Drown [Eric Coulter] Divergent

Part XXXII

XXXII

"These walls between men are built off of fear of each other

We misunderstand, the things that we say to each other

When will we see that we are stuck with each other?

We collapse at once when we cage the rebel"

"Wooden Dolls" -Nico Vega

Eric never said the words, he never tried again after Harper stopped him dead in his tracks. It was a hard enough thing for him to admit to begin with, so when she made him stop, bite his tongue, he never gained the courage to try again. For his sake and hers, it did indeed feel easier without that verbal commitment to one another. Saying it made it feel like something would have to change for it to work, that they would have to get everything out on the table and be honest with each other. When they held back on those three little words, it kept them separate from each other. They were two different people with two different ways of thinking, and they didn't have to share that, they didn't have to share anything. He understood, after a while, why she saw it that way, and he was thankful for it.

There was nothing Eric could do to stop Tobias from becoming Dauntless, and Harper never gave any hints that he was Divergent, and so he had to believe that he wasn't. It never sat right in his mind, though, even as he watched the final initiation test, that he only had four fears. It was wrong, it made Eric jealous in a way he would never admit, but showed in the way he acted around Tobias, who went by Four now just in spite of Eric. Everyone called him that, though he never asked to be called it, and it stuck. Plus, it was a cooler sounding name than the boring Abnegation one he had been given.

Abnegation was under more fire than anyone had ever seen. All the factions saw it now, not just Erudite. It was all but confirmed that Marcus Eaton had abused his son, and the factions were turning their backs on Abnegation. Two years had gone by since Tobias became Four, and it was that time of year again where new initiates came through. Only, Harper had passed on the job to Four because she had been given an opportunity that would both threaten her existence, or keep her safe. Jeanine Matthews had asked her to take a more political role, but Harper saw the job as something different. She saw it as Jeanine was keeping her close to keep an eye on her because she still did not trust her. When Jeanine had approached Harper about it, she decided to think on it, and discussed it with Carson and Eliza, and even Four. All of them were weary, but also thought it would be a good sense of information and knowing when the attack would happen.

Only then could it be prevented, but Harper was only one person.

"What do you think of the initiates this year?" Jeanine asked Harper one afternoon while Harper was working with her. Jeanine had gotten her to select people to do the tests for this years initiates, and what Jeanine didn't know what that Harper had specifically chosen people who she believed would protect Divergents', as opposed to outing them which was what Jeanine had been hoping for.

"I'm not training them," Harper reminded her. "I have little interest in them, though I do hope Four does well again this year."

"Yes, Tobias Eaton." Jeanine didn't sound impressed as they walked along. She opened the door to her office, and Harper felt odd being back in Erudite, like she did not belong. "A bit of a loose cannon, is he not?"

Harper gave a polite laugh. "He is very composed and collected, a good teacher. He will have these initiates ready to protect the factions."