Lies
A Divergent Fanfiction
When I was younger, I lied a lot. I deceited my parents, fibbed to my friends, and I blatantly lied through my teeth on many occasions. I don't know why. Maybe it's just because I grew up in Dauntless. I can't explain it. When anybody asked me a question, I'd lie about it. I got caught most of the time, but sometimes I got away with it. That was worse, though. When no one found out, I had the guilt eating me for the rest of my life.
"Are you ready, Tess?" My mother asks. I nod and plaster a smile on my face. "Of course!" I chirp.
Another lie.
Today is my aptitude test. I'm petrified. On one hand, I think I should stay in Dauntless. My parents and my siblings, Erica and Andrew, are here. I could beat out the transfers, and stay in Dauntless. Maybe as an instructor like my dad, or protecting the fence. Yeah, I'd like that. But on the other hand, I don't want to lie anymore. I can't keep convincing myself that I was born to be a Dauntless. Maybe there's something better for me. I don't know. I don't know a lot of things. I guess I'm not a Erudite. Not that I'd want to be. My parents explained to me that there was this huge war against Erudite, who was taking control over the city and trying to kill people like my parents, who are Divergents. Luckily Divergents aren't killed or hunted anymore, just often used as slaves.
"Hi, Tessy!" My little sister Erica smiles a toothless grin at me. She's ten. She doesn't have the aptitude test for another six years. She's named after one of my dad's friends, Eric. Well, sort of friend, I guess. I don't know much. I have a brother too, Andrew. He's named after my grandfather. My mom wanted to name him after my Uncle Caleb, but my dad insisted we name him Andrew. He's thirteen. I feel sorry for him and Erica. Hopefully they're not Divergent. I want them to be able to have easy decisions.
"Hi, Erica." I try to smile at her too. She's so innocent.
"Are you excited?" She tries to bite into an apple.
"Yup." I dishevel her long blonde hair. I have blonde hair like my mom, Tris, too. But dark blue eyes like my dad.
"Time to get ready, Tessa." My mom takes me into her room, where they have a large mirror on the wall. I sit in front of it while my mom combs out my tangled locks, and leaves my hair loose around my shoulders. I dress as nicely as I can, with a short black dress, a black leather jacket, and black combat boots. Once I'm ready, I join Andrew and Erica for breakfast. Andrew looks wide awake. He has training soon, he's preparing to guard the fence when he turns eighteen. That is, if he stays.
"You're gonna miss the train!" Erica declares once I finish slurping my cereal.
"Fine. Bye, guys. See you soon."
Erica hugs me tightly, and Andrew barely even waves. I guess he's enthusiastic for me.
My mom comes over to me and holds me in her arms. "I wish your father was here to see how beautiful you are."
Of course. My dad is preparing for Initiation. Figures.
"I'll be back later today, don't worry." Why did I tell her that when I'm panicking myself?
Before I step through the front door, I take one last look around my house. My house, right outside the Dauntless Initiation space. Near my father's work. He works a lot. I guess ruling a faction takes a lot of work. I head out the door and sprint to the train station. I have to climb up a piece of bright orange metal to reach it. I'm used to it, though. My feet easily find grips and my hands grasp the metal smoothly. I reach the top in a matter of seconds. The train is no where in sight. Did I miss it? I couldn't have. I need to go to my aptitude test. I have no idea where to transfer, or if I'm even going to. Am I worth Dauntless status? Do I want to be free? I mean, I can't REALLY be free. Even though the systems have changed since my parents were young, for instance, we use a democracy with all the factions, but I'm still always going to be stuck within a faction. The rattling of the oncoming train snaps me out of my thinking, and I effortlessly jump onto the train when it arrives. No one I know is on the train, so I just stand there awkwardly. The train shudders the a halt. Rolling onto the grass, I bound off the train and run into where the aptitude test takes place. As I wait nervously in the waiting room, I'm panicking. I am sixteen, and my Choosing Day is tomorrow. I'm torn.
"Tessa Eaton?" A lady with a tightly pinned brown bun opens a door for me. I slowly enter.
A room full of mirrors welcomes me. There is one chair that reminds me of the one in the dentist's office, and some equipment I don't really understand.
"Hi, Tessa. I'm Hailie. I'm your test administrator. Please take a seat, and we can begin your aptitude test."
I walk past the mirrors, only glancing at my reflection rapidly, and I plop down in the chair. I lean back as Hailie hands me a vial full of blue liquid.
"What's this?" I ask.
"Please take it. It's only the simulation."
I down the liquid. It tastes funny, kind of like cinnamon. The last thing I see is my reflection in the mirrors.
I find myself in a black room. The only thing in the room is a wardrobe full of bright, colorful clothes.
"Choose," a female voice echoes.
"Choose what?" I stutter.
"Choose," the voice repeats. I have to choose a color.
I don't want to choose. I want to be everything, I want to be free. Quickly I grab an Amity red blouse, a black Dauntless jacket, a blue Erudite sweater, a Candor white skirt, and a pair of gray Abnegation socks. As soon as I make my choices, the wardrobe dissolves. I'm left holding a pile of clothes. As soon as the wardrobe disappears, the room shifts, and I hear a growl. A dog, I'm presuming. I was wrong.
A bull.
It stares directly at me, gearing up in the corner. I remember something then that I learned in class one day.
Bulls are attracted to the color red.
I throw the bundle of clothes, including the Amity blouse, as far away from myself as I can. The clothes sink into the floor, all but the blouse. It transforms into a bright red teddy bear.
"Oh, look!" I hear a young girl's voice call. A little girl runs into the simulation, and picks up the bear, cuddling it. The bull charges towards the girl. The scary thing is, I recognize the girl. It's Erica.
The worst thing is, I don't know what to do.
"No, Erica. No, no, no." I whisper, frozen with fear. I can't move.
As the bull approaches my sister, the bull and Erica are swallowed by the floor, leaving the bear. Then the scene changes. I'm on the street, and the teddy bear has changed into a puddle of blood surrounding a dead man. I swallow harshly.
"Does anyone know who did this?" A woman dressed in Abnegation gray screams, leaning over the man. I notice a glisten of gold on her left ring finger. I see a man clothed in black slipping away from the scene, holding a horribly long, bloody knife.
"You there. Do you know who did this? Please, help me! My husband!" The woman is talking to me.
I don't say a word. I don't shake my head.
"Please help me. Please. SAY SOMETHING!" The lady's voice echoes over and over. The earth shifts, and I awake with a jolt on the dentist chair. Hailie looks shocked. No, not shocked. Scared. Terrified, even.
"What's wrong?" I ask. Oh no. "Am I Divergent?"
She shakes her head. "I've never seen this before. Never even heard of it."
"What? What is wrong with me?" I demand, alarmed. "What was my result?"
"Nothing." Hailie whispers, barely audible.
"What?"
"Nothing. You didn't get a single result. You're not Abnegation, or Candor, or Amity, or Erudite, or Dauntless. You didn't get anything."
"So what do I choose tomorrow? Where do I belong?" I need to belong somewhere.
"I don't know."
"How could I not get any faction? Is this possible?" My voice sounds hollow.
"I don't understand. You need to leave, now."
"Why?"
"You could possibly be even more dangerous than any Divergent. Go, now. If you get caught..." she gulps.
"Why is this so bad?"
She looks me directly in the eye.
"Because you can't be loyal to anyone."