Transparent: A Divergent FanFiction (Book One) ©

Chapter 30

               Visiting Day.

                I don’t know exactly when I awoke from my troubled sleep, but the second I was conscious I remembered the events of yesterday and groaned. My head was pounding with an oncoming headache, and though I had regained most of my hearing throughout the night, everything still had a slightly muffled edge to it.

                As per usual, I was awake before the others, and I took the time work up the courage to even attempt to move. All of my muscles strained, and it felt like an impossible feat to sit up, but after a few tries I’d managed to prop my torso up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed.

                My whole body ached and various joints popped as I slowly stretched. The spot on my ribs where Banks had repeatedly kicked me throbbed the worst, and every time I tried to take a deep breath I couldn’t help but wince. The dauntless nurse had assured me nothing was broken, but that the deep bruising might take a while to heal.

                Taking everything into account, I had to admit I’d gotten off fairly well. When Banks had struck me, he’d actually torn the still-tender skin where Marko had previously hit me days ago, and so the blood had been quick to flow. Of course, my body was also riddled with a patchwork of purple-green bruises, ranging from small to large, but they’d also heal in time. After a couple of stitches, I’d been patched up and given the okay to leave if I wanted.

                Banks had also shared my same luck. Head wounds always bled profusely; and so after they’d stitched the gash near the back of his head closed, and added surgical glue to the smaller cuts, they’d released him. Though I had no doubt that we’d both be fine eventually, I had to wonder if the nurses hadn’t just decided it would be pointless to try and keep us in the clinic. Neither of us would’ve been able to stand it.

                Though I’d won the fight, it had been an extremely close cut. Something had shifted in the air, and it was obvious to everyone, even if no one said it aloud. If there had ever been any doubts about the animosity between Banks and I, that was not the case anymore. As night had approached and we’d stood at opposite sides of the dormitory, the tension had been so thick you could’ve sliced through it with a knife.

                I showered quickly, and as I was about to return to the room, I couldn’t help but do a double-take when I saw a hint of my reflection in the mirror. My frowning eyes stared back, one ringed in a circle of purple. I hadn’t looked this bad the previous night. Almost the entire side of my face, from my temple to my jaw, was bruised, and the side of my lip was split. Thankfully, my darker skin hid some of the damage, but I worried it was still noticeable. I knew my mother and maybe even Mara would visit me, and I’d hoped I would be able to spare them any extra worry.

                When I returned to the room I immediately forced myself to stop hobbling; not wanting Banks to know the real extent to which he’d injured me. Our eyes met, and in his gaze I could see his quiet fury and indignation; I was sure, more than actually losing to me, it burned him to know that he’d only lost by a matter of seconds.

                Everyone got ready in complete silence; each of us with our minds preoccupied with what could happen today. Even Dan seemed less chipper than his usual self. For us candor transfers, we had less of sense of worry; our families, even if bothered by our choice, would visit us. Honestly was valued above all else, and the fact that we’d been true to our results was an honored thing.

                I knew our case was an oddity though. I’d heard stories of transfers from other factions that never again had contact with their families. The act of switching was such an insult, that some couldn’t find it in them to forgive or accept the decision.