Chapter One

I woke with a start when I heard the alarm on my bedside table go off. I groaned, still half asleep, attempting to turn it off. Instead, I hit it hard, and it flew across the room, going dead. I groaned once again, dragging myself out of the bed. This is it. Today is the day the new initiates come. I went straight to the showers.

The warm water felt good against my skin. I stayed in their much longer than I should've. When I realized what time it was I jumped out, hurriedly pulling on the standard Dauntless black jeans and t-shirt, quickly looking in the mirror. My black hair was still wet from the shower, and my blue eyes weren't as bright as usual, probably because I just woke up. I could see what these Dauntless girls saw in me. I smirked in the mirror. My eyes lit up. I hadn't been Dauntless forever, but I was used to it now. I heard a knock on the door, just as I was putting my shoes.

I opened my door, and to my surprise, I found Eric standing there. Eric. I subconsciously clenched my fists, with a sudden burst of unexpected anger. Eric and I had been transfer initiates together two years ago. We have always had some sort of rivalry. Especially since I kicked his ass in Stage One. And Two, Three. In the end, I placed first, while he placed second. Being first you have your choice of jobs, including the most favorable ones: the government jobs. I didn't want that sort of job, or all of the responsibility. But besides that, Dauntless has been changing. We now honored people with brute strength, rather than knowledge and wit. I didn't want to be like Eric. But now's not the time.

"Morning Four." Eric said with a small smile.

Wow, this is a shocker. Eric is actually attempting to be nice. Alert the media! 'What's he playing at?' I couldn't help wondering. I don't have time for small talk.

"What do you want Eric?" I asked tiredly. I was in no mood to see him.

Some people even said Eric gave them nightmares, and I readily agreed. With his long, dark black hair, unnaturally pale skin, and piercings allover her face, he did have the nightmarish look about him. But the worst part was his eyes, the where dark, but devoid of all emotions. He was a monster. Unfeeling, except when it came time to hurt others. And even then, he was delighted by the pain he could inflict on other. God bless- i mean, curse his soul. If he even has one, that is.

Eric's odd smile disappeared. He was back to business.

"I just want to remind you of your initiates arrival today." He paused. As if I could forget.

"In fact", he said pausing, I'm surprised your still here."

I grumbled inwardly. "I was just walking out now." I said, lying easily. I never was cut out for Candor.

"Alright.", Eric said, challenging me. The truth was, I had notes and things that I usually brought with me on the first day of initiate training. But I wasn't on to admit to a lie. Or a failure.

So I follow him out of my room, down the hall. Eric and I had nothing to say to each other, so it was a bit awkward. He gave me a nod as I walked out of the compound to where the initiates would complete their first challenge. They had to hop onto the train, then onto the compound roof, and off the roof safely into a net at the bottom. But the initiates didn't know that. They didn't know what awaited them at the bottom.

I acknowledged the group of Dauntless in the shadows. They were here to cheer the soon-to-be initiates on as they plummeted to the ground. I greeted my friend Lauren, who was training the Dauntless-born initiates. We had been friends in our own training, ever since that time she beat me in combat. At first I was angry, my grew to respect Lauren, especially when she ranked high as well. Third, to be exact.

"I wonder who will be the first jumper." I questioned.

"Probably a Dauntless-born. Or a Erudite." Lauren replied.

I nodded. "Here they come." I looked up and could barely believe my eyes. "Is that a-"

Lauren cut me off. "A Stiff! That's like, unheard of!"

I winced. I disliked the slang term 'Stiff'. Partially because I was one. Yes, you red correctly. I'm from Abnegation. But don't tell anyone. The Abnegation landed in the net with a thump. I leaned over, extending a hand to help her out. The Abnegation was a small girl, her head only reaching my chest when she stood on shaky legs. Though small in stature, she had a look of fierce determination behind her eyes. There was a fire in them that made me wonder, just for a second, if she was like me.

"There is a reason she left them Lauren" I say, felling a compelling desire to defend her.

"Thank you." She says.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Um…." She hesitates.

The corner of my lips turn up in a faint smile, which is somewhat of a rarity for me. "Think about it. You don't get to pick again." I chuckle a little, considering the mystery that surrounds my own name.

"Tris," she says confidently.

Lauren nods. I can tell she liked the name as much as I do.

"Make the announcement, Four." she says.

I turn toward the hidden

"First jumper-Tris!" I call out.

The Dauntless erupt into cheers.

I look over at Tris to gauge her reaction.

She has a nervous smile on her face. I know the feeling.

A screaming girl comes next, much to my, and the audiences amusement.

While she was distracted, I came turned back to Tris to get a good look at her. She has long blonde hair, pulled into a low ponytail. She wears grey pants and a tight short-sleeved top that can only be described as a undershirt, as Abnegation would've never allowed the showing of that much skin. She was short, which I kind of liked. Her grey-blue eyes flickered nervously from oerson to person, and inspected her new surroundings. I felt the need to comfort her, so I did. I put my hand on the small of her back.

"Welcome to Dauntless."