DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Divergent, its original story/content or characters. I will be using most of the original story in the movies, while incorporating a few from the books as well as adjusting the story arch to better fit my needs for my original character, the only one I do have the rights to, Kara. Thank you, also please enjoy this new re-write and feel free to give me a review regarding the changes. Some things will remain the same however, but I do hope any new changes will be liked and not hated by the readers of the original version, if so, I am sorry and I will be saving the original content in case many of you prefer that, I can post them in the forums on my website, for those interested: casescapesdesigns dot wixsite dot com/ashecreations.
It was the day of the choosing ceremony, and I didn't feel nervous at all. The only thing I was feeling, was my mother's tension as she squeezed my hand, it was easier to focus on than what lie ahead. I wasn't sure why she had so much tension, there was no way she could know the decision I had made. She had asked me several times about my aptitude test, but luckily for us, I could still tell the truth by saying I couldn't tell her anything about it. She never thought twice about me reciting the rules of secrecy to her, I was born in Candor, and that is where she assumes I will stay...I was afraid to break her heart.
I've only ever kept two secrets in my life, the one that will ultimately break my mothers heart, and the other that lead up to it. I had been secretly training with a dauntless member whenever I wasn't in class or doing any of my Candor duties. I would sneak out whenever I could to meet up with him. Uriah is pretty popular so I'm not sure how he managed to get away all the time especially from Dauntless headquarters, but he did, for me. We met by accident one day, I was out wandering in some of the empty buildings, hiding something I found, when on patrol he found me. I told him part of the truth that day, that I knew I didn't belong in Candor, and that I wanted to make the switch to Dauntless. He asked me if I was sure, and if I would be ready for the daunting tasks...I answered truthfully, "I'm not sure...but I can't let my doubts and fears control me, that wouldn't be very dauntless would it?"
From then on, when out on patrol, he offered to help teach me and I agreed happily. It was hard and I put a lot of work into it, my body had changed dramatically. I was always a little chubby when I was younger, but as I grew into my teens, most of the fat moved in more feminine places as I got taller, I still could have used some work though. The workouts and strict diet he put me on helped and I was happier because I was now building muscle, and would be able to pack a mean punch. A few weeks ago, I told him the same thing I told my mother about the aptitude test, but that I was still head strong of wanting to be Dauntless for personal reasons. He told me without a doubt he knew I was ready, so this ceremony was going to be the worst part, at least I hoped it would...
My mothers tight grip on my hand shook me from my memories of training as we neared the great hall of the ceremony. I looked around and could see the other factions piling in according to "importance"; Erudite, Candor, Amity, Abnegation and Dauntless crawling in through windows, jumping over rails all around us. My mother used to speak ill of them when I was little, I'm sure she wasn't aware that her mouth may have said one thing, but her eyes held this light in them...it was the time of her life being Dauntless, she only left because she was pregnant with me and wanted an easier life for us...which also meant leaving my dad there alone. I was never able to see him growing up since the factions usually stayed to themselves, although he could have met with us...they both just never made a plan to. In fact I only ever saw him one time, it was a picture of him in a news article that my mother cried over when I was five; his obituary. Out on Dauntless patrol outside the wall there was an incident and he was later found dead, crows picking at his body for a few days.
Now we were seated and the ceremony had begun, the nerves I had yet to have were kicking into high gear, I greedily squeezed my mothers hand back, and had to work on my steadying my breathing. This was a trick Uriah had taught me, to clear my head and focus since I had a bit of anxiety about me. Deep inhale through my nose, hold it, slow exhale through my lips. I could do this a few times during my flux of emotions and calm down within a few seconds, it also worked on honing in on a target when I was training with him. Erudite leader Jeanine lead the ceremony, then allowed the other faction leaders to talk and give a small speech on why their faction is the best and you should choose them, same generic stuff they feed us everyday so we choose later to stay in our factions, to which most people did. My mother got excited and sat up a little straighter when Jack Kang, Candor leader, spoke out...I think she was hoping his words that have been burned into me since I was able to understand, would be the truth I needed in order to stay, and honestly, his words sounded like home, like my childhood, like my mother waking me up sweetly...they sounded like what I should want, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that a little part of me has a doubt and a longing to go where my parents hailed. To see and live like they did, to find myself, not in truth but in strength. Unfortunately that would be the feeling that would win today, and sway me to a different faction, and away from everything and everyone I had ever known.
I did know it was going to be dangerous for me, because even though I never told anyone what my test results were, Tori, the handler of my test assured me I should forget I took the test altogether. She was really upset with me afterwards and told me to get out, that there was an issue with my results and to just tell everyone the serum made me sick, I had demanded she tell me anyway, they were my results after all. I had a right to know what I should be, know if I was making the right decision. She said she would tell me what it was just one time, she would never repeat it or talk to me about it again, and that if I wanted to live a full life, I would never share it with another; ever. I agreed to her silly request and let her say it, divergent, like it was a disease, and she explained, in a way, it was looked at as one. Tori only half ass explained what it meant, and that if anyone found out, I could be killed over it, to look through a history book...apparently people like me caused the war that turned us into what we are today. I did end up going to the Erudite library and found a book on it, it was a small chapter, and the book looked like it was never opened before...it was what I stole and hid out in the empty buildings, where Uriah and I had trained.
"Carolina Francesca." My name was called and the pit in my stomach dropped, I stood and gave my mothers hand one last squeeze, placing a note in her palm, before letting go and heading down to the stage. I quickly grabbed the small knife and sliced my hand, without hesitation I held it over burning coals and let drop, hearing the sizzle as I walked away, avoiding looking at my mother and making my way over to Dauntless seating. They all cheered behind me, and I smiled, I knew I made the right choice and if i looked at her now, I would regret it instantly...and I didn't want that. More people transferred, or stayed put, I noted one family lost both their children, the son to Erudite and their daughter to Dauntless, sitting next to me...but Candor had lost the most to Dauntless, it was a sea of black and white around me, Beatrice Prior was the main standout, her shabby grey clothes and dull features clashed even with the rest of us transfers. The lot of Candor's I had saw, I knew by name, but not personally, I was always one to keep to myself, I only ever had one friend for my entire childhood...and our friendship ended assaultingly.
As we were dismissed, I chanced a look at my mother, she didn't look at me as she got up, she kept a proud face on, with her hands clasped at her chest, clinging to my note..."I am going to miss you so much, but I promise I will make you proud. Please do not think the worst of me, I just need to find out who I am, what I am capable of... I love you always, and we will be together again." I was hoping I could keep my word, it is what I want of myself, but I never wanted to hurt her, and I don't want to end up factionless because of my decision. Jack Kang and the few others on his personal council, including my mother, always thought I would take over his position one day. I was a stickler for the rules, and was always honest without the serum forcing me, I even had leadership over the younger learning groups for their young adult prep...I was pretty much already training for that position, but truth be told, I never wanted it.
Us transfers fell in line behind dauntless born on our exit from the building, we had no choice but to keep up with them, it was the only way to the dauntless headquarters which no one really knew where it was or how to get into it. I kept looking behind me, noticing the Prior girl was having issues keeping up because of her long potato sack of an outfit, her legs could not open enough to allow her to keep up. I decided to slow down enough to drop down behind her and rip at her measly made skirt, tearing it halfway up, allowing her more movement. I nodded at her as I ran past her, picking my pace back up, feeling good that I was able to help her out. We soon came up on tall iron feet near a building, those legs held the train tracks up in the air. I quickly went to climbing, reaching the top in seconds, Uriah wasn't kidding when he said I would need to learn to climb buildings and jump the train if I wanted to make it even a little bit in dauntless. I watched as the train pulled into view, rounding a corner and coming straight for us, I took off running down the track, behind a few dauntless born, listening to everyone behind me catch on and follow us. As soon as it passed me, I picked up pace, hopping onto the front of the last car, my back slamming onto the ground after hauling my body up and hurling myself in the doorway to ensure I made it inside.
I got up quickly so I would not be stepped on by any others, glad I did because Beatrice was right behind me, we both leaned out to see who was left, I saw black and white, I remembered her face from Candor but couldn't remember her name exactly. She was close enough to wrap her hands around the outside handles, but we pulled away from where her feet could touch the side tracks and she was hanging on, unable to pull herself up, as Candor she never had need of muscles like she did now and there was also no ground beneath her to help her push off of. Beatrice being closer threw her hand out and offered it to her, the Candor took it and was pulled inside, behind them though, I watched another girl run right off the track, I don't think she paid attention to where it ended. It is sad because I am not sure who would find her body, whether she survived or not, she would end up laying there until she suffered, she became factionless the second she missed this train...I felt sadness for her, and for the family she just left that would never know. The two boys behind her were smart enough to pay attention to her mistake, so unlike her, they were unharmed, but similar to her they were now factionless and would have no home to go back to. I felt less sadness for them, but heartbreak for their family still, factionless wasn't all bad, I had seen some of them, they still looked healthy, they found places to live, and rumor had it that Amity made sure Abnegation had extra food to be able to feed them...by the looks of it, the rumor might be true, but that was never a concern for me.
All three of us sat against the back wall, "thank you, I don't know how much longer my arms would have held on if you didn't pull me up when you did, I'm Christina by the way." "No problem, she helped me, so I thought I would pay it forward so to speak, I'm Beatrice...what about you?" "Carolina and don't mention it, I didn't think it was fair for you to have to struggle in your old factions clothing decisions, I mean even Amity have the option to wear pants...plus you got to help Christina, if you wouldn't have made it, she might not have...so win win." We sat there for a few minutes catching our breath before we realized others who were sitting began to stand, so we followed suit. "What's going on?" An Erudite boy had the nerve to ask one of the dauntless born with us, "time to jump off." "What happens if we can't?" A dauntless boy turned around and replied to him, straight faced, "either jump and risk the physical consequences...or don't and finish the ride out to factionless..." The Erudite boy gulped, and I watched his expression of question fall to fear. I turned to the girls, "put all your weight in your calves and push off hard, once you gap it, tuck and roll, you should make it and not get too hurt when you land." They looked at me confused but nodded, hopefully they took my advice, Uriah made me practice this over and over, although we did it near factionless, the jump was only one story up but he made me run and jump over to the next building and catch back up with the train to jump back on it...so this seemed easier to me, even that would probably have the other transfers shaking.
I jumped first, rolled and hopped back up in time to see the others fall suit. The girls tried their best to do what I said and both made it with ease, laughing and helping each other up. Two Dauntless born were nice enough to lean over and help one of the others that had made it far enough to grab on to the side of the building and dangle there, lucky for him. I walked over to the edge to see if we lost anyone, we did, and again, I was sad for them and their family, although Dauntless would find and bury her body later...at least I hoped they would considering how close to the building she was, and the fact that I couldn't see other bodies or skeletons from possible previous deaths. Beatrice had tore some of her dress and handed it to the boy who barely made it, so he could clean up his busted lip, having smacked it on the wall as he hung there. We all started to make our way to the small crowd that formed in front of us, a guy in all black with tattoos and piercings stood up on a ledge, a strong gaze taking all of us in...
A/N: Thank you so much for everyone who has been with me since the beginning and the first edition of this story. I hope I didn't veer too much from what the original was and that I only made it better. Please leave me a review of what you think! Also if you preferred the original I will be uploading it to my personal website, mentioned at the top, but will be deleting all the chapters on here and uploading what I managed to re-write on my few off days. I have only been able to re-write so much, and will try to be finished in the next several weeks or so with everything, but bear with me and please continue to enjoy this story, perhaps even more now with its edits and updated writing style!