Stronger Than She Looks (Divergent Eric)

{7} Warnings

The nurse gave me directions to make my way back to the Pit. The compound is like a maze with twisting corridors everywhere and inevitably at some point I take a wrong turn down one of them. I keep walking hoping to find my way to somewhere I recognise and eventually I hear running water. I follow it hoping I'll come out at the chasm. After a couple of minutes I do.

The Pit is fairly quiet now. I imagine when the meal was served earlier it was heaving, but now there's just a couple of people sat at one table.

I look around and I'm grateful to see there is a few bits of food left. Not much, but I'm starving and will take anything I can get. I grab a sandwich and an apple, as well as helping myself to a bottle of water before sitting at a table on my own.

I'd half hoped some of the other Initiates might be here, but no such luck. I'll just have to catch up with them back at the accommodation.

"Hey Starla!"

I immediately look up when I hear someone calling my name and see Uriah walking over to me. He must have been sat at the other table when I walked over but I didn't notice him.

"Hey," I smile up, ridiculously grateful to see a friendly face right now. "It's just Star though."

"I like it!" He laughs. Seriously, is he ever not in a good mood. "Come sit with us."

"You sure?"

"Definitely." He grabs hold of my hand and tugs me to my feet. Looks like I'm going whether I wanted to or not.

I walk behind him, and nearly turn round and walk back again when I see Four sat at the table with a couple of others. He's my instructor. I shouldn't be eating with him. This is just weird.

"Everyone," he introduces me. "This is Star."

I smile shyly and they all nod their heads in greeting.

"Star, this is my older brother Zeke. Then there's Stacey and Johnnie, and you've already met Christie and Kane. And of course you know Four!"

I sit down next to Uriah, feeling rather self conscious. But he's not about to let me eat my meal in peace.

"So how come you missed dinner?" He asks, spinning an empty bottle top on the table.

"I-I, erm," I'm not sure how much I should tell them. "I had to go get an injection. Being from Amity and all."

"What do you mean, being from Amity?" Kane questions. Clearly the fact Amity drug their members isn't as common knowledge as I thought it was.

"They give us Peace Serum," I explain, taking a bite of my sandwich. "It keeps everyone more agreeable and calm. It's in the bread, but if you're like me that's not enough and they dose you up with extra."

"No shit!" Zeke explains, and it seems like he's just as exuberant as his brother. "I just knew that hippy love everybody act was bull shit!"

I don't say anything, I just nod my head and carry on eating. The less said about it, the better as far as I'm concerned.

"We've got to go," Stacey announces as she and Johnnie both stand up. "We've got double shifts as someone is slacking off with Initiation."

She looks pointedly at Four who just shrugs his shoulders. Zeke must have noticed I was looking confused, as he leans over to me.

"When Four isn't training Initiates he works in the Control Room." He informs me.

"Control Room?" I ask, still confused. I don't think I've heard anyone mention a control room until now.