James Tucker's mind races as the other sixteen-year-olds make their choices. His comes closer and closer. He still hasn't really decided. His family—mom, dad, Kara, even little Riley—are all Dauntless and will be for life. But he's never really fit there. He isn't strong, or brave. When his test results had come out Candor, he hadn't really been surprised.
"James Tucker," calls the Abnegation leader.
James starts forward.
Dauntless is strong and free, like a lion, powerful legs prepared to pounce on its prey as it runs full out, completely reckless and without inhibition. But it's also regimented. There's a pride. There's an alpha. James is not able to speak freely.
And, really, that's all he ever wants.
He stumbles, catches himself, and colors.
All the jumping off buildings and doing stunts and facing fears never make him feel free like he does when he speaks the truth, even when no one else is strong enough to admit it.
So maybe Candor's strong, too. They don't run away from the truth or hide behind regiment and rank. They say what they know is true because that's what frees them.
James has always been Candor. That's where he belongs, where he should go. Faction before blood.
The Abnegation man hands him the knife.
But his family is where his heart is. He loves them. Memories of his childhood flash through his head. Mom teaching him an uppercut, never even considering that he might leave. Dad telling a story of his triumph over some fear or other. Kara triumphantly coming in third in her initiation, earning her way into the Dauntless ranks. Riley laughing with him until they forgot what it was that had gotten them going in the first place. All of them, smiling at him.
He drives the knife into his palm, drawing blood.
But James isn't Dauntless at heart. He is Candor. So he can't force himself to live a lie for the rest of his life. It would go against every fiber of his being.
Trembling, he raises his hand. The blood drips onto the glass of Candor.
He hears a cry of outrage from the Dauntless section but can't bring himself to look. He's never been brave.
Faction before blood.
He never sees his family again.