A New Life

Chapter 10: Care

"Flinch and you let Al stand there got it?" Four growls and I nod. He raises his arm and lets go of the knife hitting half a foot away from my cheek. "Had enough Stiff?" He taunts and I shoot him a glare. He simply shrugs and transfers a knife from his left hand to his right. He raises his arm and before I could even blink I hear a thud. The blade sits right above my head. Four raises an eyebrow and smirks.

"Ready to let someone else try?" He continues to push me and I'm starting to get annoyed. I clench my jaw in order to keep my tongue from acting before my brain.

"Four, stop!" I try to remain calm although anger laces my voice. His smirk remains as he flings the next blade. It hits the target behind me leaving a sting in my left ear. I can feel the blood dripping from my freshly cut skin. He hit me!

"We're done for today. Everyone leave." Eric shouts and everyone scurries out leaving me, him and Four alone in the room.

"Bea I'm sorry." Four says walking towards me.

"You cut me." I growl.

"I know, I'm-" He starts only to be cut off.

"Four leave." Eric demands not moving his eyes from mine as he approaches the two of us.

"Why?" Four steps between us.

"Now!" Eric shouts and Four turns to hug me before leaving. "Are you ok?" Eric ask walking all the way up to me after the door closes. He raises his hand to my face and I feel the need to be close to him before I push that urge to the back of my mind.

"Since when do you care?" I say bitterly crossing my arms over my chest and leaning away from his still extended hand.

"God you're so damn stubborn." He moves his hand away to drag it down his face before looking at me again. "I've always cared." he sighs softly and my breath hitches in my swelling chest. "When are you going to learn that I can't favor you?" He groans and my chest tightens further.

"Oh yeah, cause someone who cares definitely would hang me over the Chasm then make my own brother throw knifes at me." I scuff.

"No," he bluntly says. "But someone who cares tries their best to help you succeed, or stays with you while you lie unconscious in a hospital." He finishes stepping closer to me again. "Just know I do care." He whispers then turns and walks out. I stand there shocked, my heart pounding against my ribs as I process the words that still linger in the stale air. He cares? Eric cares about me? How? My mind swirls as I sit in the training room silently until dinner. my own breaths and heart beet the only thing residing in my ears. I went to dinner eventually and ate quietly mostly listening to the others.

"Hey, what did Eric say to you?" Chris asks me and I look up at her.

"Oh, um nothing important." I say softly avoiding her eyes. I feel multiple gazes on me before I look up in his the direction of his table. His eyes are on me and I quickly push myself up. "You know what, I'm kinda tired I'm gonna head back to the dorm and get to bed." I announce grabbing my tray and walking off without giving the others the chance to speak. I get back and lay down quickly falling asleep.

I don't know how long I slept before I'm awaken by a bright light and loud voices.

"Raise and shine!" Eric bellows. "Be at the tracks in five minutes or join the Factionless." With that he leaves and I'm suddenly happy I feel asleep in my clothes. I swing my legs over my bunk, grab my combat boots and jacket before pulling my hair down and heading to the tracks. I reach the rooftop where the train passes and see that no one else is here as of now. I make my way over to the ledge and step up onto it, inches from death. The wind pulls me in different directions as I look up at the beautiful star filled sky and full moon. I sway softly, but never enough to fall. Although the fact that I could fall right now doesn't scare me it actually sends a thrill through me. I glance down at the ground far below me before looking back up.