Serendipity
Chapter 1
The Silence in the erudite compound was overwhelming. A few hushed whispers were exchanged between the navy clad faction members as they all openly observed the women at the front of the room. The taller blonde woman was their leader, Jeanine Matthews, a lady always dressed to impress, even by erudite standards. Jeanine's dull blue eyes bore into the cat like emerald green orbs of the shorter girl before her. She quickly assessed the auburn haired beauty, quietly making judgments on the initiate's appearance.
"Is there a reason as to why you're singling me out, Ms. Matthews?" The girl's voice broke through the silence, her eyes revealing the vast curiosity that the Erudite tend to exude.
Jeanine smiled coyly and motioned to the tall man text to her. "Mordekai, Go ahead." Jeanine ordered. He looked startled at first, but quickly composed himself.
He scratched at his beard and sighed as he walked forward, taking his place between the two females. "Scarlett Wysor," he started carefully, "You are called here to be congratulated on your outstanding performance on your initiation test taken earlier this week. Not only have you scored first in your class, but you were also ranked highly in this faction. You scored only second to Jeanine Matthews."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow delicately as she took in the man's words. "So what does this mean for me?" Scarlett looked expectantly at Mordekai, he sighed again and ran a hand threw his tussled brown locks. His icy eyes overlooked the smaller girl in disdain, not enjoying what he was about to say.
"Because of this, you will be given an internship under Jeanine. Not only will you be learning from the best, but you will also get many more opportunities in the future." He finished, not believing this child was anything special.
The other faction members hasped and whispered about this new information almost immediately. Scarlett's face was full of pride as she shot a smug look at Mordekai, who scowled in return.
"Now if you would excuse me, I have some business to take care of." Jeanine's calculated gaze landed on Mordekai "Will you please escort Scarlett to my room, Mr. Goode? I will meet you both there shortly." Mordekai nodded and motioned for Scarlett to follow him to the elevators. Scarlett noted the generic music taking over the small space was calming though extremely dull. As they came to their stop, Scarlett let out a yawn and looked over at her companion. Her face fell into a frown when she saw his scowl directed at her. "So you're Jeanine's secretary?" She asked the toned man.
He heard the insult in her words and looked at her with an incredulous expression. "You're a transfer correct?" Mordekai asked narrowly. Scarlett was taken aback by his question, she was expecting an insult really. "Wait don't answer that, I already know. By your distasteful behavior I can tell. You were a Dauntless, weren't you?" He smiled at her, mirroring her previous smug look. Scarlett's smile fell immediately, and she decided to ignore him. He looked her over unhappily, she was smaller than most women, but not to the point of looking like a child. She looked to be a regular Erudite girl, well, aside from her prettiness (he would never tell her that) that seemed almost other worldly. Her upturned nose suggested she was stuck up, and he couldn't agree more. This girl was not someone he enjoyed. He spotted the dirty golden chain around her neck. A dauntless keepsake. The pendant had their symbol engraved in it, he snickered to himself.
"What?" Scarlett snapped as they arrived at Jeanine's office. Her eyes narrowed at him.
"Well, you seem to not want to give up your savage heritage so easily, young one." He smirked as he motioned to her necklace.
She shrugged as she quickly tucked it into her dress. "It's none of your concern. Now if that is all, I would like to wait for Jeanine myself. Go be a useful Secretary and get me a bottled water, hmm?" Her smiled was feral. Mordekai was about to when Jeanine entered the room swiftly followed by two other obviously not from their faction.
"Scarlett, Mordekai. I would like to introduce you both to Annabel Martin." She motioned to the golden skinned beauty beside her. The woman looked to be a bit older than Scarlett, but not by much. Her long brown hair cascaded to her mid-back. Her brown eyes were friendly and inviting as she shook both Mordekai and Scarlett's hands. A smile adorned her face.
"Nice to meet you both." She smiled politely. Scarlett watched in interest as Mordekai blushed and slightly stuttered his greeting. He was obviously infatuated with this other woman. Scarlett scowled when she noticed Annabel's chest. This woman had curves in the right places. She sighed unhappily as she looked down at her much smaller chest.
"Ms. Martin is here on peace keeping business. She's going to tell us why spreading propaganda about the Abnegation faction is depraved." Jeanine sighed as she sauntered around her desk to take a seat in her rolling chair. "The other tall, dark, and gruesome looking gentleman beside her was one of our own. Eric. Now a Dauntless leader, I'm certain you can deduce."
Mordekai raised his eyebrows. "Oh, really? How scintillating. Please, do let the persuasive speech begin." He said, his eyes intently resting on Annabel's pleasant face, not giving Eric even a glance.
"First off, it is not a persuasive speech. I'm here to tell you- the Erudite of all factions- that you cannot create a news article with little evidence to support its claim. Simply because one transfer from Abnegation was abused, does not necessarily mean that the latest transfers from Abnegation were as well. Besides, a majority of Abnegation would be too considerate of their children to abuse them. THAT is fact, and that is what you should print as a follow up to the line of propaganda you've been printing lately. The system we have now is working. Let's not disrupt a fully functional arrangement simply because we're jealous of power."
Jeanine raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well, I am afraid you are the one who is terribly mistaken about us, Annabel. Where is your evidence to support your claim? We are not power thirsty. You'll come to see that as we visit the dauntless compound."
"Come with us? So our assignment has to do with the Dauntless?" Mordekai cut in, hiding the fact that he was pleased with Annabel accompanying them.
Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously, Mordekai. I mean what other reason would there be for us to be...graced by the dauntless leader's presence." She crossed her arms and glanced expectantly at Jeanine who smirked fondly in return.
"That is correct, Ms. Wysor. Eric here is to escort you all to the dauntless headquarters. He is to get you three safely there, so you may study the Dauntless initiation, and watch the dynamics of another faction. Young Annabel is accompanying you so that she may witness what we're trying to accomplish and hopefully stop looking down on our faction's methods, as well as to possibly bring that Intel to her Amity superiors."
"You mean Slander." Annabel sighed, her face held stress.
"That's quite an extensive vocabulary for an Amity," Scarlett narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Perhaps you should have joined Erudite instead, we could have used your intellect. Pity really."
Annabel blushed in retaliation, quickly casting her gaze downward. "Now, now, girls. You need to play nice. Though I do appreciate your attitude." Eric smirked, his menacing eyes landed on Scarlett's small form as if he were sizing her up. She glared back at him tauntingly.
"Well if that's all, I do believe we should leave immediately, well before it gets too late to get anything done." Mordekai broke the silence, Eager to learn more about the curious Amity girl beside him.
"Yes, of course. Mordekai, please do keep an eye on Scarlett for me. I wouldn't want my protégé to be put in danger. This is merely a studying experience for her." Jeanine addressed Mordekai with a particular honey tone to her voice. Mordekai nodded.
"Right. Follow me." Eric said as he strode out of the office.
"Don't forget to give them the research folder!" Jeanine addressed Eric, her face turning serious. Eric shot her a knowing look.
"Okay, okay whatever." Eric lamented as he headed out the door, eager to continue back to his faction.
It took several minutes for the group to meet the train tracks. "Now you're going to have to get a running start to get on the train, there is another entrance, but this is the quickest way to get to the compound, and I don't want any complaining." Eric ordered smoothly as he looked into each face of the newcomers. His cold eyes eventually settled on Scarlett slight form, she looked back at him defiantly. "Got a problem Nose? Afraid of a little physical activity?"
"Of course not, I was merely wondering what would happen if one of us were to miss the train." Scarlett scoffed, slightly offended at his accusation.
"Well, then they would have to wait for an Amity to drive them to our area, from there you will start your research, but I will warn you that it will take much longer to get there in that manner." Eric smirked expecting looks of fear to cross his companion's faces, instead he only saw slight looks of unease.
"No one is going to get hurt are they?" Annabel frowned, her eyes filled with worry for the others. "I don't know, that depends on whether you do it right or not." Eric laughed, his voice deep and menacing.
"I'm certain that you'll be unscathed. If pin cushion over here can do it, anyone can." Mordekai chuckled slightly as he watched Eric's face become distorted with irritation at the insult. "Besides, you don't have to worry. I can help you out. I bet that I can do this with ease."
"Well that's improbable, considering you've never participated in such strenuous activity. The reassurance is faulty, if anything she seems like she can handle herself, Amity tend to be physically fit and can handle daunting exercises despite their peaceful upbringing. If anything she's possibly more worried about you and I as Erudite tend to linger indoors and focus more on mental stimulation." Scarlett sighed, reciting her opinion as if it were straight out of a text book.
Annabel sent an amused smile at her, and gave the flabbergasted Mordekai a confirming look.
"Well, don't you just know everything you-"
"It's coming!" Eric's loud voice interrupted Mordekai's retort, his eyes on the train speeding toward them.
The group immediately broke out in a run, intent on getting some edge on their jump. Eric ran behind, attempting to get everyone on the same car. Scarlett was the first to get on, Eric noted that she did so with ease. Next was Annabel, having no trouble with the constant running, but hitting her thigh on the side as she pulled herself up. Mordekai had trouble getting a grip and pulling himself up, needing the aid of Annabel to help him in.
Once he was sure they were all in, Eric easily jumped in, his experience earning him a successful entrance and an unscathed form. Everyone was breathing heavily from their sprint, excluding Eric who was analyzing the group.
"Why didn't you help your faction member?" Annabel questioned Scarlett, she kept her face serene although her eyes held annoyance for the younger woman.
Scarlett shot her a contemptuous glare. "He may be a faction member but he is no friend of mine. Friends are illogical, merely illusions of-"
"Okay, enough book talk, it's really getting' on my nerves." Eric yawned as he leaned his head against the cart wall. Scarlett sent him a loathing glance and decided to nurse her scraped elbow.
"Here let me see that." Annabel offered, taking out ointment from her backpack. Scarlett wearily gave her arm. Mordekai looked on with curious eyes.
"Are you a Doctor?" He questioned. Annabel blushed at his assessment.
"No of course not, Erudite are the doctors when it comes down to it. I'm probably more qualified to be a Nurse at this point, most Amity come to me when they have minor injuries and don't want to hassle the erudite doctors with simple abrasions and illnesses. I've read quite a few medical journals, and could handle most situations." Annabel quipped. Her tan skin was tinted red with all the attention the group was giving her. She quickly bandaged Scarlett's elbow, smiling kindly. Scarlett uttered a quick thank you and quickly moved to the other side of the cart next to Eric.
"You're really amazing, you know that right?" Mordekai smiled. Scarlett sent him a scathing look. "What? It's not every day you meet an Amity Lady who happens to be well educated." Annabel raised an eyebrow as Mordekai realized his mistake. "Well, that's not to say all people in your faction are ignorant or anything, I wasn't trying to insult you...Oh. Damn. I'm Sorry." He blabbered on. Annabel let out an amused giggle and Mordekai ran a hand through his thick hair, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Don't worry, I'm fully aware that the women of my faction tend to be focused on appearance. I just happen to like to focus my free time a bit differently, I appreciate your compliment."
"Mordekai when you experience pressure or nervousness, it seems you tend to scratch at your hair or your stubble. Are you aware?" Scarlett observed.
"No I don't! I do no such thing you shrimp!" Mordekai flustered scratching at the hairs on his skin unintentionally.
"Shrimp?" Scarlett questioned unhappily.
"It's a nickname, or a term of endearment. He's pointing out your short stature." Annabel provided.
Scarlett's face matched her namesake as she stuttered unintelligibly. "Oh, shut up Red, you're not as bad as the new stiff initiate they brought in. Looks like a twelve year old. At least you have a bit of something," Eric cut in, pushing himself off the wall. "We're almost there. You're all going to have to jump out onto that building. Be careful not to die. Especially you, princess. Wouldn't want Jeanine chopping off my head because you can't jump."
Scarlett scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Jump in 5 counts!" Eric's voice broke through the wind.
"Be careful." Mordekai addressed Annabel quietly attempting to hide his own nervousness.
"Four!"
"I...I just don't like the falling feeling…" Annabel shot worriedly. Mordekai swallowed the lump in his own throat and laced his fingers through hers, earning a slight blush from both of them. "Three!"
"Don't worry. We'll jump together." Mordekai smiled, tightening his grip.
"Two!" They all bent their legs readying themselves.
"One!" And with that they all jumped, Mordekai and Annabel hand in hand.