A New Life

Chapter 22: Friends

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DIVERGENT, THAT BELONGS TO THE VERY TALENTED VERONICA ROTH.

Eric and I walk out of The Dining Hall together after dinner, him with his arm around my waist. I stop at the bridge when I see a small crowd gathered and walk forward to see what is happening. I stand on my toes to look over the few people and see some men pulling on a rope. The thing they're pulling on comes into view and the first thing I see are lifeless copper eyes. I let out a gasp and turn into Eric burying my face in his chest as he pulled me close to him. I feel him pull me somewhere and when I look up we are in a corridor across The Pit.

"This is my fault." I whisper over and over and lean back against the wall behind me. I run my hands over my face and shake my head.

"Tris." Eric says grabbing my wrists. He prys my hands from my face and makes me look him in the eye. "This is not your fault." He says.

"If I would have accepted his apology-" I start.

"That wouldn't have changed that he was a coward, that he was going to fail initiation." He says placing a hand on my cheek. "Did you push him off that bridge?" Eric asks and I shake my head. "Then this is not your fault. It was just him giving up, taking the easy way out rather than facing his fears and living with what he's done." Eric's voice is soft and quiet as he leans his head down to rest his forehead on mine. He gently press is his lips to mine and all guilt melts away.

~~~

The next day The Pit was packed with what looked like the entire faction. People were drinking, shouting, and stumbling over each other in the crammed room. My friend stand in the corner of the room far more secluded and quiet as we pass a flask around each taking me a fair amount in every passing. This is the most quiet I've seen them since meeting them and although the room is loud an eerie quiet passes over me. Eric sands in the front of the room with the other leaders and steps back locking eyes with me as Max steps onto a table, shouting to quiet the roar of the crowd. It takes a few tries and the shouts simply shift down to whispers, keeping a constant buzz in the room as Max begins his speech.

"Thank you all for making the time to come and celebrate a death as a faction." He begins and the word 'celebrate' rings in my head. "As of yesterday our faction lost an initiate, Albert, as he took a leap into The Chasm." His voice booms through the room and I find my jaw clenching tighter with every second. "With him we lost potential for a great member. The reason to his jump is unknown, but we do know his death was an act of a brave man. Albert took a huge risk to travel into the unknown, something only the bravest have the courage to do. He was not yet Dauntless but he was brave. He may no longer be here with us but he will always be remembered as Albert the brave." Max's says and I have to resist the gag forming in my throat. "To Albert the brave." Max's shouts raising his glass as a cheer erupts through the room. I look back at my friends who remain silent a moment before joining on the chant, all besides Christina and myself. I meet her gaze and she looks as sickened as myself. I turn away and push through the crowd into a corridor that is dark and empty. I start walking and hear her footsteps behind me and I quicken my pace as her presence appears right next to me.

"I can't believe them." She says and I nodded. "That is no way to go about this." She continues with a huff. "What kind of message does that give to others. That's killing themselves is brave?" She says as we turn a corner. I don't know where we're going but I want to be away from that.

"It's not!" I say, my voice deeper than usual. "He was a coward who was too scared to face the consequences of his actions." I say and this time she nods in return. "Bravery would be acceptance of what he's done. He escaped, ran, and for that he is not brave and never will be."