Dauntless

Part 21

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"Come with me," Eric urged, but I shook my head, distancing myself from him, absolutely refusing.

"No, I won't go there. It might be home to you, but I've always been Dauntless." I muttered, seeing his jaw clench. "I don't have a home anymore thanks to them. Max betrayed us, you betrayed us... There's nothing left for me here."
​I had to leave.​​
"Camille ---!"
"If you want to go to Erudite, go ahead. But I'm catching the train, and I'm going over the wall," I said firmly, still refusing to look at him. "I might die out there, but it'll be better then being in this prison."
You couldnt trust anyone, especially not the ones you cared about.
Why couldn't I remember that?
It was like a painful ache in my chest, one that was quickly rising to my eyes despite how much I didn't want it too. It shouldn't hurt like this, but it did.
I swallowed hard, and turned away, intent on climbing the platform for the train I could see in the distance. Eric didn't say a word, he never did, he just let me go, again.
He'd never really cared at all.
But why was I surprised?
People in my life tended to be that way.
I took about two steps before I heard shouts, and I half turned , alarmed.
Shit!
They'd caught up with us!
"Don't move!"
!
I froze, cutting my eyes to the side as I felt the barrel of a gun press into my shoulder. I didn't recognize this Dauntless, oddly enough, but I knew better then to make any sudden movements. I hesitated, curling my hands into fists.
Dammit!
I had a plan,and this fucker wasn't going to stop me from it! I didn't think about it as my hand whipped forward, wrapping around the barrel and jerking it up. The man fired, but not quick enough, completely missing me and going into the air. I wrenched it from him, seeing his alarmed expression before I slammed the butt of the gun against his temple, sending him staggering back and onto the sidewalk.
I didn't spare another moment, but whirled, aiming at the Dauntless still approaching.
Oh nice, Eric was completely fucking gone.
So much for teamwork!
Fucker!
I clenched my hand around the gun, not wanting to kill any more of my faction but valuing my life a little more then their's. I kept walking back, looking for somewhere to go, even if it was to hide there for a couple hours until I could get to the train.
I was fucking leaving, they didn't have to worry about me! 
Shit!
I threw myself against the wall as they started firing, squeezing my eyes shut as bullets pinged off everything around me. I was pressing against a brick column, doing my best not to move a single muscle.
I was never going to get out of this city, was I? All my stupid planning, all my hard work to get Eric out and basically making me public enemy number two --- was it all just so he could abandon me and leave me to die?
What an asshole! I was so gonna haunt him for this!
I sunk down, trying to make myself a smaller target, holding the gun tightly to my chest. I knew they were approaching, getting closer to my hiding spot, and if I kept sitting here I was dead.
But I didn't have anywhere I could go.
I didn't have any friends, any family, nothing.
I was doomed.
But maybe it would be better that way. 
I'd always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory, maybe not technically labeled as a traitor, but beggars can't be choosers.
I swallowed hard, and then slowly rose to my feet again, keeping my back against the column as I racked the gun. I took a deep, steady breath, and then stepped out from behind the column, my finger already on the trigger. The Dauntless immediately began diving for cover, and I began running, firing behind me but not bothering to look back.
I just had to get to the train station. 
Then I was free.
The concrete was harsh against my feet, each impact making my legs ache as I ran, the gun feeling so heavy in my hand. It was all I could do not to slow, to keep running, to stay focused ---.
Fuck!
I staggered, almost falling in an attempt to stop as a Dauntless suddenly cut me off, appearing in front of me with a gun aimed at my chest. My eyes went to his, panicked.
Aw, fuck!
I could see him start to pull the trigger almost in slow motion, hear the click of the bullet in the chamber. My heart was hammering in my ears, I couldn't hear anything else, and despite I was about to die, my life definitely didn't flash before my eyes or anything. 
What a load of shit that was then.
I suddenly found myself ramming into the side of a building, my face scraping against the brick as I almost went down. I jerked my head back in shock, staring as Eric wrestled with the Dauntless, two times his size and a lot more experienced. I'd heard the gun go off, was he hit!?
Eric! 
He suddenly turned, tossing the Dauntless out into the street and leaving him to lay there. He glanced at me, the sunlight glinting off his silver piercings as his hand closed over mine, pulling me to him before he began moving, dragging me along behind him.
"You came back," I wheezed, clenching my fingers into his sleeve, my lungs constricting at this point. My side felt like it was going to cramp me to death!
"I never left, you fucking idiot," he huffed over his shoulder at me. "You can't fucking survive ten minutes without me!"
"I was doing just fine!"
"I could see that!"
He couldn't even save me and be nice about it! I scowled at him, but my eyes were focused on the train platform looming above us.
Almost there!
We were almost safe!
go go go!
I hit the steel train beam so hard I was pretty sure I broke something. I barely spared a glance behind me before I began climbing, my fingers digging into every nook, seeing Eric climbing steadily, if not a little quicker, then me. We made it to the top of the platform at about the same time, and I leaned forward, pressing my hands against my knees, weaving back and forth.
I needed to sit down.
"Are you okay!?" Eric demanded, breathless. He reached for me, his hand closing over my shoulder, and I nodded, unable to get my breath just yet. My entire body was heaving, muscles trembling --- the mix of adrenaline and -fighting-for-my-life was starting to wear off and leave my body with nothing.
I really needed to sit down.
I sunk slowly, pressing my palms flat against the hot metal, able to hear the train in the distance. We had a little time, so long as those chasing us didn't happen to look up; then again, they'd probably seen us climbing and it was only a matter of time before we were killed anyway. 
"Are... Are you....?" I couldn't even ask Eric if he was okay, my lungs were burning so badly. I noticed Erics hesitation before he nodded, and my eyes lit on his face before sweeping over him.
"You're bleeding!" I managed, crawling the few inches necessary to be right beside him. I pulled his arm to me, seeing the blood coursing down his skin. "You were shot!"
"It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious." he grunted, attempting to pull away from me, but I wouldn't let him.
"When did this happen?" I demanded, pulling on my shirt. The sound of material ripping was incredibly loud to my throbbing ears. I quickly began wrapping it around his arm, hoping it didn't become infected. He was right, we didn't have any supplies to keep us going.
We had nothing.
"It's not important. Come on, get up, the trains almost here."
Eh, fuck.
I hesitated, my fingers lingering on his arm before he abruptly stood, forcing me up with him. My legs shook at the mere thought of having to run again.
My plan was having some definite kinks to it.
I bit my lip, and looked up at Eric, seeing his face gleaming with sweat and grime, how heavy his chest was moving. He'd got shot helping me, hadn't he? 
He'd protected me.
He hadn't left me.
I glanced at where the train would soon be, then jerked on Erics collar, seeing his startled expression only seconds before I kissed him, my lips pressing heavily against his. The kiss was only a few moments, it was all we could spare, but it was all that I could give him.
Eric sighed as I pulled away, looking resigned.
"I couldn't go to Erudite without you," he muttered, his hand covering mine where it laid against his collar. "Didn't feel right."
"Because you'd have no one there to out you in your place," I teased, and his lips curved in amusement.
"Probably."
And then we heard the train.
I hesitated, glancing down, seeing forms running towards us in the distance. This would be our only chance to catch the train, our only chance of surviving; if we blew this, we would both die.
We didn't have any other option.
"Don't miss the train," I muttered, squeezing Erics hand before letting go, readying myself for the long run. Eric started moving before me, apparently reaching deep into his stored energy before taking off.
Jeez.
Who knew he was in such better shape then me? 
I sighed before I started moving, my steps loud on the metal as the train started by me, both of us running as hard as we could.
My mind suddenly flashed to my fears, and I faltered.
Shit!
This was the same as in my fear simulation, running as hard as I could and yet still falling behind, not able to keep up and never quite able to catch the train. Eric was much ahead of me, about to jump, and somewhere in my gut I just knew I wasn't going to make it.
I was too far behind.
I glanced over, my legs hurting, my body wanting to do nothing more but lie down and curl into a ball. I couldn't keep moving much farther, not at this rate, and I wasn't even hurt. The end of the line was coming up quick, if I didn't jump soon I would fall, and I couldn't see Eric anymore, all there was was the end, the train leaving me behind, the ---.
And then I was moving.
I felt his arm scoop around my waist seconds before I ran out of track, and I gasped as I slammed into his chest, both of us falling back into the train compartment. I froze, my mind trying to catch up with my body; it took me a few seconds to realize I hadn't plummeted to my death.
Had Eric saved me again?
I hesitated, feeling his chest moving heavily beneath mine, his hands limp around my waist. He'd pulled me onto the train at the last minute....
He could have fallen out! He could have over balanced or lost his grip and went tumbling off!
The idiot!
I raised my face from his shoulder, my dark hair falling in front of my eyes, sticking to my damp skin.
"You're so stupid," I managed, pushing myself up, staring down at him. "You ---."
"Just shut up and appreciate you're alive," he wheezed back, his arm thrown over his eyes. "You couldnt have gotten on without me."
"I could have too!"
"Could not --- otherwise you would have already been on. You let your fear take hold, I saw it."
I stiffened; I'd almost forgotten he'd seen my fears. Had he recognized it?
I didn't say another word, just rolled off him and onto my back, glancing around the empty compartment.
We'd made it. 
We made it to the train!
We're alive!
This was more then I thought...
"So you're not going to Erudite?" I asked after a moment, just gazing at the ceiling as I laid beside him. He was silent, the rocking of the train on the rails the only noise while he thought about his answer. 
".... No, I'm not."
I hesitated, but I didn't look at him, just bit my lip.
So he was coming with me? 
Over the wall?
I felt his fingers curl around mine, and he held my hand as we both laid there, regaining our breath. After a moment I rolled, letting my arm slip around his waist as I clung to him, hating to be so weak but just needing to know he was really there. His lips pressed into my hair, and he held me, not saying a word.
We'd made it.
We'd actually fucking halfway made it!
~~~~
"We can't come back here," I said after a moment, standing at the door of the train, the wind throwing my hair around my face. "They'll kill us."
"I know." Eric gazed at the wall looming in the distance. Another few minutes and we'd be at the end of the line, . After that, we had a thirty minute walk to the wall. I was hoping it was still unguarded, that the other Dauntless hadn't returned to their duties yet; if they had we'd never make it over, we'd just die trying.
But at least we'd die together.
Hell, we might die over the wall, but at least it wouldn't be in this city, this prison.
We could make our own lives on the outside.
Together.
I hesitated, then reached for Erics hand, his fingers twining through mine.
So far, we'd made a pretty good team. 
And as long as we stayed together, trusted and relied on each other, then we had a chance of making it.
I thought I'd never trust anyone again.
I still only trusted Eric as far as I could throw him, and that wasn't that far.
But he'd come back for me, just as I had him.
So together, there wasn't any odds that we couldn't beat.
We were Dauntless after all.
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