Fire and Ice

Sizing them up

I got dressed for the day reluctantly. I drank a cup of coffee at my table when I noticed a key on top of a note as i felt tears brimming my eyes again as I read it

"Here's my key Jadence, keep it safe for me until I come back home after all this madness. I love you more than words can truly say please learn to forgive me. I'm doing this for us -Eric"

I felt rage hit me as I crumbled the note up and threw it into the trash.... "Asshole" and I walked out as Four was approaching my door. He looked at me and looked concerned "You alright? I nodded "Just peachy" he rolled his eyes "I'm here to listen when you want to talk" I looked at him "There's nothing to say other than my husband is a self righteous prick who's becoming a mindless puppet" He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but decided against it "Let's get some breakfast before we begin this day"

++++++++++

"The first thing you will learn today is how to shoot a gun. The second thing is how to win a fight." Four presses a gun into Tris' palm without looking at her and keeps walking. "Thankfully, if you are here, you already know how to get on and off a moving train, so I don't need to teach you that." I watch in the background undetected as he teaches them target practice looking for those who need more coaching. "Initiation is divided into three stages. We will measure your progress and rank you according to your performance in each stage. The stages are not weighed equally in determining your final rank, so it is possible, though difficult, to drastically improve your rank over time."

"We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear," says Four. "Therefore each stage of initiation is intended to prepare you in a different way. The first stage is primarily physical; the second, primarily emotional; the third, primarily mental."

"But what..." Peter yawns through his words. "What does firing a gun have to do with...bravery?" I stalk forward in front of him, taking them all by surprise as I flip the gun in his hand, pressing the barrel to Peter's forehead, and click a bullet into place. Peter freezes with his lips parted, the yawn dead in his mouth.

"Wake. Up," I snarl at him glaring "You are holding a loaded gun, you idiot. Act like it. People have died for less" I lower the gun. Once the immediate threat is gone, Peter's green eyes harden. I'm surprised he can stop himself from responding, after speaking his mind all his life in Candor, but he does, his cheeks red.

"And to answer your question...you are far less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you're prepared to defend yourself." Four stops walking at the end of the row and turns on his heel. "This is also information you may need later in stage one. So, watch me."

He faces the wall with the targets on it—one square of plywood with three red circles on it for each of us. He stands with his feet apart, holds the gun in both hands, and fires. The bullet went through the middle circle. I nod impressed as everyone got to work and I felt sick to my stomach at the disaster in front of me. They suck at this.

++++++++++

After lunch, Four leads the initiates to a new room. It's huge, with a wood floor that is cracked and creaky and has a large circle painted in the middle. On the left wall is a green board—a chalkboard. My Lower Levels teacher used one, but I haven't seen one since my initiation. Maybe it has something to do with Dauntless priorities: training comes first, technology comes second. The initiates' names are written on the board in alphabetical order. Hanging at three-foot intervals along one end of the room are faded black punching bags.

They line up behind them and Four stands in the middle, where we can all see him.

"As I said this morning," says Four, "next you will learn how to fight. The purpose of this is to prepare you to act; to prepare your body to respond to threats and challenges—which you will need, if you intend to survive life as a Dauntless."

"We will go over technique today, and tomorrow you will start to fight each other," says Four. "So I recommend that you pay attention. Those who don't learn fast will get hurt." Four names a few different punches, demonstrating each one as he does, first against the air and then against the punching bag.

They did somewhat better at hitting the bag then they did with target practice so they may have a chance.

I notice Four and Tris having a moment as he helps here, hmmm I wonder if he likes her?

+++++++++++

After training, I went to the pit to look for a new tattoo. I was looking at drawings when Tris approached me, "So who's your husband? He's still alive right?" She asks as I stare at her "Why do you care so much? and Yes he's very much alive" I sigh as I look at the drawing of a skull pretending to be interested in it. "I'm just curious is all plus I never see you with a man other than Four." I look at her amused, she's into Four. "He's strictly my best friend, my first friend here in dauntless when we transferred I quickly bonded with Four even over my husband who I share a home faction with" She looked at me again "Why are you never with him?" I sigh again as I try to keep my poker face on "Our jobs are conflicting right now until after initiation." "I'm sorry" she looked at me sympathetically "It must be so difficult" I nod my head "Comes with the job though" "Ok have I seen him yet by chance? I wanna try and figure out who it is to surprise you" I look at her and nod "Yeah you have" She looks deep in thought for a while

She finally changes the subject "Listen—I need to talk to you about..." She glances over at Will and Christina "...something. Sometime."

"I am not sure that would be wise," I say quietly. "I helped you as much as I could, and now you will have to go it alone." She purses her lips knowing that I have answers but I'm not letting her in on anything. She got herself into this mess.

I walk away as Tori gets her in a chair for a tattoo and run into Four, "Hey" I whisper as he looks at me "Wanna get a drink?" I agree and we sit in our usual chairs, "So what do you think?" he asks me as I look at him and nod "Potential in some others just plain suck ass" we both smile at my remark "I seen you googling at Tris" he looks at me "So I help her out and I'm into her suddenly?" He's too defensive causing me to smirk "I'm just saying, I'll be waiting for my i told you so though don't worry" He glared at me as I laughed and drank some more enjoying myself since I was Eric free for once for the first time in months and internally I was miserable.