Cutting through Stone

C H A P T E R 7

Chapter 7 - N E W   O R D E R

Jane's POV

        Months had passed and Eric helped me get over my fear. I now have only two fears, ha! Suck it, Four! I am finally an official Dauntless leader and it feels just as good as I thought it would. I have my own apartment still but I practically live with Eric. About that, we haven't announced our relationship because Eric thought it'd be better to just keep it to ourselves, although everyone practically knows and he's probably trying to keep up the cold guy thing.

        I'm an official Dauntless leader but I was assigned under Eric, so we have equal authority but I basically have to follow him around and help him with whatever he's doing. Max says its to "Gain experience."  Right now, Eric and I were supervising the new initiates. Tris and Four were instructing the transfers. There were two I had seen so far that would make great leaders, well if they make it with Eric constantly torturing them. Like the guy tried to sling another initiate over the chasm bridge! Ugh, anyways everything is going fine and I'm pretty hap- "Eric, Jane, Max needs you." I looked over to one of the other leaders who stood at the door of the gym and nodded my head in acknowledgment. 

        "Why do I have to go to the meeting with Jeanine?" Max had assigned Eric and I to represent Dauntless at a meeting with Jeanine. I'm not afraid of her but I don't exactly like the idea of being near her either. "Look." Max sat in his seat behind his large gray desk, "A few things are gonna change around here. Let's just say that brains and brawn are teaming up, but as far as the rest of dauntless knows, we still hate them. Got it?" Eric and I nodded in understanding. 

        Erudite sent a car to retrieve us for the meeting, although I would've preferred jumping the train. I hadn't had much experience with or of the Erudite faction but they pretty much lived up to what I had heard before. The Erudite compound was clean, neat, pristine. It honestly freaked me out a bit. I also noticed that much of the Erudite compound was very well lit. Dauntless simply had a few lights down the corridors and rooms that really needed them. I was only allowed to stand out side the door to Jeanine's office while Eric went in for the meeting. I tried hard not to get angry but what was the point of making me come when I wouldn't even get to see the meeting. 

        Before long the meeting was over, the representatives for the other factions walked out but Eric hadn't. I was about to ask the secretary why Eric hadn't come out yet but was interrupted by Jeanine herself when she opened the door to her office and smiled at me. "Levitt, right?" I stood straight and nodded. Jeanine smiled, "Eric won't be out for a few more minutes, we have a few things to go over before you two return to the Dauntless compound." I simply smiled and nodded once again. I was too afraid to say something wrong. 

        Like Jeanine promised, only minutes passed and Eric was done with the meeting. We were now on the train heading back to the Dauntless compound. The ride was silent but I was a bit ticked off. "Why did I have to go to the meeting?" Eric looked down at me, his face showed that he was worried, but about what? "For experience." Ugh,"Experience in what? I stood out there like a dauntless puppy!" Eric looked away and sighed, "Because that's what you are. You like to think that you're just the toughest little shit in the world but you're not. You have the spirit but you can barely take care of yourself-" I cut Eric off angrily, "I can take care of myself!" Eric paused for a second, silent, too silent. Before I could register what was happening, Eric had grabbed my wrist, spun me around and pressed me against the wall, face front and the front of his body against my back. My heart thundered against my chest as I struggled to catch my breath. Eric pressed his nose into the crook of my neck and took a deep breath. He then moved to my ear, his voice deep and husky, "Like I said, you have the spirit, you're feisty as hell and you're very independent. But sometimes you just need to let someone take care of you. You can't do it all on your own." I could promise my heart stopped, it felt as if someone was squeezing my heart. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my head against the wall. "I've always done it myself." Eric let go of my arm and wrapped his arms around my waist and turned me to face him,"You don't have to anymore, let me do it for you." I looked into Eric's eyes, he was worried about something and it seemed serious but because of this, he was genuine. I didn't know how else to respond, my entire life's worth of vocabulary had vanished but one word,"Ok." With that one word, the emotion in Eric's eyes changed drastically. The worry in his eyes became greater but they were mixing furiously with some new emotions. His eyes seemed happy that I had let my walls down, they seemed sad at maybe a possible turn out and scared. I had never seen Eric scared before, I'm sure fear was afraid of him...If that even made sense. Eric leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. This kiss wasn't like our last, lustful and fast, this kiss was slower, gentler, more passionate. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly. My knees were weak and I'm sure Eric could tell. He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me so I could wrap my legs could wrap around his waist.

        My lungs began to burn from the inability to breathe but I didn't want to pull away from Eric. I didn't want the kiss to end. As if on queue, the train stopped with a jolt forcing me and Eric to part. I jumped down from Eric's waist and we walked off the train. I hadn't even noticed that it stopped this time. I continued to walk towards the doors to the dauntless compound when Eric suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me into his chest. He rest his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, silent. Eric looked so vulnerable, I couldn't close my eyes. This may be the only time I get to see him like this. Eric pulled away slightly and opened his eyes. I blushed when he smiled realizing I hadn't closed my eyes. 

        Days had passed with frequent visits to the Erudite compound. Things were changing around the compound and I was feeling left behind. I sort of just watched everything around me change and I had no clue what was happening. I guess I really was the dauntless puppy. 

        Dauntless men and women were carrying in crates from the Erudite compound everyday, Tris and Four were acting more and more suspicious, Eric continuously refused to tell me what was said at the meetings and Max had even decided to keep me out of the dauntless meetings. This is not what I worked so hard for, I worked to be a dauntless leader not some lackey. 

~~~

        "Jane, come with me." Eric had just finished another meeting in the Erudite compound and instead of heading towards the train, he drug me somewhere else. "Eric, ow! What's going on?" Eric continued to drag me roughly into a near by abandoned building. He looked around quickly to check for anyone else and stood close to me. "There are things happening a-" I rolled my eyes and pushed Eric away, "No shit Eric." I walked away a little and inspected my wrist and biceps for any bruising, "You really didn't have to be so rough, gosh." Eric walked over to me, "Of course you know things are changing but you don't know what's happening. The Erudite and Dauntless have plans, big plans and its going to effect everyone." I looked at Eric confused,"What do you mean?" Eric grunted in frustration, "Its just- I can't tell you everything yet but-" I threw my arms up and walked a few steps away,"Eric, if you can't tell me everything, then don't tell me anything." Eric quickly stood in front of me, his face looked pained but absolutely serious. "Damn it Jane, just listen!" My shoulders slouched and I nodded. "We don't have much time left but as soon as we get back, I need you to pretend to be sick, let max know. Go to the medical office and they'll give you a note. Take the note to Max and head back to your room. When you get to your room start packing, not everything but pack like we're going camping. Only things you absolutely need. Hide the bag under your bed, I should be at your apartment by then." I stared at Eric confused,"Wait, am I leaving? What's going on?" Eric looked at my face deeply as if trying to memorize my face. "Just do it, OK?" I sighed,"Fine."