Chapter One; Burned Blood
Bubbles P.O.V.
Five bowls. Five bowls were in front of me.
One filled with a tainted, bloody water, one with razor sharp shards of glass jutting out unevenly, and one with dull grey stones that seemed awfully boring compared to the before mentioned two.
So... now I had what two options I'd been juggling for weeks.
I looked back at my family. John and Katherine Utonium in yellow and orange flowy clothing, mom holding my new baby brother in her arms.
They were the faces that came to mind when I thought of home, safety, and flat out warmth. And for a single moment, I was appalled with myself for even thinking about leaving.
So, like the coward I was, I grabbed the knife and sliced it across my thumb, tears stinging my eyes due to the pain, and hung my injured hand over the bowl with damp earth filling it.
As I saw a single scarlet droplet start to dangle, I remembered what- or who- had made me want to leave in the first place. The smug jerk sitting among the new Amity's at this very moment.
I caught the blood before it fell and hastily positioned my cut above the heated stones that looked scarier than any bloody water or pointy solid.
The sounds of gasps of disbelief and the cry of a baby that I knew to be my brother, faded to the back of my head as the sound of my blood burning, and sizzling on the lit coals sounded.
Dauntless. I had chosen Dauntless.
Oh goodness! Why did I do that? Could I take it back? Was that an option? I don't think anyone had ever asked!
Just as I opened my mouth to start pleading with the announcer, a roar of excitement and a bit of astonishment drowned me out.
"Bubbles!" I heard my mother's sob over the celebratory shouts.
I met her gaze by sheer reflex at the sound of my name and sincerely wished that I hadn't.
Tears, hurt, anger, a deep betrayal and almost depression.
'I'm sorry' I mouthed, my own eyes filling with moisture again.
She shook her head and looked away.
My breath caught and I took careful steps towards my new faction.
I will not cry. I will not cry.
I kept up a steady mantra of those seemingly untruthful words, and, surprisingly enough, it worked.
I tilted my chin up to look at the still cheering Dauntless members and initiates. They seemed otherworldly.
Loud, dangerous, reckless, possibly insane... and here I was. Standing among them as if I belonged.
As if my weakhearted, timid self could be as brave and confident as these... amazing people.
Rather than the smile I had been planning to flash them all, I looked at my feet and sat down, my stomach starting to hurt.
My test had said Amity. And Amity I was. Amity was what I should of chosen.
Rather it was with regret or fear- perhaps a mixture of both- my heart started pounding along with my head.
Mistake. I had made a grave mistake.
"Psst!" I heard once the cheers had died down and the next person- A boy, Candor raised- walked up to the bowls of fate.
I looked around and came into contact with quite a few staring eyes, so it was nearly impossible for me to tell who had tried to grab my attention.
I felt two light taps on either of my shoulders and jumped about a thousand feet in the air.
I whirled to see to nearly identical people with black hair and glowing green eyes.
"We'll eat you alive, flower girl!" They snickered in unison, baring they're teeth menacingly.
I looked away, feeling faint. Oh joy, they're were cannibals here too.