Faction before blood?

Chapter 4

It's been two days since my "minor" breakdown. Ever since then I avoided my brother at all costs. He has always been able to read me like an open book and the things I was going through currently, were not something I wished to share with him just yet.

Since I missed half of my shift on Sunday and all of Monday, I had to work doubles, all while contacting the woman who got the falsely labelled shot, to get them tested.

There were 29 we had to take to the infirmary and 11 were then confirmed pregnant. I have no idea how the others were spared, since dauntless isn't really known for its chastity. I guess they either used further protection or they have been lucky. Or more than lucky.

But Dauntless is known for gossip, so the whole ordeal drew much attention. I mean how often did it happen that erudite fucked up so majorly? And major it was indeed. It stirred up so many people, that the leaders decided to take charge over the investigation. Apparently, the women, who got pregnant will be entitled to some form of amend to sort out the "necessities". Another euphemism for making sure they won't seek trial in candor.

But to top all of it, I have somehow been declared to the leading force from the infirmary, thanks to the possession of the blue folder.

Meaning of it: I would be the lucky one to present everything to the leaders. From the names of the 29, to the ones that were really pregnant. Figures.

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So here I am now, half an hour before the meeting starts, trying to calm myself down. I've never been one for public speaking, neither for facing authorities. One of the few benefits of Abnegation. No one draws attention to themselves or demands it from others.

"Okay, look Amy. Everything will be fine. You will go in there, tell them about the eleven women, hand the sheet over, answer a few questions and you will be good to leave.", my superior, Keith, briefed me. Who the hell is named Keith nowadays anyway?!

"Why can't you do that? I mean you are my supervisor, if I stutter or inform them incorrectly this will cast a bad light over you." I tried to sway his decision, while speaking to his ego.

"As if, hon. Brownie points for trying, but get in there now." He brushed me off, opening the door to the conference room, before ushering me in, closing the door and standing back beside it.

I fumbled with the paper in my hands, before turning towards the large mahogany table. There at the head of the table, three of our five leaders were sitting, all looking at me.

Max, our senior leader or whatever they call it was seated in the middle. On his right was a woman I have only ever seen a few times, but I knew she was called Maggs. Finishing first in her year she was declared the most savage woman in Dauntless. Not only was she the only girl in her year, but she also managed to withstand the torture of factionless, after she was captured on a routine patrol, as a junior leader. Being found three days later, Maggs managed to kill 2 of her capturers with a sharpened spoon, she managed to hide from all of them.

She was a living Dauntless legend.

On his left however, was the one person I wanted gone from this meeting at all costs. Eric's otherwise cruel glare was bordering on a strange mix between boredom and curiosity. When I looked at him he just raised one of his eyebrows, trying to keep the corner of his mouth from turning into his trademark smirk, when I blushed in return. I don't even want to know what he was thinking about. Nothing workplace approvable at its best.