Relentless

Hi guys, this is just a little A/N for anyone who is reading my fic. This life our life, I'm taking a little break from that one because I had some inspiration for divergent. I just love Eric's character so I'm thinking of doing just a short fic for him and a character from my OC, there are going to be some awesome quotes in here so watch out for them! (disclaimer I own none of the characters or people who made these quotes) in this there is no war or social experiment and I've changed things about erudite that I didn't know so just roll with it and, hopefully it'll be awesome and you guys will enjoy it J pretty pretty please read and review! I of course don't own Eric or any others from the books or Movies Divergent.

Chapter 1

Alexandria woke up with a start panting a cold sweat covered her body and she couldn't help but shiver as she sat up, today was the day.

The day she could finally leave, the thought filled her with a strange mixture of longing and grief, not everything she was leaving behind would be bad.

Sadly the timing couldn't have been better; she'd seen the looks that had burnt into her the last couple of weeks and in response she'd started barricading her door at night pushing her wardrobe in front of it and then finally her bed, if the door moved she'd hear and feel it, she'd be ready.

Her parents has become experts at covering things up by now, after all her mum had been well practised in the art ever since she'd turned 19 and married a monster. Today was the day she would finally get out, she could be free from the hiding everything, the crippling anxiety and guilt.

She'd had enough of covering bruises and worrying over whether or not her mum had internal bleeding, of weighing up the risk of getting her to a healer and then of undressing her and putting her in a bath to clean her wounds because she couldn't do it herself, and was begging you not to tell anyone else.

The thought of leaving her faction today filled her with hope but her one regret would be leaving her mother. Her kind beautifully strong mother.

Every morning was the same, as if in the daylight they were just a normal family. She'd have a shower eat breakfast with her parents and then they'd all go to either school or work respectively. However today was different, she'd laid in bed until the sun rose she'd listened to her mother get up and painstakingly coat herself in makeup, before she went and begun making breakfast.

There was an air of tension at the breakfast table and she got the sensation that this was the quiet before the storm; she knew she wouldn't be here for the latter. Eating her breakfast in quick concise bites she avoided eye contact with her parents, she'd learnt the hard way this was the best way to avoid confrontation.

Her father stopped her as she reached the sink and his deep voice echoed in the otherwise silent room, how she hated it. How she hated the way he spoke and dressed, his smile, his eyes, every inch of his face was perfect and she despised him for it. She hated how the monster hid beneath his skin, luring innocents in with his guile and disarming smile.

'I hope you know we love you sweetheart, and I know it's against the rules to discuss it but we know you'll fit in perfectly here' he says gives me a wink gripping my mother's hand in his too tightly.

I look to my mother whose eyes are glimmering with unshed tears, she knows me better than anyone, she knows what I'll pick today. At least one of them does.

'Thank you' I offer in a quietly blank voice the only words I can bare to mutter. He gives me an assessing glance before standing up and placing his own dish in the sink next to mine. We have a stare off of sorts and I keep my face deliberately blank.

My mother breaks the tense moment by calling that it's time to go in that hopelessly cheery voice of hers. Her smile becoming brittle when she gains my father's attention my anger burns hot when I see my father's small smug smile. He likes holding her on a leash, controlling her every action. Or so he thinks.

We leave the house quickly afterwards and I say my silent goodbyes to the only home I've ever know, catching a reflection of myself in the mirror on the way out, I look exactly the same as I do everyday, neat bun, blue ironed skirt and crisp white shirt.

Not a hair out of place, nothing to hint at the inner turmoil inside.

The room for the choosing ceremony is cold when we walk in, huge and imposing the difference between the four factions never clearer, everyone files in and takes their seats and the chatter becomes immediately hushed when the dauntless leader max stands at the front in front of the four bowls.

'hello everyone' max says loudly and clearly addressing the whole hall.

'today is a special day for most of you in here. Today is the day that you choose where you belong, it's where you decide your own fate; long ago our ancestors realised that it wasn't political ideology or religious beliefs that was to blame for a warring world. But it was rather human nature itself, they claimed that we were each flawed in our own right and these flaws were what caused war. Those who blamed aggression formed amity, those who blamed duplicity formed Candor, those who blamed ignorance became erudite, those who blamed selfishness became Abnegation, and those who blamed cowardice became dauntless. In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life'

I block out the rest of his speech and patiently wait for my name to be called. I can feel the sweat running down my neck, the clamminess of my palms as I study the clock. Seconds tick by each one slower than the next until finally - finally.

'Alexandria Giovanni'

I stand quickly, making my way to the front of the hall and refusing to look back, I feel eyes on me as I take in the bowls set out in front of me. I see water for erudite and quickly move on, I see glass for Candor and also dismiss that as the years have shown, I'm far too good at lying. I see rocks for abnegation and also dismiss that, I can't be selfless I can't be chaste, the selfless ones never helped my mum, chastity never saved her.

I'm stuck between amity and dauntless, I could have a peaceful life running around in the fields and laughing around a fire I could forget all my worries and all my hurt. The bowl tempts me, but I know In my heart it won't be enough, I can't leave my mum behind and there's only one way i'll get strong enough to go back for her.

With that final thought I turn to dauntless; I don't want to forget, I want to make things right. I want to be strong. I want to release the anger churning furiously inside me. I let my blood run over the hot coals and smile at the pain.

The cheers of the dauntless are overwhelming a rush in my ears that leaves me quickly ushered into a seat recently vacated by a tall caramel skinned man with a warm smile. I sink into it gratefully letting out the breath I'd been holding to and meeting the gaze of an erudite girl next to me, she went to my school but we'd never interacted. A common occurrence due to the way the class schedule was structured, I smile at her anyway taking the risk, she looks how I imagine I do. Hopeful.

This is the start of something.

As the ceremony ends and we start to leave the hall I meet the eyes of my mum, surprised to see the pride swimming in them.

I'll come back for you I promise.

Before I know it we're outside running and climbing and running again trying to desperately catch the train. Finally jumping on I look around exhausted, the erudite girl I'd smiled at had jumped on with me and without speaking we move to sit with our backs against the wall; only the train jolts at the last moment and I'm unwittingly thrown into the lap of a man already in dauntless clothes with soft brown hair and eyes of the same colour. His jaw is nicely chiselled, his smile inviting and friendly.

I'm immediately wary of just how pretty his face is.

His friends snicker around us, but he just gives me a warm smile as I squeak and squabble desperately trying to get up. When I'm finally on my feet with his assistance he just smiles.

'I'm Dean' he offers a hand for me to shake.

'Alex' I say sheepish 'sorry about falling on you'

'No apologies necessary what guy doesn't want a pretty girl in their lap' he shrugs off my apology easily.

One of his friends saunters up then warning dean to stop flirting and he rolls his eyes but relents.

'I'll see you around Alex' Dean gives me an interested look before walking off with the friend who'd called him.

I sit back down next to the girl I'd smiled at.

'Making friends already?' she gestures to where dean and his friends had wandered too.

'Side effect of a train that has wobbly tracks, I'm Alex' I reciprocate her friendly tone introducing myself.

'Sabby' she smiles back, we chat for a few minutes feeling each other out and by the end I can tell we are going to get along, she has a wicked sense of humour and a laugh that makes you want to laugh, even if you don't know what's funny.

Suddenly someone shouts you have to jump and people start leaping from the open train doors to a roof top a good five feet away, the train is whizzing past as more and more people make the jump.

Me and sabby look at each other in horror we have to jump.

We have to jump now.

I can't fail this early I think to myself panicked.

Taking a deep breath and bracing myself before I take a few steps back and then sprint forwards towards the open door, leaping at the last second. For a few seconds everything is clear the wind whips my face and I feel free, as light as a feather floating in the wind it's an intoxicating feeling. Unfortunately, I'm brought back down to reality when the cold ground hits my shins, little pieces of gravel digging themselves in as I fall gracelessly to the surface of the roof.

Turning behind me anxiously I wait to take a relieved breathe until i see sabby a foot behind me in the same situation. We made it.

Picking myself up i ignore the way my body hurts, it's gets easier the more you do it and it's a mere splinter in my long experience of pain; i help Sabby up and she gives me a grateful look clinging to my arms to pull herself up before we join the rest of the people that made the leap, the other transfers and standing around us looking equally unsure.

Suddenly everyone goes quiet. A hulking man with rippling muscles has jumped on a ledge in front of us, his hair is shaved short enough that you can see his leadership tattoos that trail right into his scalp, his face blank as if nothing in the world scares him and he has a black ear stretcher in one ear and his eyebrow pierced with two separate bars.

He looks the opposite of what could be considered friendly and I can't help but think he's beautiful for it.

His ice blue eyes shine scalding, as his head whips around glaring at all of us, I try not to wince when his gaze meets mine, try to offer an excited smile but his scowl only deepens further before his eyes skate away.

'Initiates, listen up!' his voice booms low and angry.

'I'm Eric and I am one of the leaders of your new faction' even the dauntless born are quiet standing straight like soldiers at attention 'below us is the entrance to dauntless, you have to jump to gain entry. If you can't jump you should go and join the factionless now' his voice stops abruptly after delivering the warning.

'Our initiates have the privilege of going first' he turns to them jumping off the edge and saying nothing. One by one they jump you can hear some wails on the way down or curse words but other than that there is only silence as one by one they disappear.

When all of the initiates dressed in black are gone Eric turns his gaze to us 'Transfers you're up!'

A boy from Candor steps forward, his face blank as with no preamble he steps of the ledge, Eric eyes narrow slightly and dare I say it he looks impressed?

An amity boy goes next and I give him a small smile when I see the nervous edge to him gaze; he gives me a grateful look before jumping.

Blood hammering in my ears I step forward, remember why you're doing this! I shout mentally giving Sabby a reassuring smile before falling backwards into the darkness.

I laugh on the way down, I love the feeling of weightlessness as if nothing can hold me down. If i'm on my way towards smacking into hard concrete I might as well enjoy the journey I think with a giggle. I'm snapped back into real life when I feel a net catch me, digging into my skin as I roll to the edge. I'm pulled out by a stern look guy with similar tattoos to Eric running from his neck and dipping below his shirt. His gaze is hard but not unkind and he studies me with a glimmer in his eyes I can't quite read.

'Name' he demands gruffly.

'Alex' I decide impulsively, just Alex.

He makes the declaration to the crowd and head over to the others who are waiting, Dean gives me a grin I return it while the boy from amity regards me curiously. The guy from Candor ignores us all.

'I'm Mark' amity introduces himself holding out a hand 'Alex' I shake with a smile.

'We could hear you laughing the whole way down' he raises an eyebrow impressed.

'I liked the drop' I grin sheepishly earning a chuckle.

'Even though you didn't know that you'd get caught in the net' his eyes probe curious but he's smiling.

'The fall is the fun part' I smile back remembering the feeling of weightlessness, the wind on my skin.

The man who pulled me out of the net interrupts the brief conversation, declaring the next jumper as Sabby before she rushes over to us looking a bit green and shaky but still smiling. I quickly introduce her to Mark and the three of us spend the time talking quietly, questioning what we think will happen next and where we are. The rest of jumpers quickly follow suit and silence once again reigns when Eric lands in the net.

'Dauntless born initiates with Lauren, I assume you know your way around' the guy who pulled me out of the net orders the rowdy group standing next to us, his lips twisting slightly in amusement as he says it.

Dean and the others leave with whoops and laughter as a blond lady with dreadlocks glares at them and leads them out of another tunnel.

'Transfers my name is Four, for now I'm your instructor' he says grimly, looking none too excited at the prospect.

'Four as in the number four' the first guy to jump asks with a confused frown.

I see a grin form on Eric's face before it quickly disappears, the amusement remains though causing his eyes too crinkle just slightly. Stop staring at him Alex I order fighting off a blush as four gives the candor guy a look of pure irritation, I swear I catch a tightly muttered every year whispered under his breath as he steps closer to him invading his space with a dark glare 'is that a problem?' he asks voice low and menacing.

The boy shakes his head taking a nervous swallow 'Good' he retreats standing next to Eric again.

We get a rough tour of dauntless and my head is spinning trying to keep up, we're shown the pit where apparently everyone goes to party and socialise, the main hall for food and about a million other places before we get to a cave like room with steel bunks lining both walls. On further inspection there's a communal bathroom at the back with no doors or screens, just multiple shower heads and a waterproof floor.

'This will be your room for the duration of initiation, before you ask it's unisex' Four says giving a pointed look at Eric who just smirks.

Glancing around the lack of privacy seems oddly embarrassing, i'll have to take great care to keep my newest bruises hidden I thinks murderously shutting down the thought before it can develop any further. Survival, I tell myself. Survival. Eric catches my eye and smirks at what I'm sure is a look of deep disgust etched onto my face.

Four explains the system of how there are three stages and how we will be tested physically mentally and emotionally. He doesn't explain what the stages are but he warns us to brace ourselves to be pushed to the limit. He breaks the news that if we don't get ranked highly enough we will become factionless, and that after ever stage the lowest ranking will be finished at Dauntless. I feel my spine stiffen. It's barbaric I think almost simultaneously telling myself I have to win. Becoming factionless isn't an option. It's not just my survival that depends on it.

People start to voice their disapproval, to protest so many being failed but Eric shuts them up with one sentence.

'You chose dauntless, now we have to choose you'

What do you guys think please read and review thank you!