Seven days later...

1. Hall
2. Roy
3. Karl
4. Tiana.
5. Ian.
6. Elena.
7. Jade.
8. Grace.
9. Andrea.

***********

I grimaced at the leaderboard, furrowing my brow as I saw the unpleasant number 8 next to my name. I shifted my weight to one leg, crossing my arms.

After seven long days of intense training until literally losing consciousness, I finally hoped that Four would enter and start the second round of fights. I managed to psych myself up to the point where I would wake up at 5:30 a.m. and head to training.

I cared little for my friends' insistence as I didn't let go of the punching bag until yesterday when I lost consciousness for a couple of minutes after doing more sets than Four ordered, and not having taken water, I collapsed to the ground. I remember waking up on the mat with a wet face, the others had been sent running two laps around the Dauntless compound by the brown-haired man, with the serious and angry admonition. He wanted to bring Eric into the conversation, thinking I needed to channel my emotions, and that's why I tried to kill myself during the exercise.

As for Eric, now I was the one ignoring him. During these seven days, he was only present twice, and on those two occasions, only the first was filled with mocking comments, which I ignored, and on the second occasion, he did the same.

I want to forget that embarrassing incident; I just want to pretend it never happened.

A hand grabbed my shoulder, making me jump, snapping back to reality as I quickly turned around.

"It's very early, don't you think?" Andrea asked with a smile.

It was seven o'clock; I stopped training and stretching five minutes ago and started looking at the leaderboard, as usual.

I smiled without showing my teeth. "It became routine," I shrugged along with a sigh.

She nodded, lowering her hand. "Four told me there will be a new dynamic today. Eric spoke with Max, and they're changing the technique." she grimaced.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I don't care about the new dynamic, I just want to level up."

"Why?" she asked.

"I want to be a leader." I shrugged.

"Being a leader isn't everything, Grace." she smiled without showing her teeth, taking my arm. "Let's sit down," she suggested.

I nodded, and we moved away from the leaderboard, walking a few meters until we reached the nearest bench. "You may be right, but the undeniable benefits it brings sound satisfying," I said.

Andrea sat across from me, leaning her elbows on the table and looking at me attentively.

"That's why you and Eric talk a lot,." she raised an eyebrow. "Or well, you used to talk. I haven't seen you two together lately."

I shook my head with a smile. "Eric is a narcissistic idiot who only thinks of himself." I said, lowering my gaze, getting lost in the metal table.

"Was there a problem?" she raised an eyebrow again.

I lifted my head with a smile, tilting it. "You already know, Four must have told you."

She bit her lip, nodding, her gaze reflected embarrassment. "Sorry," she apologized. "I saw you very differently, and it worried me." she excused herself.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter anymore." I reassured her.

It was uncomfortable knowing that Andrea knew for certain the reason behind my sudden change, how Four must have told her what happened, how I ended up rejected by Eric, and how my hopes died when he kissed that girl in the pit.

"He may be a leader, but he's an idiot." she said seriously. "You have more potential than him. So, Grace, aim for the leadership position and become the best of all, crush that narcissistic blonde."

I laughed, lowering my gaze, then raised it, nodding. "You're right, you can't lie."

"I'm not lying anymore, but it's not untrue." she replied.

"Thank you," I said, looking away for a moment before returning my gaze to my friend. "How are things going with Four?" I say. "I see him more in love every day." I changed the subject, raising an eyebrow.

She let out a nervous laugh, her blush evident as she bit her lip.

"Nothing formal, he asked for discretion. As an instructor, he can't get involved with the initiates until the end of the two stages, otherwise, he'll be demoted, and I would be disqualified." she nodded with a grimace. "So, everything is confidential."

"I didn't know." I widened my eyes, nodding. "But it makes sense. Don't worry, you have my discretion and silence."

"Thank you."she smiled.

In the distance, Tiana, Ian, and Jim arrived, walking towards us with smiles. My redhead friend sat next to Andrea, handing her a green apple and another to me.

"You guys have a serious nutrition problem, you'll end up like Elena if you don't eat." she said indignantly.

"Or worse, like Grace yesterday." Ian spoke, sitting next to me without taking his eyes off me.

I rolled my eyes as the others laughed. "You're very funny." I said sarcastically.

"I know, eat." he took my hand holding the apple and guided it to my mouth so I could take a bite.

With my eyes locked on his, I took a bite of the juicy apple. He didn't give up, he genuinely sought something nice with me, which made me feel bad because I was still in a vicious and harmful cycle with one of the leaders of Dauntless, even though I meant nothing to him.

I chewed while they changed the subject, everyone joined in a pleasant conversation, and both Andrea and I ate our fruit while listening to the enjoyable chatter.

The others began to arrive, Roy was the first to start exercising, while the others came to sit and talk. Jade arrived hand in hand with Hall, the brunette still bore marks from the fight five days ago, several bruises were visible, and that didn't stop him from rubbing it in my face that he was above me, fueling my anger as I wanted to claw his eyes out.

I finished my apple and stood up to toss the stem. I turned to look at the entrance, and Eric was the first to enter, followed by the blonde girl with whom I had been in the pit, and behind them, Four. I sighed inwardly, I think I know what's coming next, and I really don't feel like it. The three approached the leaderboard.

"Come closer." Eric's voice echoed throughout the room. As ordered, we all stood in front of them. "Unlike other years, this time we have more initiates. In order to streamline the process and provide better control in this training, Genesis will assist us."

The blonde girl, whose name I now knew, gave a half-smile, raising her chin, and stepped forward.
"I worked on guarding the perimeter, strategizing for possible attacks. This time, I trained them along with Four."she looked at each of us, as if we were fresh bait.

I saw Four, who had his arms crossed and his gaze downward; he wasn't happy. Clearly, he didn't like the idea of Genesis being here, and I didn't want to see her either. I shifted my gaze to Eric, who took me by surprise because his eyes were on me, a look that felt familiar. I'm starting to think that maybe he doesn't have feelings and is a robot created to lead.

I couldn't take my eyes off him, it was hypnotizing to get lost in his eyes. They gave me a sensation that was hard to describe, my pulse quickened, but I liked having him close.

"Alright, listen up." Four stepped forward, standing next to Genesis. I snapped out of my trance, becoming the one to break our gaze. "We'll divide you into two groups and create a new classification. Genesis will train one group, and I'll train the other. Today, we'll evaluate with fights, we'll open two new lists, and at the end of the first stage, you'll fight against the other group."

**********************

Ian, Tiana, Elena, Jade, Roy, Stefan, Grey, Karl, Xavier, John, Henry, and I were lined up on one side of the training room, which had been divided into two. Across from us, Genesis was typing on the glass screen. On the other side of the room, Four was with the other 12 people, including Andrea and Jim. They looked calm, very happy to have Four as their trainer, while I couldn't hide my displeasure.

Eric was at the entrance, talking to Freya and Max, who were ignoring our presence.

"Alright, let's begin." Genesis said, setting the screen aside. "I don't know you all, so we'll start from scratch. I don't plan to rely on the old classification, so you'll do a series of sit-ups. Then we'll leave the facilities, run for a few minutes, and come back for the fights. Understand?" Several nodded. "500 sit-ups. Those who finish will go for a run."

I must admit that I was expecting her attitude to be unpleasant, but apparently not all blondes are dumb, egocentric, and snobbish. She pleasantly surprised me as she passed by, encouraging us with positive words like "Well done" and "Keep it up, one after another" not even Four does that.

My perspective changed, and I realized that I wasn't the person I thought I could be; I was the neurotic one, jealous just because she was with Eric.

497, 498, 499, 500... Finally, I finished, and I was the first one done. I stood up. Genesis approached.

"Did you finish..." she asked, raising her eyebrows, and I nodded.

"Grace." I replied.

"Good job, 30 minutes of running, off you go." she hurriedly said, pointing at her tablet.

"Thanks." I smiled as I trotted to the bottle rack to grab one and leave the facility.

My dad never gave me that kind of positive encouragement, never said "well done" or rewarded me, and just the fact that a stranger gave me such encouragement makes me feel really good. It gives me the courage to keep going, and I still feel that flutter in my chest.

I left the facility only to encounter the last person I wanted to see. He was alone, and as he saw me exit, he smiled ironically.

"Well done, initiate." his irony could be heard from miles away. "That knock on the head made you faster, you should faint more often."

I sighed wearily at his attitude. "Don't you have anything better to do?" I retorted, indifferent and unafraid of what he might do.

His hand grabbed my arm tightly, pulling me closer to him. His eyes were anything but pleasant, they had a dark look to them.

"I've let a lot of annoying behavior slide, Grace. Don't play with fire if you can't handle it." he warned.

I looked him in the eyes, showing no expression whatsoever. Growing up with my father had taught me to keep a stoic face, and without any fear, I raised one corner of my lips.

"Who says I'm playing?" I asked.

I bit my lip, suppressing a smile, as my comment caught him off guard.

He let out a half-smirk, tilting his head slightly. He began to say something, but the door opened.

"Eric, could you let her train? She's got a very good time." Genesis's voice echoed from behind me, several meters away.

The blonde released his grip on my arm, still not taking his eyes off me. I smiled. "Your girl is calling you." I said, stepping away from him and continuing on my way.

Without turning to look at them, I started running, distancing myself from them, trying to shake off the nervousness that being near my grumpy leader caused me.

**********************

"First Grace and Xavier, then Tiana and Jade, Karl and Roy, Ian and Stefan, John and Henry, and finally Elena and Grey." Genesis spoke as she watched the progress on her screen. "Alright, begin."

I stepped into the ring, and Xavier did the same, a red-haired man with brown eyes, somewhat sturdy but not excessively so. I had seen him only a few times, usually just to ask Tiana if they were siblings or relatives. However, he was a humble man coming from Abnegation.

After circling the entire training area, Xavier exited to match my pace. He had been the second to finish, so Genesis had paired us up to spar.

I positioned my fists in a defensive stance, and he did the same. Without waiting another second, I assessed his feet and how he moved in the ring, noticing some clumsiness. I threw a left hook as a distraction to hit his knee and make him fall, followed by a forearm strike to his neck to cut off his oxygen and bring him down. I stepped back, waiting for him to get up or surrender.

Genesis raised her hand towards me, signaling me to stop, while she looked at Xavier, wanting to prevent him from retaliating. The redhead stood up, coughing, looking at me with a certain anger. Genesis lowered her hand, giving me the green light to continue. Xavier threw a right hook at my cheek, making me turn completely. He followed it with a knee strike to my abdomen, and I fell to the ground.

My pulse quickened. I couldn't afford to lose, not now and not against him. Just as he was about to get on top of me, I lifted my knees around his neck, immobilizing his arms and chest with my legs, slamming him against the mat. I stood up, placing my knee on his chest, and delivered a punch to his nose followed by another with my forearm. I stood up, watching as he held his face in pain. When I looked up, Eric was watching, nodding slightly with widened eyes, gesturing towards Xavier. I knew what he meant, he wanted me to deliver one final blow to finish it.

The adrenaline surged through my system instantaneously, and without waiting another second, I raised my right foot and kicked his face as he tried to get up. He slammed onto the mat with a loud thud, his face now half-covered in blood.
The group fell into complete silence as they looked at the unconscious Xavier.

Eric nodded, smiling.

I won.