The Initiate Chapter 9

Chapter 9

We are back on the rooftop early the next morning shooting at targets. Uriah and Four circle around us. Either to give advice or scold us for missing the target. So far I haven’t missed the target yet. An improvement after yesterday’s disastrous showing. I keep on hearing Jessica growling after she has missed the target.

“Statistically speaking Jessica you should have hit the target by now even by accident.” Connor says.

“Shut up.” she growls.

“Jessica? I thought you would have known that by now considering you are Erudite.” I say with an overly high pitched voice. Lewis looks over emotionless, judging by the hunched and wide shoulders, his thick arms and the large hands he could be a good fighter. Lewis doesn’t talk much, but Oliver and Jessica make sure he can’t get a word in edge ways. I switch my mind back to shooting the targets, until I notice Four talking to Eric although I cannot hear them I can make out what they are saying by reading their lips.

Eric has a sinister look on his face. “Well Four I honestly think that it is time to start having fun with these amateurs.” He says with a sadistic smile. Four’s eyebrows lower.

“Really? Already? You will put them off initiation already; they are nowhere near ready to start physically.” Four replies. Uriah looks on, putting his tongue on one of the insides of his cheek. He disagrees with one of them.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Eric says clasping his hands that are both covered in black leather gloves. Why am I suddenly so nervous? “Alright everyone stop shooting!” Eric says raising his voice. Everyone hears and stops…everyone except for Olivia who carries on firing barely missing Eric’s pierced face. “Didn’t you pansy cake here me? I told you to stop shooting.” He says gaining Olivia’s attention. I look over to Olivia who swallows hard and looks to the floor. Eric approaches her slowly with a subtle skip in his step. My senses are telling me that something bad is going to happen. He kneels beside her, “Well Amity what have you got to say for yourself? Huh?” He asks with a soft toned voice that unsettles me.

“I-I’m sorry.” Olivia quietly says with a hint of fear.

“It’s ok.” Eric smiles slightly. Which disturbs me even more. The smile then fades and a scowl appears. “Now…Stand…In…Front…Of…That…Target.” Eric says slowly. I do not like the sound of his voice. Olivia looks at him in disbelief and question within a matter of nanoseconds Eric drags her up by her left arm and easily drags her to the central target. “Now stay there and don’t move. If I see you flinch once you are out and factionless.” Eric barks. Jessica, Lewis and Oliver are all chuckling. My palms are sweating. “Uriah I want you to shoot at the little Pansy cake we have here.” He says.

“R-Really? What if I shoot her?” Uriah asks.

“Well then she will be one of many who died during initiation.” Eric simply replies. “Why what is the matter Uriah? Is coming second in initiation catching up to you? Are you beginning to lose your touch?” Eric asks.

“No. I’m not doing it Eric you do it then if you are so willing.” Uriah answers Eric’s questions. Eric smirks.

“Alright then…but don’t think that you are getting away with this. Four looks like it is up to you.” Eric says. Four purses his lips and nods. The nerves disintegrate into anger. I didn’t want to believe Four was really the big coward I thought he was, but he is, he is Eric’s lap dog.

“Ok.” Four simply says putting his hands on the smooth metal gun about to take aim and fire. A fire inside my heart begins to ignite telling me to do something. I can’t just stand here and allow my friend get shot at for one simple mistake.

“Wait.” I shout out. Everyone lays their multicoloured eyes on to me. “Standing in front of a target may teach someone about mistakes…but we are here to become brave. Fearless. Olivia standing in front of a target proves absolutely nothing.” I say boldly. Four wears a slight smile under his mask. Why?

“Well if it is that easy…Stiff.” Eric spits the word ‘Stiff’ like he has tasted something vulgar and is desperate to discard the remains. “Then you would be ok taking Olivia’s place.” I slowly nod my head and take Olivia’s place. I can’t go back on my words otherwise I will look stupid. “Same rules apply. Flinch and you’re out.” Eric says. Everyone has their eyes fully fixed on me like they are deliberately trying to look for the Divergence inside of me. They expect me to flinch, they expect me to fail, and they expect me to become factionless. Even Connor who has a sympathised look on his making me feel like I am a little girl trying to prove herself. Why am I so bothered about what a stranger thinks about me?

Four takes aim and fires a bullet at me.