My Divergent Life (Completely Fan-Fiction) Wattys2015

Chapter 14: Last Simulation

        It has been a good few weeks of stage two, today is my last simulation. I have only faced three different simulations. I have faced heights, drowning, and having to kill my family. I know I don't have just three fears, I'll probably face several new ones when I go through my fear-landscape.

        "Are you ready?" Lamar asks me. I nod and tilt my head. "Okay." I feel a sharp pain shoot through my neck, but I'm used to it now. I look at Lamar, then I am gone once again.

        I open my eyes, my hands are chained together, I haven't faced this fear before. I am not on the ground, there are flames everywhere. The fire is rising, I realize I am tied to a tree, my hands are tied to my waist. I try to move, I can't. I scream, I haven't screamed during a simulation in a long time.

        I notice how thin the tree is, I can look around it. There is no fire on the other side, but the fire below me will burn through this tree quickly.

        The tree moves, I know it's leaning now, it'll collapse soon, leaving me to burn. It isn't real. I can't think of anything that a Dauntless would do, I can't manipulate the simulation or show that I'm aware. I don't know what to do, I am panicking.

        The fire is at my knees, my legs burn, I scream again. It isn't real, it's just a simulation. I kick the tree with my heel. The tree leans more. I kick it again, it leans even more. I kick it again and again, until the fire has burned through the rope holding me to the tree and my hands to my waist, including the rope chaining my hands together.

        I hold on to the tree as tight as I can. It leans again and collapses, I jump to the ground and the simulation ends.

        I gasp and sit up, Lamar is looking at me. I am breathing through my mouth, I look at him.

        "You okay?" He asks. I nod. "Go back to my apartment and get some rest, you'll have to sleep in the dormitory tonight, even if you don't sleep, you'll have to be there." I nod again and get up. I walk to the door and leave, letting it close behind me.

        On my way to Lamar's apartment, I check every few steps to make sure no-one is following me, no-one did. Lamar let me keep the key I got off the top of the door-frame a few weeks ago, I'll give it back to I'm tonight so it isn't stolen from me.

        I unlock the door, open it and walk in, closing it behind me. I lock the door and take off my shoes as walk over to Lamar's bed. He doesn't sleep on the floor anymore, I told him he didn't have to.

        Today is the last day of the simulations, Lamar and I decided that I should go back to the dormitory tonight and sleep there for two nights. I'm okay with it but I'm pretty sure we're both worried about me, Anthony and Alice likely have a plan to kill me. Lamar told me he would work late in the control-room both days.

        I lay down, I need to sleep, I don't think I'll sleep much in the next two days, I don't think Lamar will either. I have to go back to the dormitory tonight though. I know questions will be asked, I won't answer them, I'll just have to stay in there and be annoyed.

        I close my eyes and try to clear my head, I can't, it's full of thoughts that refuse to be ignored. I sit up and take off my jacket, I lay back down and throw the jacket on my shoulder. I listen to the sound of the wind whistling against the window until I fall asleep.

                        *                                *                                *

        "Stella, we have to go." I hear Lamar say.

        "Where?" I open my eyes and sit up. I press my hands to my eyes to clear my vision.

        "The pit. Stephanie told me that I had to release rankings today. You'll only have to sleep in the dormitory tonight." I take my hands from my face, Lamar is standing beside the door, his fingers wrapped around the nob. "Let's go."

        I nod and get up, I grab my jacket and slip it on. I slide my feet into my shoes and walk over to Lamar, he turns the door-nob. I take the key out of my pocket and hold my hand out in front of him. He looks at it for a few moments, he takes it and slides it into his pocket.

        We walk to the dormitory together, in silence. I go in while he goes to the pit. I sit on my bed, staring at the night-stand next to it. I don't remember putting anything in it, it feels like there's something in there though. I'll look through it while everyone's at dinner.

        "So, you've returned?" Anthony is next to me. "Is it for good?"

        "What makes you think I'll answer your questions?" I say, my voice low. I sound irritated, I am, I'm tired of Anthony bothering me with these questions, I don't think he'll let me sleep tonight. I don't even think he'll let himself sleep tonight, I'm sure he has a plan to kill me or get me kicked out of Dauntless. I can't let it happen, I can't let him get to me. I can't let him worry me or kill me or hurt me at all, I am stronger than him mentally, maybe physically.

        I will survive until tomorrow, he won't stop me from surviving the night or becoming a Dauntless leader. I will be ranked first, I will be a Dauntless member, I will be a Dauntless leader, he can't stop me.