"Many years ago our ancestors sought out to eliminate mankind's predisposition towards evil and wrong doing, thus coming up with the idea of Factions..." My instructors voice fades away and I am no longer listening to her. Instead, I focus on the clouds in the sky and wonder what it would be like to fly beside them. I wonder if there's anything beyond those walls, or are we just the last people in the world? I see the Dauntless train just then speed by the school, it moves endlessly, never stopping for anybody. Only the Dauntless ever so bravely jump on and off that train. I observe as they launch themselves from the moving cars onto the pavement. Some of them preform a light jog to keep their balance, others stumble and fall. It must be fun, living dangerously like they do. Adventure everywhere they go.
"Alanna!" The sudden screeching of my name causes me to jump. I turn abruptly to see my instructor towering in front of my desk. Her nose, almost like a beak takes up most of her face, blocking out any feminine features she might have. "What, are you doing?" She questions me, crossing her arms in attempt to intimidate me. It works because I can barely find the words to speak.
"I-" I pause "I was observing the Dauntless" I hear faint giggles from my classmates, and I flush from embarrassment.
"Alanna, we are on the subject of Faction history. It is important for you to know why we have these factions in the first place. Especially on a day like this! When you take your Aptitude test! Stop this daydreaming nonsense and pay attention!" She slams the palms of her hands on the surface of my desk, and the class silences. I did not jump, instead I turned stone cold. I will not succumb to fear. I have had enough of this same old boring history lesson. Instead I wait, wait for her to walk away, wait for to continue her lesson so that I can pretend to listen. My own secret rebellion against her.
Precisely, at noon the bell rings to signify that it's lunch. All at once everyone takes their things and scurry out of the door. I let everyone leave before I do, I was always taught to let everyone go first before I. It doesn't matter when I get there because the line will be shorter when I do. It only seemed logical to me. I walk to the cafeteria, contemplating on the Aptitude test.
The hallways are practically empty, so much light coming from the windows it's rarely this sunny. I stand in front the window for a bit, just thinking. Would my mom still love me if I choose to leave? Would she forgive me? It would just be her alone at home. I feel a painful sting in my chest and I stop thinking of her, I don't want to dwell too much on that thought.
"Alanna? What's wrong?" I turn my head to where I heard the soft familiar voice. There I see my best friend Elizabeth. She's tall and slim. Her long reddish hair reaches just above her waist. The freckles on her face perfectly frame her great big sapphire blue eyes. And I see skin peeling on a small section of her cheek. I chuckle, she was in the sun for too long again.
"I'm fine Elizabeth, just thinking." I smile, she's so beautiful. I picture myself choosing Amity, finding a lover there. I see Elizabeth and I squealing as she tells me the news of her pregnancy. Us laughing and singing as we pick fruits and vegetables together. Children playing around us. I picture a paradise. However, as reality sets in I begin to realize, I wouldn't be happy there. It saddens me.
"Oh okay. Are you hungry? I brought us some lunch."
"Ugh I'm starving!"
She giggles, "C'mon let's get outta here."
We walk to our usual lunch spot, a bench under a nice shady tree. I tell her about Ms. Jean and how aggravating she is. Elizabeth just giggles and eats her sandwich. She doesn't say much about the subject, sometimes she offers me peaceful advice, and other times she just listens. She always makes me feel better. We sit around and talk, almost forgetting that the Aptitude test was after lunch. Then I hear the bell, which signals that lunch is over. And my heart sinks. Our laughs fade. It's time.