The screams. The screams were what pierced my heart the most. I remember sitting on my couch watching this movie curled up in my favorite blanket. That was safe if things got too intense I could simply switch them off, but here, now, the screams are real and the fear palpable. I barely slept last night, my mind wouldn’t shut off as it conjured up all sorts of scenarios. The biggest one was that they would find out I wasn’t from this world, l would be labeled a spy and kicked out or worse.
My mind raced with possibilities, I was brought out of my thoughts by a hand slapping me on the back, I turned to see Peter sitting next to me,
“Hello Outsider” he sneered.
My stomach was already in knots, but the word “outsider” twisted my gut, even more, I took a deep steadying breath and slipped on my mask of control.
“Hello, Peter” I reply through my clenched teeth.
“You alright? You look a little anxious, afraid everyone will find out your deep little secret?” He inquired.
A brief flash of panic filled me before I reigned in my emotions.
“What secret would that be? That I hate you?” I quip back at him with a scowl
“You know exactly what secret I’m talking about...Outsider” he whispered
I pinch my nose trying my best to fend off an oncoming headache.
“You know what Peter I’ve been through a lot over the past few days, so save your petty threats for someone who is afraid of you” I mutter through clenched teeth.
Before he has a chance to respond I’m called back into the simulation room, I wasn’t surprised to see Eric standing there, anxiety already churned in my gut as I once again pondered the horrors that await me.
Eric gestures for me to take a seat, I sat and lied down staring up at the bright fluorescent light.
“We are going to inject you with a serum that will put you under simulation, you will experience your worst fears in the sims” he said as he swabbed my neck, Eric’s eyes quickly scan my face and a brief flicker of emotion passes through him before his mask of control slips back into place.
The cold steel pressing into my warm skin reminding me that this was all real and I was about to experience my worst fear, the worst part about it was that I couldn’t use the trick that Tris uses otherwise they would suspect me of being Divergent and that would put an even larger target on my back.
I feel a pinch and I look at Eric who traced the injection side lightly with his finger before speaking the familiar lines “Be Brave”.
Everything around me faded into black as my eyes fluttered shut and I was drawn into the abyss of unconsciousness.
My heavy eyes lifted and I am back in the simulation room I slowly stand to my feet and walk towards the door, I hesitantly take hold of the handle and turn it slowly, I take a deep breath trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever may be on the other side of this door.
I found myself in the Pit, I immediately noticed all of the members staring at the wall, they were mumbling, the sounds echoed off the wall creating a buzzing sound, a sound that seemed to prick at my back and cause chills to run up my spine, I cautiously approached the people only to have them turn in one swift move to face me, my hand coming up to my mouth as I took in the sight before me, their faces were blank, where eyes, noses, and mouths should have been now only flat skin remained. They were faceless zombies.
I was so struck by the sight in front of me I hadn’t noticed them forming a circle around me, the humming seemed to grow in intensity and they slowly walked towards me, I was quickly surrounded, they began to claw at me, tearing at my clothes, I screamed fighting back as hard as I could, two of them held me down on each side while another one approached me with what looked like a needle and thread, and my stomach twisted at what it could possibly be for.
Two hands held my mouth closed as the one holding the needle pressed the tip into my skin, tears welling up in my eyes as I struggle tirelessly against my faceless captors, with each poke of the needle going in my skin I could hear the buzzing grow louder as if they were enjoying the show. I felt the warm trickle of blood slide down my neck, once they had finished they began to tear at my clothes once again this time not stopping until I stood before them completely naked shivering with fear, I try my best to cover my modesty and push my way through the crowd, sparing only a glance to see if I’m being followed and sure enough the crowd was coming after me.
I stopped when I reached the Chasm, the cold air adding to my trembling form, I looked down at the roaring waters unsure of what to do.
“You’re going to have to jump,the cliffs surface” a deep voice said.
I look to my right and see Eric emerging from the shadows with a grim expression.
I shake my head.
“They’ll tear you limb from limb if they catch you, at least this way you’ll be in control of how you go out” he smiles his eyes cold inside before his features melt away those of the faceless army and him come barreling towards me and in that moment I make the decision to jump.
I feel my bones crack as I hit the surface of the cliff before I plunge into the dark frozen murky water.
My eyes flutter open and I’m back in the simulation room, I lift my head only for a moment take in my surroundings, I open my mouth to say something but am unable to because my mouth is still sewn shut.
Eric once again appeared at my side, a look of mock sympathy on his face, a cold hand strokes my forehead, I try and shift away but can no longer move my limbs.
“I know you must be in a lot of pain” he pouted his lips.
“Don’t worry though, the good doctor here will have you patched up in no time” he assured me before a man in doctors scrubs stepped up beside him.
“Your injuries require immediate treatment,” the Doctor said before he snapped his glove into place, he held up a scalpel and rotated it as he inspected it.
“Now this won’t hurt at all,” he said before lowering his scalpel to my skin.
He slices a neat line down the front of my thighs all the way to my ankle, then from my shoulder to my wrist, blood seeping from the wounds, I was helpless, while I couldn’t move my limbs I can still feel each pass of the blade and tears ran freely down my face.
“These little beauties are from Amity” both the Doctor and Eric hold up large jars full of insects, I shake my head this only causes them to grin evilly.
They unscrew the lid from the jars and pouring the bugs onto my naked body, they immediately began to burrow under my skin and into my wounds, I thrash my head around trying to will my body to move, I can feel them nibbling away at my insides, I scrunch my eyes closed as I feel them eating away at me, I work my mouth back and forth hoping to loosen the stitches, I managed, the pain no longer mattered,
“Get them off me” I mumbled loudly
And with one more determined tug, the stitches tore through the flesh of my lips taking chunks out as they went.
“Get them off me” I screeched, a slight tickling sensation formed between my eyes as they began to eat my eyeballs.
“GET THEM OFF ME” I screamed.
The feeling returned to my limbs and I cover my eyes with my hands and scratch at the bugs trying to remove them, when two hands grabbed my wrists.
“Aeryn!” a voice barked,
“Get them off me” I pleaded trying to free my hands only for the grip to tighten,
“Four get in here now!” the deep voice ordered.
I keep screaming for them to get off me, I felt thumbs press themselves against my eye lids prying them open, and I see a faceless Eric.
“Let go of me” I snarled.
“We need to sedate her” Four came through the door with a syringe.
“NO!” I fought against Eric’s hold only for him to grab my head and tilt it to right.
I feel a sharp sting and suddenly I’m falling into dark oblivion.
