My life as Dauntless

Part 8

I hear Four calling all of us. I get up. He's at the pit. I walk downstairs and stand among the other initiates. Eric assists him.

"We'll call out your names and if you want to change your name to something more simple, just say the name you want" Eric looked at the crowd. He finds my eyes and smirked.

I look down at the floor and blush slightly. I hope nobody noticed me.

Eric and Four both call up names. "Matthew Graceffa" Eric sighed. "Matt Graceffa" Matthew said behind me. I turn around and he's right behind me. He gives me a fake-smile and crosses his arms. "Aaron Crowley" Four called out. Eric looks up at me from his board. "Ace Crowley" I said loudly, looking at Eric. He smiles then nods his head. I smile lightly as Four writes down my name.

++++++++++

Night comes quickly and all the initiates are sent to the dormitory. I share a bunk with Emit- he's top bunk, and I'm bottom. We get dressed in loose black shirts and black sweatpants. We all get situated in our beds before the dim lights shut off, leaving the room pitch black.

I swallow loudly but the other initiates breathing covered up the noise I made.

I wipe my sweaty palms on the sheets that cover me. I hate the dark. Its always been one of my fears. I just don't know what could happen in the dark, I like being able to see whats happening around me. I begin to panic and I breathe heavier.

I feel a rough hand cover my mouth. I scream but their hand lowers it sound. "Shhh! Its Eric!" he whispered. He lets go and I jolt upward to sit. "What are you doing here?! And how could you see?!" I looked in front of me. "Im over here" he adjusted my head by putting his finger on my jaw to face him. I see a dark outline of him. "I could here you from my room" he whispered. "Thats not funny" I shook my head.

My vision adjusts, so now I could barely see his piercings. He chuckles. "Come on" he said helping me up, off my bed.

When Id stumble, he'd help me up. The moonlight pierces through the glass roof above us as we entered the Pit. "How could you see?" I asked. "You get use to it" he walked. We go up a flight of stairs to the left of the Pit and enter another room. His room.

Theres a candle already lit, next to his bed. The candle gives just enough light to make-out his room. He has a punching bag hanging next to his window.

I hear him lock the door. "Thought you'd might like it here" he walked next to me, looking out the window and at the city. I look with him. "How old are you?" I asked him. "Seventeen" he replied, looking at me. The light hits him perfectly. He's tall, with dark, greasy short cut hair and a couple piercings. His eyes are a dull grey. When I first met him, his eyes were cold and menacing, but in the light of the candle, they're soft.

"Why?" he asked. "You know us Erudites" I smiled. "You know, I was an Erudite." he commented. "Really?" I asked, sitting down on his bed. I quickly stand up, "Im sorry, I didn't mean to sit on your bed without asking." He chuckles. "Its okay... You sure you weren't in Abnegation?" he smiled, sitting next to me. I shake my head. "Never." He smiles when I yawn. "You tired?" he asked. "Is it that obvious?" I smiled. He laughs.

Ive never seen him laugh or smile before like the way he is now. "You should get to bed." he got up. "Ill take the floor" he volunteered, as he went through his closet. He comes back with a big blanket. "Thank you" I said, my voice scratchy. He smiles lightly. I rest on his bed and he sits down, next to my legs. "How come you and Matt were fighting?" he asked. "He was being a douche when he knew that I liked him and then he asked out Emit- Emit turned him down- and now Matt had been really annoying" I shook my head. He looks bewildered. "You're-" "Yes Im gay. I know 'Eww! Its so awkward, get out if my room you freak!'" I imitated what everyone else would say. "No, its fine. We just don't get a lot of... bisexuals in Dauntless" he said almost in a whisper. "You're not disgusted by it?" I asked. He shakes his head. "No... I actually prefer them rather than normal people" he got up.

"Goodnight... Ace" he smiled. "Goodnight Eric" I smiled back. He walks to the opposite side from where he was sitting and sleeps on the floor, next to the bed... Next to me.

I stay awake a while, wondering why Eric wasn't sickened by me. There were to many possibilities so I decided to forget about it, but me being an Erudite born, Ill never forget.

Ever.