The Iron Soldier: A FourTris Divergent Story

Chapter 31

AN: Hello readers. I am so sorry for the long absence. I am taking a big step in my life. I'm closing my crafting business to focus on my writing. This had been a bittersweet decision and journey. I build my business from the ground up and the initial decision to close it was purely a financial decision. I had to pack up and close my small physical location since it was not even covering expenses any more. So, that is where I've been, wrapping up this part of my life.

But, on the bright side, I now have more time to write. My husband has given me his blessing to go after my long time dream of becoming a published author. As of June 1st, I have to be completely out of my office location and will be a full time writer/Mom. I'm so excited now that the initial sadness has passed and can guarantee you will be hearing from me more in the future, both in fanfic and my original fiction.

So to all of you who waited patiently, and encouraged me to keep moving forward (you know who you are), I want to thank you with all my heart. Every review and PM has meant so much to me and I can honestly say, I have met some people from this community that I am thrilled to now call my friends.

One last thing. I am so indebted to my beta reader Eunice339. I can honestly say, my writing is so much better after you help me with each new chapter. I learn something new every time we work together and I am so happy to have you working by my side.

I'm still alive. I only know this because I wouldn't be in this much pain if I were dead. I hurt everywhere, everything from a dull ache in my knees to a throbbing explosion in my head. Upon opening my eyes, I discover a dark blur is my only field of vision. Without my sight, it's only the smells of mildew and stale air that offer any clue as to where I could possibly be. A cellar, a warehouse or an old garage, I'm guessing. Or maybe the dungeon of an old castle. In all reality, I could be anywhere.

I groan in pain as I roll onto my side. The taste of blood spreads throughout my mouth and I cough up a clot as I position myself on my hands and knees. After another gag, my stomach settles slightly and I'm able to sit back on my knees.

The room is quiet, but in the far off distance, I can hear someone laughing. A sinister laugh that is a cross between a witch's cackle and the loud boom of thunder. The sound instantly sends a chill down my spine.

"It's about time you woke up. Damn, I didn't hit you that hard." Again, the voice sounds far away, yet I know he's addressing me.

I turn to face the source of the voice while rubbing my eyes in hopes of a clearer picture. Sure enough, Eric is sitting a few feet away straddling a backwards chair. He sounds like he's speaking to me underwater. "I've never gone along with that no-hitting a woman crap. You want to be treated equal? So I treat everyone equal."

It's not until now that I realize it's my hearing that's messed up, not his voice. No doubt, another side effect of my earlier encounter with him. I open my mouth to speak, not entirely confident that I can at the moment, but the words mange to come out anyway.

"Why do you hate him so much?"

Eric laughs again, louder this time, or is my hearing getting better? "You know what's funny? This has nothing to do with him. I've been hunting you even longer than I've been after him."

I blink hard, finally bringing his face into focus. "What are you talking about? You didn't even know I existed until we ran into each other at Four's apartment."

Eric snorts, "Then how did I know your name?"

The memory floats back through my mind. He's right. He did call me Tris that day. I found it creepy at the time, but Four later told me that Eric has a tendency to track his targets.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're a psychopath stalker."

Eric grins, the grin of an angry jack-o-lantern. "Running into you at Tobias' doorstep was pure luck. Yes, I'd been following him, getting to know his schedule. I was very excited to find out he had a girlfriend that would make catching him a piece of cake. I do like cake, after all. But it wasn't until that day, when I saw you up close that I realized who you were. And holy shit, I hit the mother load."

I shake my head. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never met you before. I'd remember a face as ugly as yours. So why are you after me?"

"I hope for your sake you're lying. I can't imagine how much it would suck to be tortured and have no idea why. But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Right now, I need to send Tobias...I mean Four, a message."

At that, Eric turns and heads for the only door in the small room, mumbling as he walks. "Four. I can't believe he's calling himself that." He laughs one last time before closing the door behind him.

Once he's gone, I'm able to pull myself to my feet with the assistance of the wall behind me. I look around the small room for the first time with clear vision. Now I'm even more convinced than before that I am in a deep, dark dungeon. The walls surrounding me are solid concrete. A single window on the right wall has vertical bars lined up across it. And if that wasn't bad enough, the actual opening of the window is boarded up with plywood beyond the bars, preventing any view in or out.

The door on the adjacent wall looks to be made of iron and is solid, except for a rectangular opening along the bottom where, I assume, food and water could be supplied. As if on cue, a water bottle is pushed through the slot. It continues to roll until it comes in contact with the toe of my shoe.

"If you behave, I might consider feeding you, too." Eric's voice comes from the other side of the door, infuriating me.

I run to the iron slab and pound on it with my fists, fully knowing it's a futile gesture, but unable to stop myself. "Let me out you son of a bitch!"

I don't know how long I've been here, or even where here is, but I know Four will find me. After all, I'm sure that was Eric's original plan. I'm not buying all that crap about Eric looking for me all along. None of it makes any sense. It must be part of his twisted game. Maybe another way to hurt Four, though I can't imagine how. The only thing I can imagine is Four showing up to save me. And because we are on Eric's turf, and playing by his rules, Four could get hurt.

I argued with him to let me come, to help him get rid of Eric, and now I am in the exact situation Four was trying to avoid. If he'd left right away, I'd still be safe and he wouldn't be walking into a trap.

Someone at the shooting range must have contacted Eric, and since we only encountered two people while we were there, it makes the search for suspects a lot easier. I swear, when I get out of here, I'm going to find out which of those two is working for Eric, and I'm going to make them pay. And if anything happens to Four...

My train of thought comes to an abrupt halt when I hear a loud crash from above. It's so loud, I crouch down, nearly collapsing on the dirt floor as I cover my head with my arms. To my relief, the ceiling doesn't come crashing down on top of me, but that doesn't mean it won't.

My heart screams out. It must be him. He must be here to get me out. I'm both overjoyed and petrified at the same time. Because if Four gets hurt because of me, the roof will still feel like it's crashing down on top of me...and it will hurt me much worse.