Transparent: A Divergent FanFiction (Book One) ©

Chapter 49

                Even though I knew Amar’s last words should’ve sent me into a state of complete panic; I couldn’t seem to find it in me to be afraid. I’d practiced, made a plan, and I knew exactly what to do. I was more ready than I’d ever felt. I knew just how to defeat each fear without attracting suspicions.

               The dark haziness around the room shifted, twisted, and then shimmered until it was something solid; I was in the mirrored room. The too-familiar noose hung from the middle of the ceiling, and I knew that in a matter of seconds the room would be filled with the shadowy figures that planned to hang me.

                I didn’t wait for the simulation to get that far. I whipped around and then quickly kicked my foot against one of the mirrored walls. Tiny web-like cracks appeared and I kicked again until a couple of shards fell to the floor. I could hear the door sliding open behind me, and I knew I had little time left. Kneeling down, I grabbed a large shard in one hand, and then snuck a smaller one in the back of my pants pocket.

                True to their nature, the shadowy figures swarmed in and began to pull me towards the noose. I swung the large glass shard, wielding it like a sword, and managed to injure a few before they’d knocked it out of my hands. I’d known this would happen; there were always too many, and time and time again they’d overpower me. This time though, I had a plan B.

                They tied my hands behind my back and then slipped the noose over my head. I gathered a final breath, and as they began to lift me into the air, I managed to grab the smaller shard of glass out of my pocket and cut the rope around my wrists. They kept raising me higher, but once my hands were free, I reached up and began to saw at the noose.

                The creatures hissed in fury, flicking their tongues out and baring their teeth at me. Still, I continued to cut away at the rope. I was starting to get lightheaded, but then with a final flick of my wrist, the rope snapped, and I fell to the floor.

                It was completely dark as I got to my feet, and when I kicked my foot forward and heard the thunk of wood, I knew it was my claustrophobia simulation. Already I was beginning to feel the effects of the confined space. My heart was pounding painfully in my chest, and my brain was beginning to panic at the thought that I was losing oxygen. No, I had to stay calm; I pulled in a breath of stale air and concentrated on my next task at hand.

               I had to hurry before my coffin was lifted and then carried off. There was barely enough room in the box to do anything, but after some adjusting, I managed to lean down enough so that I could touch the bottom of the coffin. My fingers gingerly grazed past the splinters; searching.

               I knew I wanted to be free, and to get out of here, I had to use tools; not just my own blunt force. In my mind, I imagined a crowbar, and as my hand reached out I felt its familiar shape. I gripped it, and then ignoring the pain, I braced myself against the back of the box; slivers of wood pricking into my skin. I wedged the crowbar into a corner, and then pulled. The sound of protesting nails against wood filled the air, but little by little, the gap grew until I could clearly smell the fresh air.

               With a grunt, I gave a final yank, managing to put enough force into it so that the lid of the coffin flipped off. Unfortunately, the force of it also sent me flying back. I squeezed my eyes shut, already imagining the vicious splinters puncturing my shirt and wicking their way further into my flesh.

               My shoulder’s ached; that was the first thought that came to my mind. I could hear the hissing and gurgling of the acid below me. Already the fumes were rising and the stink of rot filled my nose. I looked up and saw that my hands were in thick metal cuffs and I was hanging by a chain.