The Iron Soldier: A FourTris Divergent Story

Chapter 30

Learning to shoot isn't hard, but it is exhausting. The kickback gets to you after a while and I'm ready to stop after only about thirty minutes. But Four insists we stay for a whole hour, even though he says I'm a natural. As soon as he showed me how to aim properly, I have yet to miss the target again. I don't see the point in staying another half hour, but if it makes him happy, I won't argue.

We are alone at the gun range now. Edna had only stayed a very short time after Four shot up all the targets. I feel a surge of electricity shoot up my body just thinking about it. Four holding the gun like it's second nature to him, and then hitting the targets so precisely every time. I don't know if it's normal, but I get quite turned on watching him in action.

My mind is wandering, and Four picks up on it right away while he watches me from behind. "Maybe we should call it quits for now. It's not safe to shoot when your head's not into it."

I sigh loudly as I set the gun down on the counter exactly as Four showed me. "I just need a break. My head is starting to hurt."

"That's ok. You've got the basics down. I have to say, I'm impressed. You did really well for your first time."

I frown at him, not really believing his words. "I didn't hit the bulls-eye once."

"That doesn't matter. You're only inches away every time. If those targets had been actual assailants, they would have gone down just the same." Four walks over to my side and puts his hand on my shoulder. "I like watching you shoot. I think you should continue with it, even after this shit with Eric is over with."

The mention of Eric's name sets me on edge. I'd almost forgotten why we were here. Four is right. He didn't bring me here to test my accuracy. He brought me here to teach me how to handle a gun safely, for my own protection and his. Hitting the center isn't a realistic goal for my first session.

Four unloads the gun as I step out of the booth. "I'm going to go find the ladies' room."

He nods before adding, "I'll get us all checked out and meet you in the truck." A second later, his ring of keys is sailing through the air. I snatch them in front of my chest before heading toward the reception area where the bathrooms are.

In the ladies' room, I splash water on my face. The cool temperature dulling the ache in my head slightly. I smile at my reflection as I dry my face on some paper towels. I may not be really good yet, but I feel more confident already. I'm no longer just a liability. Now I am an asset in this war against Eric and his goons.

I don't bother to return to the range section of the building. Four is probably already at the truck or will be shortly. Instead, I leave and walk directly to the truck. As I push the key through the door lock on the passenger side, I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I spin around smiling, expecting to get caught up in Four's perfect gaze. But instead I get hit hard with a fist to the cheek. I fall back against the truck from the pure force, my body going limp. But before I slide down and hit the ground, the same hand reaches out, grabbing me by the back of my hair. I'm yanked back to my feet. I blink hard, trying to clear my vision to identify my attacker, even though I already intuitively know who hit me.

"Tris, so nice to see you again." I can just make out Eric's sinister smile through my blurry vision. He slams me against the truck again and I groan in pain, unable to even hold my head up. He grabs my hand and without warning, slashes it open with a pocket knife.

I try to scream. The sound squeaks out through clenched teeth as my hand oozes dark red blood.

"I'm sorry. Did that hurt?" Eric is almost laughing when he slaps the truck with my bloody hand, leaving a near perfect red handprint on the door panel.

He looks around cautiously. "Time to go." He hits me again, and I black out.

FOUR'S POV

I was expecting to find Tris waiting for me in the truck but as I approach the vehicle, it is obvious she isn't there. Is she still in the ladies' room? I can't wait for her in the truck, since she has the keys, so I head back inside.

The reception area is empty. It was literally only thirty seconds ago that I was at the counter returning the equipment and now the place seems deserted. I take a seat on a bench and wait. A few minutes pass and a voice in the back of my head has awakened, alerting me that something isn't right. It gets louder by the second, until I can no longer ignore it.

I walk to the ladies' room door and knock gently. "Tris? Are you almost done?" There is no answer and the screaming in my head grows louder. "Tris?" I push the door open, but the only thing to greet me is a row of empty stalls.

Before I even will them to do it, my legs are carrying me back outside. I run toward the truck. Nothing looks unusual, until I circle around to the passenger side where my heart falls into my stomach. My keys are still lodged in the door lock and on the door panel beside that is a handprint. But not just any handprint. The black color of the truck disguises the color. If I didn't already know better, I wouldn't have guessed the mark was made with blood. But I've seen this before, far too many times. This is Eric's calling card.

I fall to my knees, screaming to the high heavens. "Noooooo." Tears form and stream down my face immediately. "Oh God, no." Eric has my Tris.

A feeling of pure fear flows through my whole body, a fear I have never felt before. I've never felt so vulnerable in my entire life. At some point over the last few weeks, I fell in love with Tris Prior, and didn't even realize it until now, until she's gone, until she could be dead.

I yank the keys out of the door lock, before racing around to the other side where I unlock my own door and climb inside. I collapse against the steering wheel as several more sobs rack through my body. And then they are gone. I look up through the front windshield and my view glazes over as my fingers curl around the steering wheel, shaking because I'm squeezing it so hard.

I swore I'd never kill again. That was the only reason I ran from Eric three years ago. Even after he took Carlos from me, my plan has never been to kill him. I'd rather have him locked up for life, a punishment worse than death to a man like Eric. But now the game has changed. I couldn't change my mind if I wanted to. I will find Eric. I will find him before he hurts Tris again. And when I do, I will kill him.