Our world is in ruins from previous wars. Everyone walks in hushed whispers today. I know why. Today, I get to decide. I only get this choice once in my life. If I mess it up, I could be factionless. We don't have aptitude tests anymore. We don't need them. We're in full control of who we want to be. We only have 2 factions; Lion, the brave that wear yellow because it represents courage and Sharp, the smart that wear white because it's a blank canvas meaning opportunity. Lion is sort of like the Dauntless except the old Abnegation is mashed up in to it. Sharp is basically Erudite but with Candor. The factionless became Amity. They wear black because they are nothing. They do the farming. They don't want to be involved in violence. They're people who failed in initiation or just chose that life.

No one lives in factions until they get to choose. We're taken away from our parents to the closed area for children. We're also never told what our names are. I don't even think we have names. We never find out who our parents were because they think it will affect our choices. Crazy. People are only permitted to have 1 child. If they have twins, whoever came first will be killed in a cruel way. If the parents have multiple kids, they've betrayed their faction by ruining their reputation. They die a slow and painful death. I don't know what happens with factionless. They're surrounded by a large fence so their crops don't spread to the rest of the city.

I carefully walk on the rough pavement. 7456's been rambling on and on again. She'd fit in Sharp. I wonder what she'll choose.

"7498? Are you even listening?" 7456 asked me.

"What? Yeah. You were saying something about which faction you wanted to join." I said.

"7498! I can't believe it! You weren't listening! I was talking about what I should change my name to!" She yelled at me.

"Honestly, I think you look like a Jade." I smiled. "I was thinking of naming myself something wacko. Like maybe Typhoon. Or Hurricane."

"You? You look like an Ashley!" 7456 laughed. Did she think I was kidding?

"I'm not kidding." I said angrily. I wasn't even thinking about it but I found my fist hurtling to her face. She well to the ground. I gasped. There was a pool of blood on the ground.

"YOU! WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER!" A loud voice called. It was one of our supervisors. Mike to be exact. I responded the way I was taught to.

"7498" I replied obediently.

"HOW OLD ARE YOU?" Mike barked.

"16."

"It's your choosing day, eh?" Mike asked. I nodded. "May I suggest Lion. You've got a good punch."

"I will take your suggestion into consideration." I replied.

"Jess! John! Take number..." Mike looked at the nametag on 7456. "7456 to the hospital."

Jess and George took her away. I never bothered to wear my nametag.

"7489, what is your relation to 7456?" Mike asked.

"Friends."

"Why did you punch her?"

"I lost my temper because she thought I was joking when I told her the names I wanted to change to."

"Don't do it again. Violence for no reason is unacceptable in factions. Even in Lion. Lion promotes selfless bravery, understood?"

I nodded.

"You're friend will recover in time for the choosing ceremony. She has a simple nosebleed. She was in shock so she stayed silent. She was still conscious, though."

"Good."

"Remember, the grey and black bowl is for Lion and the white and blue bowl is for Sharp. If your blood falls on to the ground, whether it's on purpose or not, you'll be factionless. Be careful."

"Thank you. I have a question before you go. Who are the Divergent and who and who are the Allegiant?"

Mike looked angry. "Maybe you should be in Sharp. Your curiosity is unbearable. However, since you asked, the Divergent are genetically pure people. They have perfect genes. They're also the government. Enough said about them. The Allegiant are dangerous people. Stay away from them. Once again, enough said. Now go pack!"

"I already finished packing." I said quietly.

"GO HELP OTHERS PACK, THEN!" Mike yelled. I hurried away.