CHAPTER 1

"Caleb Prior," says Marcus.

Caleb squeezes my hand one last time, and, as he walks away, casts a long look at me over his shoulder. I watch his feet move to the center of the room, and his hands, steady as they accept the knife from Marcus, are deft as one presses the knife into the other. Then he stands with blood pooling on his palm, and his lip snags on his teeth.

He breathes out. And then in. And then he holds his hand over the Erudite bowl, and his blood drips into the water, turning it a deeper shade of red.

I hear mutters that lift into outraged cries. I can barely think straight. My brother, my selfless brother, a faction transfer? My brother, born for Abnegation, Erudite?

When I close my eyes, I see the stack of books on Caleb's desk, and his shaking hands sliding along his legs after the aptitude test. Why didn't I realize that when he told me to think of myself yesterday, he was also giving that advice to himself.

I scan the crowd of the Erudite—they wear smug smiles and nudge each other. The Abnegation, normally so placid, speak to one another in tense whispers and glare across the room at the faction that has become our enemy.

"Excuse me," says Marcus, but the crowd doesn't hear him. He shouts, "Quiet, please!"

The room goes silent. Except for a ringing sound.

I hear my name and a shudder propels me forward. Halfway to the bowls, I am sure that I will choose Abnegation. I can see it now. I watch myself grow into a woman in Abnegation robes, marrying Susan's brother, Robert, volunteering on the weekends, the peace of routine, the quiet nights spent in front of the fireplace, the certainty that I will be safe, and if not good enough, better than I am now.

The ringing, I realize, is in my ears.

I look at Caleb, who now stands behind the Erudite. He stares back at me and nods a little, like he knows what I'm thinking, and agrees. My footsteps falter. If Caleb wasn't fit for Abnegation, how can I be? But what choice do I have, now that he left us and I'm the only one who remains? He left me no other option.

I set my jaw. I will be the child that stays; I have to do this for my parents. I have to.

Marcus offers me my knife. I look into his eyes—they are dark blue, a strange color—and take it. He nods, and I turn to the bowls. Dauntless fire and Abnegation stones are both on my left, one in front of my shoulder and one behind. I hold the knife in my right hand and touch the blade to my palm. Gritting my teeth, I drag the blade down. It stings, but I barely notice. I hold both hands to my chest, and my next breath shudders on the way out.

I open my eyes and thrust my arm out. I gasp as the blood falls to the carpet between the Erudite and Abnegation bowls. Jerking my arm to the side in a haste attempt at spilling the blood anywhere, my hand hangs over the Erudite bowl, dyeing the water a deeper maroon.

I am selfish. I am intelligent. I am Erudite.

CHAPTER 2

What have I done? That's the first thing that comes to my mind. And then I'm looking, transfixed, as my scarlet blood swirls into the already deep pink water. I've joined the enemy. This has not happened. No. I'll wake up any minute now, and my mother will be downstairs, brewing a pot of coffee, and my father will be reading the newspaper, and Caleb will be sitting at the table, smiling as he scoops cereal into his mouth. Or maybe I fainted during the Choosing Ceremony, and now—

"Beatrice, you may go to your seat now." Marcus's voice stirs me from my thoughts. I stumble to the Erudite, ignoring the shouts from the Abnegation. I stand, shaking, next to Caleb, numb as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. He gives me a reassuring squeeze

Juliette Klee Nee Kee Dee Juliet