Dauntless

Part 13

“The simulations are almost over,” I heard one of the initiates groan, shuddering as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Tomorrow is the last day and then we learn our rankings.”

“I’m so glad they are,” another muttered, rubbing his hands against his knees. “I’m can’t stand them!”
I didn’t blame them.
I leaned against the wall of the white room, watching over the initiates as they waited for Four to call them into the chamber where he would shove the simulation needle in their neck and watch them conquer their fears. Or be destroyed by them, whichever.
My eyes swept over the group, spotting the Stiff sitting nervously with her Candor friend beside her; she’d been doing exceptionally well, I’d heard. Better then well, fantastic. 
I was suspicious. 
Divergent apparently were really good at simulations, after all. I wasn’t sure if any of the higher ups had noticed her excelling, but I sure as hell had. But with Four as her teacher, in there with her, he knew what she was as well, if she really was what I thought she was.
Hmm.
I watched her with narrowed eyes, seeing the Candor whisper to her every now and again. The boy beside the Candor was holding her hand tightly, nervously, looking a little pasty as he worried about what he’d see today.
Same as every other time he went in there. 
Tomorrow they would test, go through the big shebang, and the Stiff better hope she knew what she was doing if she intended to keep herself a secret. 
I was kind of with Four on this one, I didn’t believe someone should die just because they were born differently. Who cares if they didn’t quite fit in? 
I ran a hand across my face tiredly, rolling my neck back and forth.
I shouldn’t have slept at Erics last night. It hadn’t been intentional, of course, and he hadn’t seemed to mind, either. 
I’d sorta liked the way he’d woke me up, too.
And the communal shower that had followed.
He was so easy.
But the lack of sleep and the ton of exercise from the night before was starting to take its toll, and it was all I could do not to let my eyes droop just standing there. I kept having to shift, rubbing my eyes, and I knew my agitated movements were only making the initiates more nervous. 
Sorry, guys, but you’ll get over it.
I glanced up as the outside door opened, and frowned when Eric stepped inside. He glanced around the room at the suddenly rigid initiates before motioning at me. I hesitated, then pushed away from the wall, stepping out into the hallway with him.
“What is it?” I yawned, stretching my arms.
“We’ve found one in the simulations already.” Erics voice was soft but eager, and I abruptly straightened, staring at him in surprise.
“What?”
“One Of them. Or at least suspect. The final test tomorrow will tell us yes or no.”
“Who —?”
“I can’t say,” Eric shook his head, the low lights glinting off his facial piercings, and I felt his hand reach for mine. “Not until we’re sure. But that means our testing is better, that we’re catching them.”
I hesitated, feeling his fingers thread through mine, his eyes bright with excitement. 
“What happens when you catch them?” I asked, hardly wanting to know the answer. 
“Erudite wants them first,” Eric shrugged. “And if they don’t want them then we get rid of them. Keep the city safe.”
“But they’re people —.”
“Camille, we’ve talked about this. They’ll destroy the city if we do nothing.”
He kept saying that, but somehow I didn’t think it was true. I frowned, but didn’t argue, my eyes flicking back into the testing lobby. The door was barely cracked enough where I could see inside, and all the initiates were looking ready to make a run for it.
“Eric —.”
“Come to my room tonight,” he murmured, catching me off guard when I looked at him. “Stay again. I rather liked your version of a wake up call.”
I flushed, remembering it very well. 
“I barely get any sleep when I do.”
“You don’t need any sleep,” he chuckled, his fingers playing with mine. 
“I’ll think about it.” I allowed, ignoring his confident grin that I’d do whatever he wanted irregardless of my own wants.
“Fine. I’ll see you later.”
“Mhmhmm.” His hand dropped from mine, and he took off down the hall without another glance, disappearing around the corner. I waited a few seconds, then stepped back into the lobby, uneasy.
The initiates were just kids. What would happen to them if one of them was divergent?
My eyes went to the Stiff as I strode by, her reserved eyes meeting mine for brief seconds before darting away. If she was one of them, they’d kill her, the poor little thing; she’d never stand a chance.
And I wasn’t sure if I could have they on my conscience, especially knowing how Four felt about her.
I chewed my lip as I resumed leaning against the wall, angsty.
I had to warn Four, if nothing else.
I waited until the initiate who was in the simulation was carried out before I stepped into the room, shutting the door firmly and startling Four as he went to slip a new needle into the gun. He looked at me for a few seconds before frowning.
Oh, right, he was probably still pissed at me for defending Eric to him; funny, how now I felt I was sort of betraying Eric by giving Four the information I was supposed to keep so secret.
“We need to talk,” I said softly, aware of the mirrored glass behind me. “It’s important.”
His eyes flicked behind me before back to my face.
He didn’t know how we were supposed to talk here where I didn’t doubt everything was recorded. I hesitated, then stepped forward, my hand curling around the front of his shirt as I drug his face down to mine, pressing my nose against his ear and making it look like I was merely kissing his cheek.
“They know there’s a divergent among the initiates,” I breathed, his entire body going rigid. I felt his hand bunch in the material of my shirt, his nails digging into my waist at the revelation. “And if it’s her you need to make sure she figures out the simulations like a normal Dauntless would.”
Beating him with a chair probably wouldn’t have hurt him as badly as my words did. I felt him shut down, not even able to hear him breathe as he realized I knew.
I’d figured he did.
I pulled away from him, feeling a little sad for him. Four really did have some rough luck.
“How do you know?” he asked softly, paler then I’d ever seen him.
“I figured it out. It’s not that hard, she has no idea what she’s doing. And you know how I know that they know.”
“Eric.” His voice didn’t have to sound so grim.
I just shrugged.
It was what it was.
“I hope your relationship with him is worth it,” he muttered, recoiling from me. “I don’t know why you’re so keen on him, but he’ll let you die.”
Probably. 
But that was something I would deal with when it came to it. 
I just shrugged, taking several steps away from him before turning on my heel and exciting the room. My eyes flicked to the Stiff as I walked toward the outside door, and she seemed to shrink a little under my gaze.
“Yeesh, what did you do to piss Camille off?” I heard the Candor friend ask just as I stepped out. “That’s a scary look.”
Well, she should be scared! She had no idea what was going to happen next!
But then again neither did I.
~~~~~~
“Eric.”
“Hmm?”
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“What happens tomorrow when you weed out the Divergents? Are you going to let them join? Take them out in front of everyone? What’s going to happen?” I couldn’t help asking, I was really curious. 
Eric sighed, glancing on me. 
We were in his bed, which I was starting to think was the only place where we held actual conversations — but only after he fucked me, of course. Any time before that would just be ridiculous. 
​​​I was laying on my stomach, my head pillowed by my arms, the sheet barely covering my waist — it was too hot in here to be fully covered. 
Eric didn’t even care, he was bare for all to see.
“They join, of course. We don’t want to start a panic. We’ll deal with them accordingly afterwards.”
“And what do you mean by that?” I frowned.
“You know what I mean, Camille. Why are you suddenly so curious?”
“I just want to know what’s going on.”
Eric frowned, staring at the ceiling and almost refusing to look at me. He’d been kind of grouchy ever since I’d showed up, so I wasn’t sure if that was his way of telling me I needed to leave now or what. The sex had been a little… Off.
Huh.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.” He snapped at me, still refusing to look at me, his eyes on the ceiling.
Well then.
I suppose that was my cue.
I frowned at him, and then straightened, throwing the sheet off my waist and huffing. If he was going to be an asshole, he could, but I wasn’t going to be around so he could be one to me.
“Where are you going?” he demanded as I stood, quickly gathering my clothes.
“Back to my apartment, what does it tlook like?“ I snapped. "You obviously don’t want me here tonight, so I won’t bother you.”
“Camille —.”
“Fuck you, Eric,” I muttered, wrenching my shirt over my head. I jerked my legs through my jeans, hopping so they’d come up my hips, and Eric made an irritable sound before getting to his feet, hastily grabbing a pair of shorts. “I don’t know why you suddenly have an attitude when I’ve done nothing —.”
“You call kissing Four nothing!?” he hissed at me so vehemently I actually paused. I stared at him for a few moments, a little taken back with surprise. My fingers paused on the button to my jeans as I tried to figure out what he meant.
“I never kissed Four,” I said, genuinely confused. “Why would you say that?”
“I know we’re not exclusive, I never promised to fuck just you either, but Four?” Eric ranted, completely ignoring me like I hadn’t even spoke. “What the hell do you even see in that guy!?”
“Eric —.”
“You’re a good lay, Camille, you got some nice merchandise between those thighs, and I know I’m not the only one who’s been down there. Hell, I’m completely fine if you want to bring another girl into this, but —.”
“Eric.” I hissed, bristling; what in the fuck was wrong with him!? “What the fuck! Are you jealous?”
“Of course not,” he scoffed. “Anyone can fuck you, I don’t give a shit. It’s —.”
“You’re jealous!” I accused, torn between being amused and still furious. “I’m not even interested in Four, you’re being ridiculous! We’re hardly friends —.”
“Then why did Peter see you and Four in the simulation room?” he challenged.
?
“Who the fuck is Peter?”
“For fucks sake, Camille! He’s at the meetings, he knows what’s going on!” Eric couldn’t have sounded anymore irritated. “He’s one of the initiates!”
“Nosey?” I frowned. “He wasn’t even being tested by us, Tori had him today. He wasn’t even in the waiting room! And why the hell would I kiss Four?” I sounded as exasperated as I felt. “He doesn’t even like me, he thinks I’m as awful as you are.”
Eric frowned, and I could see the uncertainty in his eyes now.
This was bullshit I didn’t need.
“I’m out of here,” I muttered, shaking my head at how fucking stupid men were. “If you wanna pitch a bitch fit, go ahead, but I’m not gonna be around to listen to it.”
“Camille —.”
“No, fuck you, Eric. I am so sick of you trying to tell me what to fucking do when we’re equals in leadership! You’re not my boss, and you’ve put me in two different near death experiences! I was shot saving your pathetic ass, you could at least have the decency to show me a little respect, especially since I’m sharing your bed!” I shrilled, starting to lose my temper. “That wouldn’t fucking kill you!”
He looked offended. 
“And you know Nosey and I don’t get along!” I added with a hiss, jerking my jacket out of the floor where it had fallen earlier. “He’s a little weasel, a young you in the making! You’re probably his stupid idol!”
“You’re not going anywhere!” he burst as I beelined for the door. “Don’t you fucking dare leave —.”
“Or what?” I snapped, throwing his door open so hard it slammed against the wall, knocking things off into the floor. “Will you claim I’m one of them and get rid of me? That would be convenient for you, wouldn’t it!?”
I shut the door so hard I heard something crack.
Fucking men!
I hadn’t kissed Four, I’d just made it look like I had when I was warning him about the Stiff. I couldn’t remember if Nosey had been in the lobby or not, to be honest, but even if he had he wouldn’t have been able to see me and Four together unless he’d been behind the mirrored glass.
Which was suspicious, because he was an initiate and he shouldn’t be allowed back there.
Man, this whole situation was fucked up.
I slung my arms through my jacket, too amped up to even think about going back to my apartment. Eric really knew how to hurt my feelings, even when he wasn’t meaning too, the insensitive bastard. I don’t know why I couldn’t remember what a piece of shit he was, why I let him get under my skin so badly.
Fucker!
Next time I’d let him be the one who got shot!
Ugh!
My feet lead me to the stairs that lead to one of the rooftops, and I took the steps two at a time, growing more and more frustrated. He was such a pain in my ass, and I hated it when I was accused of doing something that I wasn’t.
It usually made me want to do it.
But I wasn’t interested in Four, it was clear he was head over heels for the other stiff, and I wouldn’t encroach on that territory. 
No, I would just sulk up here for the rest of the night and debate on how to exact revenge on that stupid as fuck man I kept spreading my legs for.
I sighed as I reached the top of the stairs, the run up taking away most of my steam.
Okay, so I knew for sure I hadn’t overreacted. 
I walked to the edge of the roof, plopping myself down on the upraised brick with a huff. I let my legs swing over the edge, staring off into the darkened city. My eyes landed on Erudite headquarters, seeing the lights on in every window, despite the fact all were supposed to be off every night.
What were they up too there? Why was Erudite so interested in the divergent? And that woman that lead them, what was her deal? Her, Eric, and Max were on way to good of terms.
I suppose I would never know the answer. I was in the inner circle, but not in in. 
I leaned back on my palms, letting my head tilt back to look at the stars.
I wanted to feel disappointed that Eric didn’t come after me, but I refused to let myself. Eric was possessive, that’s why he was jealous, not because he cared.
He didn’t even care like the minimal amount, as in, ’oh, I don’t want you to die’ amount.
He pissed me off to new extremes.
Next time, I was totally letting him get shot or fall into a chasm.
Fucker.