The idea that a 16 year old could make a life changing choice with ease and no regrets, only shows just how flawed the society she lived in was. To make a choice, go through with it, and be stuck with it for the rest of your life, is terrifying. What if she ended up not liking her decision? Or failed?
These were the questions that she was told shouldn't happen if she choose right, but come on. She 16 years old and hardly knew what she would like for breakfast much less what she want to do for the rest of her life. But Alexa had no choice but to make a choice.
Early in the morning, Alexa slipped into the yellow dress her mother had bought specifically for this day, and smoothed it down nervously. In her bedroom mirror, she could see the panic rise in her green eyes as she fidgeted with her dress.
The Choosing Ceremony was today, and almost everyone would be there. If only this was a private matter between the faction leaders and the choosers.
As quickly as she could, Alexa applied on her makeup and ran a hand through her long brown hair. Feeling as ready as she would ever be, she met her family downstairs who looked a lot better off than she did.
Her mother, Piper, and father, Jack, sat on the opposite ends of the table, with her two sisters, Aria and Bella, sitting next to each other across from her brother, Brendon, who had made sure to sit next to their mother that morning. Sitting down in the only empty chair, Alexa attempted to eat her breakfast.
"Just remember sweetheart, your mother and I will accept any decision you make," said her father in his soothing voice, squeezing her hand quickly. Her mother however made a face and ate her piece of peace serum infused bread quicker.
Brendon, gave Alexa a look that she knew all too well. Two years ago, he had gone through his own Choosing Ceremony and their mother had acted the exact same. As if it would make the blow of one of her children leaving any less painful.
Alexa often wondered if Brendon had chosen Amity because of their mother or because he wanted to. Given Brendon's often annoying habit of a book in his face, Alexa assumed it was the former.
"We better get going or else we'll be late," their mother said briskly, and left before any of them could even rise. Her siblings soon followed afterwards, giving her quick smiles before rushing out the door as well.
"Remember Alexa, the Choosing Ceremony is put in place to better sort out where we belong. Just because you are born in one faction, does not mean you do not belong to another." He gave her a smile and she shifted uncomfortably. Did he know?
"Dad-"
"Alexa, do not let any one of us influence your decision today. Do not repeat the mistakes your brother made. Be brave," he said. He held out a necklace and motioned for her to turn around. When the necklace had been clasped, Alexa looked at it. Embossed in a shiny silver circle, was the Amity symbol.
"Thank you dad," she said, and as they walked out the door, he threw his arm around her shoulders and said, "Now, lets go get you sorted. Shall we?"
The Choosing Ceremony itself was boring as it was two years ago when her older brother had walked the stage. Each of the Faction's leaders each took turns speaking beforehand, making sure to instill the "Faction before Blood" motto as many times as possible, before reading off the extremely long, backwards alphabetical list of names.
As her last name was Daniels, Alexa watched as her childhood friends and fellow classmates walked the stage and chose the Faction that they believed to belong in.
"Winchester, Carter," called the Dauntless leader, Max Hawkins. Alexa sat up stiffer in her seat, and could feel her mother do the same. From a few rows down a tall, lean boy stood up. He made his way out of his row and looked back quickly, his eyes meeting Alexa's briefly before he made his way down to the stage.
"I do hope he makes the right decision," Alexa's mother muttered beside her. Shifting uncomfortably, Alexa wondered what the right decision her mother could possibly think of. Together, they watched as Carter took the knife from a Dauntless helper.
He paused in front of the bowls that held each of the Faction's elements, and sliced the middle of his palm. Stepping forward, he thrust his hand over the Dauntless bowl, and let his blood sizzle on the black coals. Beside her, Alexa's mother gasped and grabbed her arm.
"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry," she murmured, bringing her daughter in close. Alexa only smiled weakly and waited for her name to be called. On and on the names were called until finally, her named was called.
"Alexa Daniels," called Max. Her mother gave her arm a quick squeeze, her father a warm smile, and her siblings a nervous look. A little unsteadily, Alexa made her way to the platform, and took the knife from the Dauntless helper.
Be brave, her father had told her. But how? Max gave her a nod, and Alexa stopped in front of the five bowls that represented each faction. In them, was the burning coals for Dauntless, plain stones for Abnegation, clear water for Erudite, an earthly smelling soil for Amity, and shards of glass for Candor.
Alexa sliced her palm and glanced at the Amity bowl and then to Dauntless'. Be brave. She held her hand out over the burning coals, and in the dead quiet of The Hub, the sizzling sound of her blood hitting the coals could be heard clearly.
"Dauntless," boomed Max, giving Alexa a quick smile. Polite applause and whoops erupted as she made her way to the Dauntless section. Chancing a look back at her family, the look of betrayal she saw on her mother's face made her close her eyes.