Right? --A Fourtris/Tris Pedrad Story

Chapter 15

Two days later...
Tobias
Today we start knives and capture the flag is tonight. I'm gonna use the strategy Tris and Uriah used. They did win after all. I'm totally picking Tris first and hopefully Uriah too. Maybe Lynn. Marlene isn't too good, but I would still pick her because she's my friend.

"Today is the last day of stage one. Ranks will be posted tomorrow and a few will be cut, " Eric spits bitterly. He always seems so pissed off. "Four will demonstrate how to throw knives. Four." I nod and grab a couple of knives from the table.

I think I'm best at throwing knives than anything else. I am pretty good at combat, thanks to Tris. I've also gotten much stronger since my initiation. I line myself up with a target and stand exactly how Tris corrected me to. Shoulders back. Feet shoulder width apart. Eyes on the target. Inhale. Aim. Exhale. Release. It hits dead center. "Your turn, " I say and they all scramble to grab knives.

Tris stands between Lynn and Uriah with Marlene to his right. Uriah and Tris hit the center perfectly every time. Lynn is quite good, but not as good as them. Most of the transfers suck.

Marlene pretends to throw without a knife in hand. It's probably to make sure her stance is good. Peter snickers. It's actually a good strategy. Peter hasn't hit the target once. "Hey blondie, remember what a knife is?" Molly, Drew, and him all laugh. "Hey candor, remember what a target is?" Tris retorts with a proud smirk on her face. Christina, Will, Al, Uriah, Lynn, Marlene, and a few others snicker. I would too.
After lunch...
Eric stands with crossed arms, glaring at one of the transfers. None of his have hit the target yet. Most just clatter to the ground loudly. I can see him getting discouraged looking at the others nail it perfectly.

I walk up behind him and whisper something to him. "Eric is watching. Try harder." I re-demonstrate for him and nod before walking back to my spot on the wall. I lean back and cross my arms in the same way as Eric. He throws and fails. Eric walks over to him. This won't end well.

"What was that, initiate?" He spits the last word like venom. Some people stop and look over. Tris bites her lip. "It-it slipped, " he stutters nervously. "Well, I think you should go get it, " Eric says in a deadly calm voice. It's worse to hear him like this because he's never this calm.

By now, all knives have stopped pounding on the boards. Eric scans their faces. "Did I tell you to stop?" Everyone resumes throwing but peek at them through the corners of their eyes. Some look with fear and others with satisfaction that it isn't them. I know Eric and I know Al isn't getting off easy.

"Go get it?" Al asks with wide eyes. He gulps loudly. "But everyone is still throwing."
"And?"
"And I don't want to get hit." Idiot.
"I think you can trust your fellow initiates to aim better than you." Eric smiles at the sight of his nerves. "Go get your knife, " he growls through gritted teeth.

Al seems to have received a sudden boost of confidence. His jaw sets. I think he's done trying to be Mr. Nice guy.
"No." How stupid is he? Just get the damn knife!
"And why not?" Eric's beady eyes are fixed on his face. "Are you afraid?" Being smart doesn't equal fear.
"Of getting stabbed by an airborne knife?" Al asks. Give it a rest. "Yes, I am!" All attention turns to him when he raises his voice.
"Everyone stop!" Eric shouts, keeping his eyes firmly on the transfer who has denied him.
All conversation and the throwing of knives stop. They all turn to the pair.
"Clear out of the ring." Eric hesitates. "All except you." And there is the Eric we know. Singling people out and scaring them is his specialty.

"Stand in front of the target," Eric says. Oh God. Al's hands tremble as he walks back towards the target.
"Hey, Four." I don't want to be involved in this. Eric looks over his shoulder to me. "Give me a hand here, huh?" Do I have a choice?