training

                                    

                                          
After getting up in the morning and changing into dauntless clothes. Black. Black is my new color. That and various shades of dark gray and red. We went into the gym or training room is what most dauntless borns call it. The smell of sweat and rubber makes my nostrils flare up. Tomorrow I am supposed to face the Amity transfer, Mia. She's pretty good at fighting but so am I. They told us that we will be scored in training and facing our fears, if you are below the red line you are factionless. I don't want to go back into the fear landscape. If anything I'll get good in training and nothing in landscape. Facing that creature all over again is not what I came here for. 
                          
I go up to the punching bag and start punching and kicking. Four and Amar were at a different punching bag talking. Four looked like he was getting irritated and Amar was pleading Four to do something. He then smirks and Four stops punching he looks Amar and nods his head. Are they like new best friends now? Did Four forget about me? I've known Four, not even Four, but Tobias for as long as I lived. Now what? I'm nothing to him? I punched the bag harder until my knuckles start to bleed. I stop punch for a quick second to examine my hand. Just bruised, I'll be fine. I repeatedly punch and then switch it up a couple of times to kick. Feeling blue and purple rise up on top of my foot and ankle. But I keep going. Sweat develops all over my body, feeling it drain down my face. The anger inside of me wants to release and I do, all on this bag. I let a couple more punches in and  then hold the bag from swinging. I breathe heavily and take a couple of steps back. I need to focus on being an initiate. Four wants to throw this away then let him. Let his new best friend save him. I walk over to the bench and get a sip of water. The cold liquid goes down on my dry sore throat. I close my eyes to be calm. It's as if that name he got has changed who he was. Tobias was gone and Four was created. I watched drops of sweat roll off my face then hit the dirty floor. Did I make the right choice to be here?
                          
"Why did you pick here?" I felt someone sit next to me on the bench. I look up and see Eric the erudite transfer. Why is he talk to me? 
                          
"My results." I snapped. I shouldn't trust him. Especially the way he has been since day one. 
                          
"In Abnegation isn't lying wrong?" He taunts. A fan of sarcasm. 
                          
"In erudite isn't stupidity wrong?" I copied the tone of his voice.
                          
"Well I'm not." He starts.
                          
"In erudite or asking stupid questions?" I chuckle he soon joins in. The laughter dies down and it got quiet.
                          
"Why are you here Eric? You want to know some of Four's weaknesses?" I sighed. He is just using me. 
                          
"Well it would be nice but I do like a challenges. It gives me adrenaline to my veins. I saw you lash out on that innocent bag over there." He points over at the bag I was just using. 
                          
"Yeah, well, it had it coming." I took another sip of my water.
                          
"You need to work on blocking not just offense. I could help you if you'd like. I saw the board. Not too bad. You're only two initiates behind me. I should be worried."
                          
"Worried about me? You shouldn't be. You are so much stronger then I am." I scoffed. 
                          
"You're right." He stands up then walks to the mat. Should I even trust this guy? He is offering to help me so it can't be that bad. 
                          
Soon the training room was cleared out leaving one or two people at the punching bags. I soon walk over the mat in front of Eric. Cracking his neck left to right then wiggling his legs and arms to get jazzed up, from what Amar once told me. Comparing me to Eric he is three times my size. He could crush me in a heartbeat if he wanted to. Hopefully he'll go easy.
                          
"Alright your defense, I am offense. Keep your hands up and protect your head. Always look out for the legs, most people like to take you down by making you collapse. Makes you more weaker so you couldn't stand. If you get the chance to punch back take it don't hesitate, ever. You hesitate that's another punch or kick to you. Got it?" He raises his hands up as I do the same. 
                          
"Got it." As soon as the words left my mouth Eric started running after me. 
                          
I sidestep to the right turning my back as I face him again. He smirks to himself looking at me. He runs up as I put my hands up. He starts throwing punches back and forth, I dodge them badly still getting hit. I was pulled out from under my feet as I almost hit the ground, Eric held me up by my arm.
                          
"You got to be quick. Don't hesitate. And watch out for the legs." He looks at me then put my hands up.
                          
"Again." I exhaled. 
                          
He charges after me throwing hooks and upper cuts. I was trying to block those but still got hit. All of a sudden my back was on the mat with Eric holding me down. 
                          
"I said watch out for those legs." He warns as he picks me up. 
                          
"Again."
                          
"You sure?" He holds his hands up. I nod my head and he starts to charge at me again. 
                          
This time I watch his feet and his hands. He did some hooks, a uppercut and throws a few punches forward. He got me a couple of times in the face and ribs but not as much as he did earlier. Then the kick happened and I blocked it with my arm. He stops but I went on offense. I started punching and kicking and he blocks it all. Soon I caught him off guard as I slip him from off his feet. He hits the ground as I sit on top of him with a fist up in the air. He then rolls me over as he was on top of me and I was on the bottom. I breathed heavily and look up at Eric. He was smirking above me. 
                          
"You did good stiff." He gets up and lends me his hand I take it with no hesitation. 
                          
"Jade." I mumbled walking out of the training room to the sleeping area. 
                          
"So you are going up against the amity girl?" He sits on my bed.
                          
"Mia." I walk and get some clothes.
                          
"Yea. She has strategy. You have strength and patience." I take my sweaty top off and switch it with a fresh tank top. 
                          
"I've seen her fight. She is good." I started but Eric cuts me off.
                          
"You're better." I look at his blue eyes and for the first time since I met Tobias, I saw acceptance. What is this guy doing to me?