have all day"

I glare at him as I take another baby step onto the bridge. "Don't call me that!" I yell. If it wasn't for the fear of falling off this thing I would probably be raging right now. He raises his pierced eyebrow at me.

"I can call you whatever the hell I want. And trust me I could call you something much worse" He spat as chills ran down my spine. He glances back behind him as I stare at the water below.

     I take a small step forward, thinking if I don't take my eyes off the water I might make it across. I put one foot in front of the other until I'm feeling confident enough to pick up my pace a bit.

     Suddenly the bridge jerks hard and I nearly slip. "Boo!" Eric yelled loud enough for it to echo off the walls as I try to regain balance. I swallow hard, tears threaten my eyes but I don't dare look away from the water. Eric's deep laugh echoes through my mind but I don't react. I can't right now. After a second I slowly start walking again with one baby step after another.