Chapter 1
Erika glances carefully at her reflection in the mirror. Since she's been raised in Abnegation, she's only permitted to look in the mirror once every three months, since it's considered self-indulgence. She does it tenderly; a lot can change in three months.
She's tall, but she knew that already. A bit pale, but that's nothing new. Erika thinks she's quite pretty, but quickly rids the selfish thought from her mind. She flicks her straight brown hair back over her shoulder in one quick movement and then notices how her eye and hair colour match almost perfectly. Huh.
Today is the day of the Choosing Ceremony. This is an important day. It's an important day for everyone, but she can't help but feel that it's especially important for her, because today is the day when she can finally leave her horrible father; the day when she will join her brother in Dauntless like he told her to three years ago.
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Aisling is worried. Today is the day of the Choosing ceremony and she has absolutely no idea what faction she will choose, only that she needs to get out of Erudite. She is Divergent, meaning she fits into more than one category of personality types.
She has two brothers, neither of whom she really finds wonderful role models, so unlike some people; she won't just follow in their footsteps. One of her brothers decided to stay in Erudite, and the other went to Dauntless, but never made it past initiation.
She sits in her room and stares at herself in the mirror and wonders how her new faction might change her. She's happy with herself; her bright blue eyes with long dark lashes and long straight brown hair to her waist. She snorts out loud with laughter as she imagines herself wearing the typical yellow clothes from Amity, or the awful grey outfits from Abnegation. Then she sighs and stands. "I'm ready." She calls out to her family. But she's not, not really.
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Maria is nervous. She has been raised in Candor after her parents adopted her from another unkown faction. She was told that she could find out if she wanted, but she didn't want to know the truth, which is odd, since she's from Candor. But it's not that odd because Maria has always known what faction she would choose; Dauntless. It seemed to be the only one that fit her, so her results for the Choosing Ceremony didn't really come as a surprise.
On her way out the front door, as she tries not to think about how this would be her last time to walk there, she takes one last look at herself in the mirror. Her tanned skin is dark in the morning light and her long curved hair flows gently down her back. She smiles at her reflection in excitement and gets a pleasant surprise by how pretty she suddenly looks. I should smile more often, she thinks to herself, as she shuts the door, leaving her old life behind her.
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Erika starts to climb the twenty flights of stairs to reach the Choosing ceremony, following the other Abnegations. She looks below to see some Erudite following them and some Candor too. She wonders how many of them already know what they'll choose.
Aisling exits the elevator and watches the Abnegation climb the stair with pity. At least she knows she could never be Abnegation. She pushes with the crowd, into the room where the Ceremony will be held.
Maria enters the room carefully, a little unsure of herself, but once she sees the familiar room she relaxes. She knows what to do.
The room is arranged in concentric circles. On the edges stand the sixteen year olds from every faction. They arrange themselves in alphabetical order of the last names they may leave behind today. Maria goes to stand beside a boy from Abnegation.
Aisling watches the other circle out of the corner of her eye, where rows of chairs for the families are located. There are five sections according to the different factions.
The responsibility to conduct the ceremony rotates each year and this year it's Amity. They don't have a leader, but a representative instead, Johanna Reyes.
Erika glares at the last circle containing the five metal bowls that each contain a substance to represent each faction, grey stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, earth for Amity, lit coals for Dauntless and glass for Candor.
Maria jumps as she feels a hand on her shoulder and she turns to see her mother.
"I love you," her mother whispers and Maria smiles in return. They both know where Maria will end up, it's no big secret.
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"Aisling," a voice whispers harshly and she whips around to see her grinning older brother who reaches out a hand towards her. She stretches out and takes it, giving it a quick squeeze. "It'll be okay." He whispers and she smiles. "Sure." She replies.
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Erika watches her father out of the corner of her eye. They said their goodbyes, of course they did, although she can't say she will miss him, and she doubts he'll miss her much either.
Welcome," says a voice, "Welcome to the Choosing Ceremony." It's Johanna.
"Welcome to the day where our dependents who are now sixteen, will decide what kind of people they will be."
Aisling sighs a little, still unsure of what she might choose.
Erika starts to smile, totally ready.
Maria tenses up, waiting.
"Decades ago our ancestors realized that the fault of human nature was to blame for a warring world. So they divided into factions. Those who blamed aggression formed Amity."
Aisling smiles, nope, not for her.
Erika raises an eyebrow at the happily smiling people from Amity and waits patiently.
Maria glances at them warily. Their permanent kindness scares her, it's unnatural.
"Those who blamed ignorance became the Erudite."
This makes Aisling frown, she has been in Erudite for sixteen years, and she's quite smart, she knows that.
Erika puffs out a breath as she imagines herself in Erudite; being sensible- please.
Maria snorts under her breath, knowing she could never have pulled off being in Erudite, she's far too intellectually lazy.
"Those who blamed duplicity created Candor."
Aisling is irritated now. She could probably make it in Candor too. Ugh.
Erika shrugs, she could get away with being in Candor but she knows she won't go there.
Maria waits. She waits for is to come. She was brought up in Candor, but she knows where she belongs.
"Those who blamed selfishness made the Abnegation."
Aisling stands a little straighter, confident because she knows she would never go there.
Erika smiles; happy to be finally leaving it behind.
Maria grins openly, knowing what's coming next.
"And those who blamed cowardice were the Dauntless."
Suddenly Aisling just knows, this is what she will choose.
Erika feels her eyes widen with the excitement of seeing her brother again.
Maria nods to herself. This is where she's meant to be.
"In our factions we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life. Apart from them we would not survive."
There is a harsh silence where the thought of impending doom fills the minds of every single person present, except maybe the people from Amity.
Johanna reads the first name. A boy stands from Amity and not surprisingly, cuts his palm and holds it over the bowl of earth.
The next name called is Aisling's. She finds that she is shaking, but as soon as she notices, she puts her nerves aside.
She takes the knife and cuts her palm carefully. Then she walks over to the Dauntless bowl and watches her blood sizzle on the coals. Then she makes her way over to the Dauntless section.
Erika jumps when she hears her name.
She stumbles up to Johanna and takes the knife, hastily cutting her palm and throws it over the Dauntless bowl, glad that it's finally been done.
Maria hears her name and walks confidently up and takes the knife, wincing as she cuts her palm. She puts her hand over the coals and feels a huge weight lift off her shoulders.
They have made their choice at last.