Candor or Dauntless

I woke to the sound of a bell ringing.

My eyes slowly opened and I wiped the sleep out of them.

I looked up to see all the initiates in the same mood as me, which made me feel slightly better.

Four was stood at the entrance of the initiate's dorm, banging a frying pan.

"Initiates, Eric has decided after the poor show that his team gave in capture the flag yesterday, he'll be holding a game of Candor or Dauntless for you to prove your bravery. No one will be leaving because of it, it will however give us a bit more of an insight into what you can bring to Dauntless," he informed us, staring into space as he spoke, his jaw barely moving.

I rolled over, ignoring the nagging feeling that I should be listening to what he was saying, as I was too tired to think. Training had really taken a toll of my energy levels.

After a few more minutes, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Tris?"

I groaned.

"You have to get up, Candor or Dauntless? Remember?"

"Chris?" I grunted.

Christina patted my shoulder, then walked away.

I pulled my body out of bed and got changed. Will had told us (from reading all the faction manuals) that in Candor or Dauntless, when you refuse a dare or a question you had to remove a layer of clothes so I put on as many layers as I could. A bra, a vest, a shirt and a jacket, not too much, incase people caught on.

We arrived first at the training centre, as most of the initiates were still getting ready.

Al and I were still covered in bruises from Stage 1, so he cowered in fear as we stepped into the training room. I tried to brush off my fear, and ignore the smell of blood that rose to my nostrils.

We walked over to Four and he scowled at us.

"Done already?"

"Yep," Christina fired back, venom falling from her mouth with every word.

"Keen, are you?"

We all blushed, which only made Four smirk more.

"Look, where do we need to go?" Christina asked, getting straight to the point, which I was thankful for, as I could feel Four's eyes on me the whole time.

"Wait here. Dauntless born and transfers are going head to head."

We nodded and Al sat down on a chair behind him.

I scanned the room; there was a circle of chairs, spilt in half, one on Four's side, one opposite, which Shauna was stood behind.

"Hey Four!" Shauna called at him as he looked up, "you got your initiates down already?"

"Hell yeah," he replied, leaning against the chair I'd taken a seat in, "that's why they're gonna beat the crap out of your initiates."

The other initiates started to file in, Peter, Molly and Drew leading the pack. Behind them, were the only Dauntless born initiates, reminding me again about Edward and Myra.

The four Dauntless born sat on the chairs opposite us, and Peter, Drew and Molly took a seat next to Will, forcing him to squeeze up to me. I moved an inch closer to Christina.

The door slammed suddenly, and we all jumped.

"Initiates," Eric called as he strutted towards us, "today you will be playing Candor or Dauntless. I'm guessing you all know the rules?"

Silence fell upon us

"Good; I'm not explaining them. Anyway, you will be playing against the other initiates. Dauntless born, verses the transfers. Got it?"

His voice got louder as he got closer to us.

"Al. Start us off," he said, pointing to Al.

"Uhhhh, Lynn, ummm, Candor or Dauntless," he replied, sinking as low as he could into his chair, so unprepared.

Lynn rose to the challenge.

"Dauntless," she replied confidently.

Eric stared at Al expectantly. I realised that this game wasn't about showing how much you could be pushed, but also about how much you could push others. It made me sick.

"I, uhhh, dare you to… to get on the floor, and, and... lick… it."

He looked around at everyone nervously, hoping to get an eager reaction, only to find everyone staring at him blankly. It was a pretty boring dare.

Eric sighed.

"That one has been used countless times. Lynn," he turned to face her, "you're off the hook."

He turned back round, "Al, Candor or Dauntless?"

"Uhhhh, what?" he stuttered in reply.

"Candor. Or Dauntless. Simple question," he spat, a grim, but joyful look on his face, as if he did enjoy torturing his initiates.

"Candor."

The Dauntless borns sniggered.

"Tell us then Al," Eric's eyes scanned the room, "who do you have a crush on?" he asked, emphasising the word 'crush', making it sound as pathetic as he could.

Al looked around the room and my heart plummeted to the ground when his eyes stopped on me.

"Tris," he mumbled.

"What was that?" Eric replied mischievously, his mouth twisting into a sick grin.

"Tris," he said, louder than last time, making sure everyone could hear. I groaned inwardly.

Four's hands tightened on the back of my chair, as my face went a deep shade of red. I looked down at the floor, trying to find anything to look at, except for Al's face.

"The Stiff? Really? That's the best you can do?" Peter hollered at him.

"Shut up," Al muttered back.

"Okay," Four called from behind me, "get on with it. Al, ask someone."

"Marlene, Candor or Dauntless?" Al asked her, trying to regain his dignity, but failing.

Marlene glanced at her friends.

"Dauntless," she replied, flicking her long blonde hair and passing Four a flirtatious smile.

Al noticed this and adjusted his attitude, leaning forward in his chair as Four was still doing on mine.

"I dare you… to take off your underwear," he paused, "and give it to Peter."

He looked round, everyone bored still.

"It'll do," Eric shrugged, seemingly impressed.

Marlene looked at her friends in confusion, who just looked back at her with amused faces.

"Yeah. I guess.." she said rolling her eyes.

She reached up her trouser leg, and a few seconds later, Peter had black underwear in his lap.

"Do I ask someone now?"

"Just go," Eric sneered.

"Molly," she replied immediately, "Candor or Dauntless?"

"Candor," Molly smirked.

Everyone waited as Uriah whispered in Marlene's ear.

She nodded, "Okay, Molly. What is your biggest fear?"

Eric's head immediately shot to Four's, and he grinned.

"Uhhhh... no, no," she shook her head and took off her jacket, revealing a black top, tight against her chest.

Four pulled away from my chair, relieving it of the pressure.

"Tris, Cand-" Molly started.

"Hey, no. Transfers against borns. Those are the rules," Eric interrupted.

"Why not?" Peter dared to ask.

Eric's nostrils flared and I was scared for Peter, as much as I hated him. No one was allowed to talk back to Eric. No one.

Eric glared at Peter, who sat higher in his chair.

"Surely it would make it more interesting? All v all?" Peter emphasised, raising his arms to get the agreement of the initiates.

The Dauntless borns murmured in agreement, and so did most of the transfers.

Al and I remained silent, we knew we would be picked on. No one liked us; they all wanted me to give in, why wouldn't they? I was the perfect target. The Stiff. The weak Stiff. They were all waiting for me to give up, even Christina. She'd never admit it though. Never. Even with her Candor background.

"It would be more interesting," Shauna chipped in.

"Fine. Fine, okay. Change of rules. All v all, carry on," Eric gave in, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Tris," Molly turned to me, grinning, "Candor or Dauntless?"

"Dauntless," I replied, trying to sound confident.

Her grin grew wider.

"I dare you, to… to kiss Four."

I glanced at Four.

No.

No way was I going to kiss him.

He smirked at me, I guess this was common: someone to be dared to kiss him. I wasn't surprised, he had the looks, he obviously had those, and I wasn't surprised that he had all the initiates running round after him.

Well. Not me. I wasn't falling for his… charm? Could you call it charm?

His eyes locked into mine and he grunted.

"Sure," he said.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I don't want you to be seen as a coward because of me," he then whispered, only for me to hear.

He placed his hand on my chin, and slammed his lips against mine.

Waves of shock, excitement and confusion, ran through my head, before realising that I should be kissing him back.

I pulled away as quick as I could, and he seemed disappointed.

I returned to the game, relaxing in my chair.

"Stiff, pay attention."

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Eric's cruel voice, ringing through my ear.

"You. Need. To. Pick someone," Peter sneered.

"Shut up Candor. My job," Eric called at him, "proceed."

I scanned the room. I ran through my options. I could go for Molly again, make her strip even more? But she would only go for me afterwards… One of the Dauntless borns? Uriah hadn't been yet.

"Uriah. Candor or Dauntless?"I asked him, noticing that he was a bit too comfortable in his seat.

"Dauntless," he answered, leaning forward and lacing his fingers together.

"I dare you…" I paused and thought about what I could do.

Should I be mean?

"Sexual or romantic things are best. Trust me," Four whispered in my ear.

I trusted him.

"I dare you to kiss every girl in the room."

Uriah shook his head and looked at Marlene, who glared daggers at him.

Uriah lifted his shirt off his head, revealing his bare chest.

It was suspicious, he was Dauntless born, he should have known that he'd've had to strip, shouldn't he have put more layers on?

"Christina," he said.

She nodded.

"Christina, Candor or Dauntless?"

"Umm, Dau- Candor. Candor," she replied, stumbling over her words.

"Christina, I would like to know what your aptitude test result was."

"I'm not allowed to say that."

She glanced around the room at the instructors. Nobody said anything.

"Am I?"

She kept looking, expecting someone to say something.

Shauna sighed, "No I guess n-"

"No, no. It's her decision. Let her decide," Eric interrupted.

Christina reluctantly lifted her crop-top over her head, leaving her in only her bra.

Everyone stared, especially Will, until she started crossing her arms.

"Peter. Candor or Dauntless?"

Peter furrowed his eyebrows.

"Dauntless, obviously. Unlike you, I belong here."

"Okay. Kiss…" she grinned at me, "Eric."

Everyone went silent and looked at Eric, who didn't seem too amused.

"No. No way," Peter said eventually.

He slowly lifted off his shirt, he had a vest on underneath thankfully, but even that was tight fitting.

"I though you 'belonged here'?" I taunted.

"Shut up."

Peter turned to face in my direction.

"Four," Peter began, looking at Four, still stood behind me, " Candor or Dauntless?"

"Is he allowed to do that?" Four asked Eric, who just shrugged.

Four sighed.

"Daun-"

"No. Four will choose Candor," Eric interrupted, staring at Four intensely.

"You can't do that. It's his choice," I said, as loud as I could, hoping to stick up for Four, who clearly didn't want to answer a question.

There seemed to be something going on between Four and Eric.

Peter jumped at the chance, immediately replying: "Your real name, what is it?"

You could see the colour drain from Four's face and he looked down at his shirt, before looking back up.

"Uhhh, J… ohn. John. My name is John," Four paused, "That doesn't mean you can call me that though. Four. Call me Four. I earned this name, and I want you to use it."

Eric eyed him suspiciously, but then moved on to pick on one of the Dauntless borns.

"Geoffrey. You seem pretty comfortable in you chair there, consider yourself chosen."

A boy I didn't recognise shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

He flicked his long-sandy hair off his face.

"Geoffrey, Candor or Dauntless?" Four asked him.

"Dauntless," Geoffrey replied confidently.

"Shave your hair off. All of it."

His eyes went wide, and his hands moved instinctively to his locks.

"Ummm," Geoffrey looked nervously around the room, "sure. No one's accepted anything recently."

Lynn was told to get the shaver and returned seconds later with one.

She passed it to Uriah, who gave it a few tester runs, then applied it to Geoffrey's head.

Seconds later, Geoffrey, and his chair, was covered in blond curls.

"Lynn. Stand up. Geoffrey, you too," Eric called at them, pointing at them both.

They stood up, and everyone burst out laughing.

They looked the same. Almost exactly.

Lynn blushed and laughed too, whereas Geoffrey had tears dribbling down his cheeks.

Geoffrey ran out of the room, crying out: "I never should have said yes to that stupid dare!"

"Okay. That's enough for today," Eric boomed, "you get the rest of the day off."

We all stayed silent where we were.

"Shoo!"

We all scrambled to flee the room.