The Initiate (A Divergent fanfic)

Chapter 21.

Me, Connor and Aspin all sneak off through the woods towards the helter skelter. We kneel beside a tree which has fallen down, luckily we are able to lean against it without the danger of our heads being hit by yellow paint pellets. By the the paint which is on are chest protectors I know it would be an absolute nightmare to get out of my hair. I peak my head over the rough bark of the tree to look at the other team, they are all standing around waiting for us to come to the Ferris wheel. Now here, I can see all of the Ferris wheels details; the flaking of the white pain, the suspended cars which move in the gentle wind, the rusted rungs and the smashed bulbs. I'll freely admit that Tris was brave to even get near to this monstrosity, it looks at though it will collapse at any moment. I put my head back down and reload my gun with pellets.

"Ok guys wait for the signal Uriah will shout for us to move in. Red, Orange, Yellow. Remember move as fast as you can and cover me, I'm smaller than you two so they won't see me as much." I whisper. Connor and Aspin both nod in agreement. A few seconds turn into minutes of waiting, the way Aspin is sighing I can tell that he is becoming impatient. "What the hell are they doing?" He asks confirming him impatience.

"It's Four and Tris!" A deep voice shouts. I hear heavy footsteps run away from where we are sat, then we hear the firing of the guns and people screaming and cursing when they have been hit. A few more minutes pass by then I hear the words that trigger my movement. "Red, Orange, Yellow!" Uriah shouts at the top of his lungs. I jump to my feet without thinking and me, Aspin and Connor run towards the yellow and red helter skelter. I run, run as fast as I can, the adrenaline which moves through my body makes me seem weightless and hollow...like I have wings. In the corner of my eye I see splashes of yellow and pink paint from both sides of this...war. That is exactly what it is...a war all sense of this being a game to me has long gong. I charge to the helter skelter and the glow coming off the flag gets brighter and brighter with every step. That is until I fall straight to the ground and mud covers a side of my face. I quickly look up and see Oliver slowly walking towards me with his finger on the trigger of his gun.

"This is payback Stiff for the chipped tooth and the bruised nose." He says with a devilish smile. He is about to pull the trigger until paint splashes on to his chest. Once...twice he falls back in shock. I get myself to my feet and pick my gun up from the grass.

"Ruby go! We have this bit." Four orders and without question I run.

Lauren fires her pellets at me but I am too fast to be caught. I aim my gun at her shoulder and fire she leans against a tree and grips her shoulder tightly. I nearly dive into the arch entrance of the helter sketer. A small victory, getting here without getting shot. But my work isn't over I need that flag in my hands. I dim my flash light just enough to let me see the metal stairs I need to walk up. I have a tight grip on my gun and I ignore my bruised and broken body that is constantly nagging me for me to heal it. I get to the top and the flag is there in plain sight. I just need...to get past Jessica and her blond curls. For a moment me and her look at one another in a frozen state. She picks up her gun and I try to shoot her before she does, she is quick and she narrowly manages to avoid the pellets. She dives to the floor and shoots at me but I am also fast and I roll on to the floor. She shoots at me again, yellow balls fly towards my eyes I lay completely flat on the wooden floor. I fire at her again but there is one problem I am out of pellets.

'What? No! I can't be out of pellets now. I have only fired a few times...I was so close to winning however now I am deemed factionless.'  Jessica gets up and smiles at me.

"Oh Stiff you were so close to winning. Oh well now you can be factionless and not need to worry about initiation." She so proudly states, she pulls the trigger. There is no one to save me now, even I can't save myself which says something. For years I have been my own hero...no need to rely on anyone. I close my eyes but a pellet hasn't smashed my face. I open my eyes and see Jessica distracted by her pellet-less gun. I lay my fingertips on my warm gun and jump to the tips of my feet and force the butt of her gun into her cheek. She falls to the ground and I use this time to grab the flag and rush to the outside to present my victory. I hold the flag up in the air and smile proudly, I shake from the adrenaline but none the less I have earned this win. The sounds below me are a mix of cheering and guns being thrown to the floor. This moment has made me either someone's best friend or someone's worse enemy...

We all make it back to the train. My face is wet from patches of sweat and my body is exhausted.  Yes I get smiles from some and glares from others but I don't care. Eric has stormed off alone, pissed his team has lost for the second year in a row. Capture the flag is a heavily prided event and a loss is an embarrassment. I get a few claps on the shoulders from people who are proud of me which only adds to my smile. Connor is in front of me, he stops suddenly and hooks an arm around mine and picks me up on his back. "You did well kiddo, you are here to stay no doubt." He whispers into my ear. He has me under his gaze again and I am hypnotized. "Thanks...we both did well tonight." I whisper back to him. He puts his hand on top of mine and he doesn't move it until we are at the train. Everyone is slumped against the wall covered in pink and yellow paint. Tonight has made me realize I want to live here for the rest of my life and now, I am truly ready to fight for my place.