Disclaimer: I do not own the Divergent Trilogy in any way. They are property of Veronica Roth
It has been two weeks since we started initiation here at Dauntless. I have become rather good during stage two. I now have hope that I will get into Dauntless with no problems. This morning when we walked into the training room I knew something was going on. That's when Eric started speaking, "Today, something has changed in the initiation process."
I stopped laughing at Christina and Will's antics and stared at him. For being a Leader he has a ruthless attitude about him, though when I look into his silver grey eyes they tell me otherwise. It fascinates me when he can go from intimidating instructor one minute to a gentle soul to me in private. It is when Eric starts talking again that I'm pulled back to reality.
"One of you lovely, lucky ladies," he drawls, his lips turning up in a smirk while glancing at me, "will be able to bypass the rest of the initiation process and become Dauntless two weeks earlier than planned. You will never have to worry about being cold and hungry. You'll never be factionless."
I flinch at the last word: to be factionless means always being hungry, cold, and homeless. I will not become factionless. Having the security of a faction is what every person wants, but why do only the women get this option? Peter vocalized this same question.
"Because, you stupid Candor, men do not have the ability to bear children." He said. He is eyeing all of the women in the room, from the beautiful Christina, to the broad Molly. When his eyes fell on me, a slight shiver went up my spine. As if I already will know the outcome of this experiment before he even finishes his speech. "To help explain the process that we are going to be experimenting with, I would like to introduce Ms. Jeanine Matthews of Erudite and her assistant Caleb Prior.
I froze when I heard my brother's name. He looked exactly the same to me. His warm brown eyes found mine for a moment, and widened in shock. I realized he'd never seen me in anything so revealing; a tight black v neck top exposing the tattoo on my collarbone, tight skinny jeans, and my eyes were lined with charcoal colored pencil and mascera. The only thing that looked remotely the same was my blone hair tied into a braid. I saw something that looked like disappointment flash in his eyes before he turned his attention to Jeanine and Eric. This started to get my blood boiling, I chose Dauntless this is who I am now.
Jeanine had not changed at all since I had last seen her at the choosing ceremony. Same slender figure, same blonde bob, and same monotone expression. She looked satisfyed standing beside my brother.
"Ladies, the process that we will be initiating today is going to be somewhat… revolutionary," said Jeanine, her blue eyes lighting up as she scanned us. We were her raw material for her next experiment. "We have decided that to try to stop the mass amount of transfers from one faction to another, we would try a process known as gene-perfecting."
Jeanine paused a moment scanning our faces before she continued.
"The process that we have decided to initiate here is one of scientific importance."
My stomach dropped as I realized that this was not an optional experiment. My eyes flashed to Eric and his passive face as though he had been born Dauntless and not Erudite. His eyes locked with mine and he gave me a small wink that only I noticed. The hairs on the back of my neck started to raise.
"Then why even include transfers in this process?" I asked haughtily "We weren't born here. We would taint the results." Jeanine smiled again but this one had more humor to it, as though she was explaining something to an impatient child.
"My dear Beatrice, we are not saying that all Dauntless-born have the perfect genetic structure for the faction," she said. "After all, the Dauntless have transfers as well. We will be taking your test results, combining them with the qualities that are prized in the Dauntless manifesto, and comparing your genetic structures with those of other Dauntless members who share the same qualities and combining the genes to create what should be the perfect Dauntless soldier."
"And how do we get this perfect Dauntless soldier into the world?" I ventured daringly. "With an artificial womb of some sort?"
"Oh no, dear, that is why the female whose genes are selected will automatically become part of the faction." She said sweetly, "You see, once the gene-perfected embryo is created, it will be reintroduced to the biological mother's uterus to be carried to term and birthed. During this time, the biological mother and father will cohabitate into the same environment, and raise the child together; this way both nature and nurture are introduced to the experiment and have the best chance at success."
"So we are going to be forced to become pregnant by someone we don't know and forced to live with them and raise a child together even if we don't like them?" I clarified. For once, Jeanine did not reply. She just looked to Eric then he finally spoke.
"Yes, Tris, that's the general idea of it. However," he said "Jeanine has made it very clear, that we are to inform you ladies are to make this choice without any sort of retaliation if you refuse. If you choose not to participate in this experiment, you will continue with the initiation process as planned with no repercussions for your refusal."
The glint in his eyes told another story. I knew then, if any of us refused, we would be factionless for sure. I for one will not allow that be an option.
"Now ladies, who of you would like to get started?" asked Jeanine, motioning to the lab table that had been set up while their presentation had been going on. Two Erudites in white lab coats stood silently beside it.
Molly lunged for the table first and most of the rest of the girls followed suit. Christina looked over to me with her eyes almost popping out of her head as she finally was comprehending what was happening.
"Tris?" she asked "Are you sure we can do this?"
"No." I said shortly, "but I don't think we have much of a choice."
"I don't think we do either."
With that being said we both walked over to the forming line to wait for our examinations to start. After some time waiting in line I finally approached Jeannine.
"Hello again, Beatrice." She said, as she looked at her clipboard "Just a few basic questions before we begin. What is your full name?"
"Beatrice Grace Prior"
"Blood type?"
"A positive"
"Birth Faction?"
"Abnegation"
"Parents names?"
"Andrew and Natalie Prior"
"Parents occupations?"
"Councilman and Volunteer coordinator"
"Siblings full names?"
"Caleb Andrew Prior"
"Faction?"
"Erudite"
"Date of last menstrual cycle?"
"June 3rd"
"Alright then, Beatrice, next I'm going to take a sample of your blood and take a quick cheek swab and you'll be done." She smiled as the needle went into my arm and blood began flowing into her tubes marked 'Prior, B.' in neat handwriting and I opened my mouth to allow her to stick a cotton swab against my cheek and gently scrape. She then placed a sterile white gauze pad against the needle in my arm and pulled it out while keeping pressure on the wound and wrapping it in white medical tape. "Now, Beatrice, if you'll please go see Caleb Prior for your release papers to prove your consent."
I felt as though there were lead in my veins as I walked toward my brother. He pointedly refused to look at me until I was right in front of him.
"Hello, Beatrice," he said trying not to make eye contact.
"Hi Caleb," I said trying to get far away from this as possible.
"If you will please sign this form, Beatrice," he said. I quickly signed the piece of paper without even reading it and hurried out of line, only for a strong arm to grip my arm so tightly that it hurt. I spun around, fully expecting my glare to pin either Eric.
As I met his eyes that held my arm I was correct it was Eric. He said, "all initiates have the rest of the day off, but you are to report to your dormitory until test results are to be released." I could tell he didn't mean to catch me off guard by the tone of his voice. I looked up to him and nodded, then left with Christina.
About two hours later after all the females were done being analyzed. We heard the loud swing of the door being opened and all turned our heads to see who it is. Eric came in only a few steps and spoke, "Erudite has the test results of the candidates who were a match. Meet in the pit in five minutes."
With that being said I walked out with everyone. Waiting to see whose life will be changing forever against their will. As we gather in the Pit, I could tell almost all of Dauntless is here.
Max stepped up on the platform and started in on his speech. "As you all know by now we are selecting two candidates for Erudite's experiment. The results are being shown behind me, NOW."
As the screen lit up, murmurs of hushed conversations started happening almost instantly. I don't have to look up at the screen to know they are talking about me. The only other information that I don't know is who I will be paired up with for the rest of my life. I finally bring myself to look up and it doesn't come as a shock to me when I see Eric Matheson next to my name. I get the feeling that this might somehow be planned.
Within seconds I am approached by Max and Eric. Max turns to me and says "Are you ready Tris?" All I can seem to do is nod as we walk towards the infirmary. Eric keeps giving me glances and his facial features shows accomplishment, like he is somehow involved with the results.
All I keep thinking is at least he is being pleasant with me, things could have been worse. I don't even want to possibly think of what horrors one could be paired with. Once we reach the nurses station, Max tells the nurse why we are here and they escorted me to a private room. A nurse named Isabella gives me a paper gown to wear and a pair of fuzzy socks. Once I get up on the table I put me feet in the stirrups and cover myself with their makeshift blanket.
Eric comes in and walks over to my side while he holds my hand. One could not read what is currently being told by his grey eyes, he's putting on his mask.
"Are you ready, dear?" she asked me. I nodded and she then turns to speak to Eric.
"She's going to go under in a few minutes. This procedure is something new and frightening for her. Give her some comfort. She is, after all, going through the procedure to give you a child." Her cheerful voice had the slightest bit of condemnation. Eric gripped my hand more firmly and I clung to it.
"Shh," he whispered into my ear, "I will always be here by your side." He gazes at me trying to interpret what my thoughts are.
They started bringing out the medical instruments and began to put needles into my body and inject me with certain anesthetics to make my vision blurry at the edges. I felt my grip on Eric tighten and the heart monitor they hooked me up to showed the spike in my pulse.
"Tell me what you want to hear," whispered Eric. I ignored the monotone in his voice, almost certain that someone was giving him the words to say to calm me.
"Tell me you love me," I whimpered. I know he doesn't love me. This is all for the experiment but I need reassurance that he would stick this through with me. It's rather selfish on my part.
He looked deep into my eyes as if he was talking to my soul and said, "Tris, I love you." He said this as if he actually does love me. I wasn't prepared for how much emotion was in his voice. I can honestly say I don't recognize this man by my side.
Than Isabella placed a breathing mask over my face and said:
"I want you to count backwards with me from ten. 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…" as my vision started to go blurry, Eric's hand held tight as he gave me a kiss on my forehead. That kiss gave me strength. Then everything started to go black.
I awoke with a groggy feeling in my head. I am in a hospital bed with an IV still in me. I looked around and see Eric sitting in a chair by my bed seemingly asleep. It amazed me that he looked like a boy his age, rather then the ruthless leader.
I started rubbing small circles on the back of his hand, thinking this was the best way to wake him. His eyes fluttered open and meet my eyes.
I was at a loss for words on how to form my next question for him. "Is... It over? Did it work?" I asked sheepishly. Eric's eyes cooled significantly, as he chuckled and patted me on the head.
"Do you mean, 'are I pregnant?'?" He asked as he stroked my face. "No, Tris, you're not pregnant, yet."
"What?" I yelled disbelieving. I felt all the blood seep out of my face and my hands were shaking. "Then what was the point of what I just went through?"
Eric's laugh rumbled deep in his chest. Then he leaned over and quickly kissed me, causing me to look dumbfounded. You could hear the heart rate monitor start to increase in beeps.
"Calm down," he said still chuckling. "The procedure was just to give you a physical, take some blood and genetic samples. I had to give mine too, but mine was much less formal. You're going to get pregnant by what they call in-vitro fertilization, Tris, so they can control the genes that our child gets."
Our child. The words hit me like a ton of bricks. We are doing this for a purpose to satisfy the Erudite's thirst for knowledge. By which it also happens to turn my world upside down from how I was going to start my life in my new faction.
Eric starts speaking again,"They injected you with a high dosage round of hormones to prep your eggs for harvesting," he said. "You've got about eight more weeks before they'll inseminate your eggs to try to get you pregnant."
I look into his grey eyes, I knew he was telling the truth. He wasn't giving me heartless answers either. However, deep down inside myself something was telling me that this was planned.
I have calm down before I start hyperventilating. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. What I did next shocked Eric as I embraced him in a hug. He chuckled lightly and instantly wrapped his arms around me, no thinking involved. We stayed that way until he lifted my chin up so I could make eye contact with him. A slight shiver went down my spine again unsure of what he will say.
"Tris," he pauses and actually looking lost of what to say "I promise that I will always support you, not just because we are going to have a child soon but because I want to."
I appreciate what he is telling me, however it still doesn't explain why I am suspicious of him. Hell, who in their right might wants to be pregnant at sixteen before they even have sex? I hate feeling insecure.
Just as I was about to ask him a question, Dr. Stella Pedrad comes in smiling at us both. I could tell by her olive skin color and her brown eyes that I knew her. Not her personally but I knew someone with her same features. She had the same facial shape as Uriah. Then I knew instantly who she was, Zeke and Uriah's mom. They have always made me feel like I was their honorary sister, at least with their mom as my doctor brought me some comfort.
Then she spoke, "Well Tris, I am glad to see you're finally awake. The procedure went well and we are running your tests now. We are going to be discharging you soon but you will have some restrictions on your daily activity."
When the last sentenced finally sank in, I froze. I am not one to be 'lazy' by any means. Once I jumped on that train I knew what freedom felt like. This was starting to make me feel like I will be in solitary confinement.
Dr. Pedrad continued on, "You will be placed on bed rest for about eight weeks so we can prepare your body. You will be experiencing changes in your mood, this is a common side effect from the hormones." She could tell by looking at me that I needed to hear something comforting rather than the soon to be pregnancy. With he warm tone in her voice, She looked at me directly. "Tris, I will be giving you a day nurse to help you, keep you company so you won't be alone. Don't be scared. Would you like the option of choosing your nurse?"
I knew instantly who I wanted. "Can I have Isabella?"
"Of course you can my dear, now I am giving Eric all the paperwork and medicine that you will need till your next appointment. Don't be afraid to contact me if you have any questions. You are free to go home once you both sign the release papers. Oh and congratulations Mr. And Mrs. Matheson." Dr. Pedrad was quick to exit the room before I was able to speak.
"Eric, what did she mean?" Innocent question as it was I just needed answers of why she called us Mr. and Mrs.
"Tris, let me get you home, then we can talk more." Once he said that it I had a feeling he wasn't really wanting to tell me. I'm not sure if I should give him the benefit of the doubt, or not.
We both signed the release paperwork. I went into the bathroom to change back into my clothes. As soon as I come out Eric picks me up bridal style and starts to carry me out of the infirmary. I was quite shaken up by this not knowing what was going through his head.
"Eric, what are you doing?! I am quite able to walk on my own if you haven't forgotten!"
"Oh calm down fireball, I figured you wouldn't want to be seen sitting in a wheelchair while we make our way back to the apartment. This was the next best option."
Realization struck me in the face as he said those last words. He is doing this for me, out of respect. He is completely right I wouldn't want to be sitting in a chair looking like a lost puppy. I will not appear weak in front of others, I am brave. I am Dauntless!
