Death Wish

Part 23

-----Couple days later-----

For the next few days we carried out the same schedule. We would have our fear simulations at about noon and then train in how to get better at them at 3pm. I was still getting help from Four at night but today was my last day of getting extra help from him since I was really starting to get the hang of controlling the Divergent part of myself.

None of my friends questioned me about why I could do the fear sims so quickly after that day in the Pit. The only one to pester me further was Verlayne but Matius and Rency quickly silenced her.

They must have come to the conclusion that I was simply good at the fear sims. I had actually increased my fear Sim time to a little over eight minutes now and most people deduced that my first four minute achievement had been nothing more than beginners luck

I had added two more fears to my list. I was scared of small places, similar to Four, although the place I was scared of being trapped in was my own coffin. And the last fear I had was of quicksand. That sticky sandy stuff that sucks you under.

So eight fears total.

I hadn't suffered through the betrayel fear again though.

I also hadn't spoken to Eric much since then. He would still administer the test to me on the days it was his turn but there was a cool regard between us. I wasn't sure how to feel about it since one side of me wanted to maybe pursue him and the other told me it was dangerous.

We got two days for a break halfway through the fear simulations. To the relief of all I think.

I had no qualms and had just finished my last training session with Four who I suppose I could call a friend now. He was a lot kinder by himself and I liked his laugh. I could certainly understand now why he was such heart throb amongst my fellow initiates.

I walked down the familiar series of halls that led back to the initiate's quarters. My mind was focused on the final test that would be held at the end of the week. It was the last chance I had to move up in rank and ensure a good, if not ideal, job in Dauntless.

I remembered how my parents would fret about how no one in Candor would ever hire a liar like me.

If only they could see me now.

I was walking down the last hallway that led to the small metal bridge that crossed over the chasm. After the fear simulations, I'd grown weary of the bridge and tended to skirt across it quickly.

I was only a few yards away from the bridge when suddenly a hand went over my mouth and an arm wrapped around my waist. I tried to scream, but it was muffled as the first attacker covered my mouth. Two other figures with, black ski masks covering their faces, attacked from the side. 

I desperately tried to fight back, flailing my limbs and aiming punches anywhere I could. But two of them were holding me around my torso and the third was now in control of my legs. The best I managed was to kick one in the face but that just caused him to hit me hard on my unprotected stomach.

Panic and pain shot through me but I couldn't fight against all three of them. They began to carry my wriggling body towards the edge of the chasam. My heart was going a million miles per second as I continued struggling with every fiber of my being. I thrashed back in fourth in the figure's strong arms but it was practically futile.

They were going to throw me over!

I suddenly bit down hard on the hand covering my mouth, earning a surprised yelp. I wasted no time at the opportunity. I gathered as much air in my lungs as possible, searching for something to say.

"ERIC!" I screamed as loud as I could.

The name echoed off of the walls but there was no guarantee anyone had even heard me. It was late in the evening and everyone was either at dinner or relaxing after work.

One of the figures brought their fist down against my face, brutally knocking my head back and making me see double. They started swinging me back and forth, getting ready to throw me. I made one last thrashing effort to loosen their grip but it didn't work. I shut my eyes in panic, my body going stiff as I realized what was going to happen.

I couldn't do anything to stop them.

I was going to die.

At the very last possible moment, a new and massive figure appeared from out of the darkness. I quickly recognized it to be Eric as I spotted his familar tatoos and blonde hair. I almost wept with joy as he ripped one of the attackers off of me and threw them forcefully against the stone wall where their head smacked gruesomely.

The others quickly let me go, but they had been in mid swing to throw me over the edge when they did. I was halfway over the ledge, tumbling roughly against the concrete before I caught the edge of the chasm with my hands. The rough concrete dug into my palms and into the soft skin of my stomach skin, drawing blood. I let loose a scream as I clawed desperately at the edge of the chasm and my feet dug into the solid rock, searching for a foot hold.

I struggled to hold on as I watched Eric viciously beat one of the attackers just a couple feet away. It all seemed  in slow motion. But I was starting to lose my grip. Even with my nails digging into the asphalt, I was going to slip. I screamed instinctively, causing Eric to pause mid attack.

Eric quickly reacted, tossing one of the attackers away like a sack of flour and then he dropping low to grab me. He grabbed my wrists with a vice like grip and heaved me back to the solid land. That caused my torso to scrape even worse against the concrete, and I yelped in pain as I crashed up against his hard chest.

I scrambled in adrenaline induced fear, putting as much distance between me and the ledge of the Chasm as possible. I was breathing rapidly, almost struggling to inhale correctly as my lungs struggled to keep up. My heart thundered inside my chest and my temples pounded so hard it felt like a siren was going off right next to my ears.

"Ferris! Are you alright?" Eric asked as he checked me over.

I sat up against the wall shakily, feeling a stinging pain in my torso. My hand went to just below my right breast where blood was seeping through. My hands were scrapped up as well.

"M-m-my stomach," I stuttered as Eric looked down toward my stomach and lifted my shirt to further access the damage.

"Christ, can you stand? You need to go to the doctor," Eric suggested as his fingers hovered around the stinging wound.

I shook my head in resilience. The movement made my head spin.

"What if- What if they come back?" I choked out. My skin had gone from burning to suddenly clammy as shock and trauma entered my veins.

Eric nodded. His brows furrowed in thought and his eyes stayed on my injuries. Even though I was still terrified and had almost been killed, having him there made me feel so safe all of a sudden.

"Eric, I - j-just please don't leave me," I shuddered, my breaths remained shallow and hyper.

"I'm right here," He said, his hand moving to brush the hair out of my face. His eyes looked me up and down again, trying to quickly make a decision. "I have medical supplies in my apartment. Can I take you there?"

I nodded shakily.

I would be safe in an apartment. Who knows where those people that attacked me went. They could easily attack me again in the infirmary. No where in the open was safe.

"Ok, it's not too far," He said gently before crouching low to pick me up. I winced as my stomach was creased and the skin rubbed against itself. But the overwhelming safety I felt as soon as he picked me up off the floor washed over my body like a tidal wave.

My breathing gradually slowed and my body stopped trembling. I clutched the front of his shirt tightly and wrapped my other arm around his neck. Without another word, he whisked me away.