Death Wish

Part 29

 For the next two days, we gladly rested during the break from the Fear Sims. I'd told Rency almost everything that had happened regarding my time in Eric's apartment but left out the part about the classified files I found and what he told me about his family. She kept pressing, wondering if we had done anything naughty, but I just told her we really didn't have any time for that.

I still didn't know who tried to kill me. It could have been anyone. Even the two Dauntless boys below the red line. I kept on alert at all times and didn't go anywhere alone. Rency and the boys were on similar alert and Max even issued a warning to all the initiates.

My torso wound was still tender but on the mend. Although it made moving quickly hard and standing straight up could be painful. Some medication from the infirmary sped up the healing process and helped alleviate some pain.

Rency and Ryan decided they wanted to go shopping the next day, and we dragged Morsov, Matius, and Verlayne with us. I was still a little annoyed with Verlayne since I think she still believed that I was using some kind of trick to be better at the fear sims. But I didn't hold the grudge for long as we walked through the shops. Verlayne didn't make any mention of the Fear Sims and even asked me to help her pick out a new skirt.

Rency didn't hesitate to get another piercing, this one being an amethyst stud on her nose to complement her small eyebrow stud. Ryan got his first tattoo of an elaborate owl on the underside of his forearm and Morsov added his second tattoo being a tangled spider web on his calf. He apparently had an astute fear of the eight legged menaces. And by getting a tattoo of them, he thought it might help him master said fear.

Matius bought Verlayne a pretty onyx bracelet at the same shop that I got a new pair of shoes in. They were black running shoes with dark purple detailing but were infinitely more comfortable than my worn out combat boots.

All the while we were shopping, I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting to see a figure in a ski mask. Even with the big group, I was still on edge. Only Rency knew the full truth about the attack and she thankfully rarely left my side. With her, and the boys, I felt pretty safe. But a barb of anxiety still sat in my stomach.

At the end of our fun day of hanging out in the shops, we found ourselves enjoying a particularly rambunctious dinner.

Matius and Ryan were arm wrestling allowing Rency and Verlayne to watch in awe. I flung purple grapes at Deitrich with my spoon who skillfully swatted them away before they could hit him. And Morsov was trying to get a game of cards started with his sister.

However, my attention shifted when I saw a woman with neat blonde hair wearing blue clothing walking through the pit with Max by her side and a bored looking Eric in their wake. The woman had a serious expression and not a wrinkle in her clothing or a blonde hair out of place. Her blue eyes were intense and her face looked like it had never smiled before. She stood out like a sore thumb amongst the dark clothes and hair of the Dauntless.

Ryan and Matius quickly let go of each others hands as they looked up at the unwavering and almost intimidating women who made her way to the front of the Pit.

"That's Jeannie Mathews, she's the head of Erudite," Ryan whispered just loud enough for our table to hear. I don't know much about her other than she was one smart lady that ruled with an iron fist. But the real question was, what was she doing in Dauntless?

She stopped and stood in front of the Pit where a microphone waited. The Pit all turned in attention.

"Hello Dauntless, I am Jeannie Matthews," Jeannie began looking out at all of us with a cold expression.

"I come to you today to warn you of a serious epidemic. There are people among you who are threats to your daily lives. These people are called Divergents?" Jeannie explained almost spatting out the last word.

I felt my breath hitch. I looked around at the crowd to see their reactions. I made eye contact with Four who signaled ever so minutely for me to just stay calm.

No one knows yet. Don't let them suspect.

"These Divergents are dangerous and we are doing our best to eradicate them. These people could lead to the destruction of our five factions and thus our very way of life," Jeannie continued as we all listened in silence. I glanced at Rency who looked confused. She probably had no idea what a Divergent even was.

"Therefore, we will be bringing in each and everyone of you for questioning during the week. We want to ensure your safety from these Divergent threats and to also remove them without violence from the population," Jeannie ended with no real emotion in her voice. She then followed by praising Dauntless for our tireless work and then bid us farewell. As soon as she left the stage, the pit erupted into immediate worried conversation.

I distinctly noticed how she left out the 'Kill on sight' order that had been written in bold on the files I had found in Eric's apartment.

I looked at the rest of my table who looked equally confused and frazzled and decided to play along.

"What on earth is a Divergent?" I asked lowly, feigning ignorance.

Matius leaned into the table. "I hear they don't fit into any one faction. They are different like that, and could cause like uprisings," Matius claimed, making me raise a brow.

"Yeah they are dangerous to our society," Verlayne added and I decided after that just to stay quiet as they continued with their theories that I hoped weren't true. I didn't want to accidently let anything slip.

I was more focused on the 'questionings' that Jeannie mentioned.