Chapter 1
Waking to a dull light shining through my window, I sighed. This is the day I, well all the sixteen year olds, do their aptitude test to see what faction they will be sorted into. Also, on a lighter note, it's the day I get my hair cut into its usual abnegation cut. Yes, my name is Beatrice and I am abnegation. Not the best one either as I might add, you see we are supposed to be selfless, to put every other person before you. It doesn't help that your family is very selfless and is basically born that way, but I have to work at it. A lot. It's not all bad though, only partially.
After my mother has finished cutting my hair It is time for my brother, Caleb, and I to head to the Hub. The hub was once called the sears towers, having towered over all the other buildings. This is where our classes are held, but today we only have half classes, due to the aptitude tests. Am I worried? Absolutely. What can I do though, not do the aptitude test, not choose a faction to belong to. And live factionless on the streets, apart from society, No. I will not, I refuse to, but saying that does not help with the fear. The fear that is spreading like cancer in my stomach, slowly etching into my throat, making it hard for me to breath. Heading out the door Caleb and I walk in silence, thinking of what might happen today. What will my results show? Abnegation,the selfless. Amity, the peaceful. Candor, the honest. Edruite, the intelligent. Or dauntless, the brave? We are not allowed to ask others what the test might bring, nor aree we allowed to ask each other what our results said. The scarriest part, for me, is not being able to prepare for the test. I cannot let myself get worked up, so I zone out. Thinking of what clesses I have today, and What we will be studying.
As we arrive to the bus that we take, my selfless brother gives his seat without even thinking, to a Candor man. I, not being selfless like him wouldn't have even thought to do that. That just proves that I believe that I do not belong in abnegation, but what am I to do?
"Beatrice?" Caleb asks,
I wake from my thought "What is it?"
"Were here," He takes a deep breath and looks like he has something else to say.
"Hey, are you nervous?" He looks as though the question applies to what he is feeling, but I was never good at reading people.
I ponder the question for a moment, wanting to tell him that I am scared, but also wanting to reassure him. That is what abnegation does.
"A little, why? Are you?" I say, trying to direct the question on him instead of me.
"Oh, well you don't have to be worried Beatrice, you'll do fine. I'll see you at lunch in the caf." Then he walks away, and I realise that he never did answer my question.
"Bye," I whisper under my breath. "And good luck".
Just then I hear a train horn "Is it that time already?" I ask myself. I walk over towards the window where every morning the dauntless born decide to jump off a moving train. Is it for proving their bravery?, or just their brawn? Who knows?
He bell sound, telling us that we have 10 minutes to get to class. I walk the other direction that Caleb walked, heading toward History. Fun, I think. As I drag my feet towards the class door I'm counting the minuets that then at lunch I will have to face the mystery that is the Aptutude test. Right now I am at 120 minutes to go. As I let myself slip into thought of the Aptitude test the the cancer returns, turning my insides to a churning and twisting labyrinth.