The air feels different as I walk to the test that will determine my future. Well not determine, but it means a lot. There is pressure in my head and an ache in my stomach. The Aptitude test can do that to you. When I finally reach the building, I wish that I had someone to come with me, but I have no brothers or sisters. It has always just been me and my Candor parents. I pull open the door and sit down alone. Others come in after me and some are already here. I close my eyes and tell myself that whatever happens here I am always going to be Krista, a confident, green eyed, and honest 16 year old girl.
"From Candor: Krista Duore" I hear someone call. I walk in the direction of the voice, but I'm not really sure if I am going in the right direction. The room seems to be spinning and a large ball seemed to be growing in my stomach. Finally, I walk through a door labeled "6". "Sit down please. The aptitude test will soon begin!" I can barely hear the voice, which I am pretty sure is a girl, speak. I sit down and face a mirror. I look at my reflection and it calms me down. I stare straight into my green eyes. They are clouded with tears, although I am not really sad and definitely not happy. My eyes trace the gentle curve of my jaw and my large nose. My full, brown, head of hair is more knotted then it has ever been. I don't look my best but at least now I am aware of my surroundings. I see the girl who called me in here is preparing a machine and pouring a clear liquid in a glass.
"You're a Stiff right?" I say and immediately regret it. It wasn't very nice but I have always been taught to speak my mind.
"I would prefer to be called something else but yes I am" She replied.
"What's your name?" I asked her.
"Sadie." She replied. She was very pretty. Her eyes were a sparkling blue. I imagine that was the color of the lake before it became a marsh. She had a blond bob. Sadie was very tall and she had the defined cheek bones I wished I had. She handed me the clear liquid and said, "Drink this please." I gulped down the clear liquid. I expected the mystery liquid to be smooth and thin like water but it went down my throat as though it was blood. My eyes closed and the test began.
I open my eyes and immediately realize I am in the school cafeteria. Before I can put together what I am doing here I see two baskets. One has cheese and one has a knife.
"Choose," a woman speaks. Her voice is cold and cruel and I don't like it. I look around and when I see there is no one there I grab both the cheese and the knife. If they are both set out, they will both help me with whatever I have to do next. Both of them is better than one! I thought. "You're not aloud to do that." She said angrily, but then the doors open and something walks in. A large black dog walks in. It growls low and loud like beaten down car. I can see it is hungry and dangerous, but I can't kill it. I throw the knife down and think. I start to breathe calmly and I stand still. I don't want the dog to sense my fear and uncertainty. I slowly put down the cheese and pray the dog will leave me alone. I stand there as it eats the cheese and once he gulps it down, the dog comes over to me. I close my eyes and pray he isn't hungry anymore. The dog slowly inches towards me. Once it is right in front of me, it sits down! I reach down and pet it. I've made friends with this dangerous and wild animal. All of a sudden a little girl walks in. The dog's head immediately snaps to her direction and he snarls. I think about what I can do to save this girl. Quickly. I befriended the dog. Maybe I can distract it. But how? I pick up the knife I threw aside and prick my finger. The smell of blood distracts the dog long enough for the little girl to turn and run. Just when the dog pounces I am out of the simulation and back into the large gray chair facing a mirror and looking into my terrified green eyes. Sadie's eyes mirror my own. She removes the gadgets from my head and says nothing. Finally she speaks.
"I'm going to have to ask you to wait here." She rushes off to somewhere or other and I sit in the chair, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong. Finally she returns and sits down next to me. She grabs my hand and says, "Sweetheart, what I am about to tell you is dangerous. Do not tell a single soul. Go straight home so you aren't tempted to share what happened. I can cover for you and say that you got sick from the test." The fear coursing through my veins was stronger than it has ever been.
"What do you mean?" I whispered.
"Your test results are inconclusive. You are Amity, Erudite, and Abnegation. You are Divergent."
Even the word seemed dangerous.
Divergent.