Hey so I'm trying to write again. This story takes place 2 1/2 year after the epilogue in Allegiant. If you haven't finished the series then don't read this because your heart will be shattered.
The story follows Scarlett an OC of mine I hope you like her I sure do. I've been thinking of what I want this story to be for months now so let me know what you think of chapter one in the comments thanks!
Chapter 1
I made it to the gates about an hour ago. They were taller than I expected.
The second I got there I was placed into an isolation room. I'm still there. Its completely empty except for a plastic fold up chair in the middle and a camera hanging in all four corners. I can't help but focus on how much my back is killing me, when a short, thin man with dark skin and well kept hair burst through the door. I assume about an hour has gone buy.
"Sorry for the wait, it's been a busy day with this last three bus coming in consecutively." He has a hoarse voice, probably smoked most of his life.
He motions for me to follow through the door so I nod and stand. I follow the man whose name I have yet to learn down a hallway and into a separate room, this one though is full of medical equipment and it has a small window on the wall farthest from me. I sit on the large chair pressed against that spot. I wait pationtly there staring out the window. I can see the city, I think I'm still in shock from the disbelief that I actually made it.
"My name is Dominic. I'm a genetic aptitude tester and analyser here. I'll be conducting a series of test on you and then I'll send you on your way to another person who helps incomers like you transition into life in Chicago. First things first, I'm gonna draw some blood. You afraid of needles?"
I can't help but let out a little chuckle.
"Okay then." The man, Dominic, says with a hint of a smile. He wipes the inside of my elbow and wraps a band around my bicep. He sticks the needle in filling a small veil with me dark red blood. When he is done he asks me to stand.
"Step on the scale." I do, " 95 pounds. You're really skin and bones. But I guess that's common in the fringe." The way he says fringe comes off as condescending. "Go against the wall. 5 foot 3 inches. Alright you can sit back down. I must start a profile for you in system so whats your name."
I had thought of what my new name was going to be when I was on the bus. "Scarlett"
"Last name."
"People from the fringe don't have last names."
"Well some do."
Like you would know. He does a few more tests and rights down all the information.
"Okay so you pasted all the medical tests. Now I'm going to put you through a simulation."
"What kind of simulation"
"You'll find out," as he says as he hands me a glass of blue liquid and attaches two sensors to my temples. Without much hesitation I drink it. My head starts to spin and my eyelid get heavy. I dart them open and all the sudden the room is empty with the exception of two pillars, one with meat and one with a knife.
Dominic's hoarse voice rings through the air, "Choose."
I grab both.
The pillars disappear and I hear growling behind me. Slowly I turn around and see a gray wolf standing feet in front of me. I crouch down and toss the meat to him and he stops. I smile with relief but he picks his head up again and stares down something behind me. Turning my head I see it's a little girl. The wolf charges forward and I get in his way stabbing the dagger in his side. Suddenly the scenery changes and I'm at a train station. I am able to grab a seat inside but an elderly woman gets on so I give her mine. As the train leaves the station a man comes running up to me.
"Do you know this girl?!" He says screaming in my face, "You could save me! Tell me who she is!"
I have a weird feeling about this girl. She looks strangely familiar but I have no idea who she is or where I could find her so I tell the man that.
Suddenly I shoot forward to sit up straight in the chair back across from Dominic. He gives me a startled look. His lips are parted but no words are coming out.
"What is it?" He starting to worry me.
"Wait right here. Don't move." Dominic gets up and runs out the door and I'm left sitting there dumbfounded. Within a minute Dominic comes bursting through the door with another man that has the same startled expression on his face. He is younger and taller, with pale skin and brown eyes.
"Scarlett I'm Matthew." He says slowly while extending his hand. I shake it. "I'm going to send you through the simulation one more time so I can see this time."
I give him a weird look but comply knowing I don't have any choice in the matter.
Once again I go through the simulation and when I wake Matthew looks like he just saw a ghost.
"Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on." I say with an edge in my voice. "What was the point of that."
"Dominic you can go now." As he gets up to leave, Matthew catches his arm. "I see a bright future for you here, don't go messing that up by telling anyone about what happened here today." It comes off as more of a threat than anything.
When Dominic leaves he begins talking again, "Scarlett what do you know about the way Chicago is set up?"
"Wasn't there a faction system before the war? I think it might have changed but I'm not to sure."
"After the war no one really knew how to handle things so the faction system was completely gotten rid of, but so many people in Chicago relied on it. It was their place in the world, part of their identity so last year we redefined the roles of the faction system. There is no longer a choosing ceremony where you are permanently bound and devoted to one faction but you are instead a resident of the faction. You choose where you lived based on what kind of life you want and that decision can change at anytime. People who live at Dauntless are most often a part of the defence jobs like law enforcement and people who live at Amity most often work the fields. The faction system is a part of an individual's life but no longer defines the person. When an individual decides to leave home for the first time, they receive an aptitude test to help them begin the journey that will become their life. Where you decide to move is not preminite or binding. You can move faction to faction. All the aptitude test is supposed to do is give a person some direction. We gave you the aptitude test just now. Most people get one, maybe two factions, only a few have ever gotten three. No individual has received four. We didn't see how it was possible for a person to get all five but today you proved us wrong."
"I have an aptitude for all five factions?"
"Yes Scarlett, it's fascinating and terrifying." His words after that become blurry. I'm not following what he is say. I try to focus on the pain emanating from my back, "In a perfect world your aptitude wouldn't be a problem but unfortunately that's not the case. There are people in this city that would kill to get their hands on you." I don't think he is exaggerating, "One of my most trusted friends works in helping people from outside the wall transfer into life in Chicago. I'll send you to her and we'll keep this under wraps. But Scarlett, you can't tell anyone about this, absolutely no one can be trusted with this information."
I nod still in shock not knowing what else to do. Matthew stands up and opens the door opposite from the one Dominic left in. It leads to a big loud room filled with cubicles, kids running around, babies screaming, adults arguing, it's quite overwhelming. Matthew leads me to one of the offices at the far end of the room. Sitting inside is a young women with dark brown skin and short cropped hair, dresses in black. She's quite beautiful. She gives Matthew a weird look, "Hey I didn't think I had any incomers today." She questions.
He closes the door to her office, "Christina, this is Scarlett. She needs your help." Matthew proceeds to tell her everything and her expression turns dark just as Matthew's had done.
When he's done talking she nods, "I'll handle it, give me ten minutes."
"Scarlett you wait here I have to go clear Dominic's memory of the day."
My eyes get wide, "You're going to do what?"
He doesn't respond just leaves. I guess I'm not getting any answers on that.
Turning back to Christina I see she is on a call. "I need a big favor and I don't think you're going to like it. I can't tell you why over the phone but I need someone to move in with you." She pauses for the moment, I can hear the person yelling but can't quite make out what they're saying, "I know I'm sorry I wouldn't ask if I had any other option but I don't know what else to do. She won't be safe on her own."
There is a pit in my stomach that has been growing with every word uttered in the last half hour. I try and focus on shaking my knee up and down.
No one's talking to me. This was a mistake. I should never have left. I don't care how bad it was there. It's better than being dead which kinda feels like a strong possibility now. My head is spinning. If I don't get some water I'm going to pass out.
"Scarlett!" Christina yells snapping me back to reality. She probably been yelling my name for a minute, "So I have a friend at Dauntless who you're going to stay with. I wish I could let you choose where you wanted to live but this is better than turning up dead or missing." She smirks like she trying to make light of the situation. Trying to make me feel better. The thing is though that the panic has passed. Christina is probably more panicked than I am. I'm past that. I feel nothing but the pain that's associated with death hanging over my head. "He is leaving work early and coming to pick you up. In the mean time you can wait here with me." I nod a little. She must see the terror in my eyes because she gives me a sympathetic smile. It makes me feel small and weak, "You're going to be fine. We're handling it."
Probably an hour or two goes by. Christina never stops hammering away at her keyboard, my head won't stop spinning. Finally I hear a knock on the door. Christina shoot up out of her chair and runs to open it. A man steps in. He's probably the most handsome man I've ever seen. Dressed in black with a tattoo just barely peeking out of his collar. He's about a foot taller than me with short brown hair chiseled featured and the most mesmerizing dark blue eyes.
"Scarlett this is Tobias, you're going to be staying with him for a while." I don't respond, just keep looking down. I don't want him to see me blush. "Okay well I'll send you on your way so you two can get to know each other. Tobias will show you around Dauntless. You've had a long day so we'll wait for tomorrow to choose a job and begin life in Chicago." She says it with a smiles. I appreciate that she's still trying to keep positive but if I've learned anything today, there's probably a high chance of me being dead by the end of the week.
Tobias turns and leaves the room without a word. I look to Christina for direction and she motions for me to follow. I do and Tobias leads me through hallway after hallway navigating the labyrinth without hesitation. Soon a doorway is in front of us leading outside. When we step out the sun is low in the sky but not setting. There is a little breeze but other than that it's warm. You can tell summer is approaching.
"Have you ever jumped on a train before?" It's the first time he's spoken to me.
"No don't they just stop at the station."
"Trick question, there aren't trains in the fringe, if you were from there you should have just said no. You're gonna have to be more careful if you're going to convince people that were your from."
I stare at him bewildered, "How, wh-, I don't know what your talking about."
"Don't worry your secret's safe with me."
The pit in my stomach has grown three fold. I have a lot of secrets, he knows I'm not really from the fringe but from that comment I feel like he knows more. But how? This makes no sense. No one can know where I'm from . How did he find out? How could he have? I've been with him every second since he's seen me. What the hell is going on.