A/N: So if you have read my other story, this started off as a kind of remake but I really I just changed a lot of things and just made a totally new story (besides the characters name and love interest). I'm sorry if you liked the other story but I just wasn't feeling it, haha. Not gonna lie, it's probably going to take me awhile to update this one but quality or quantity? Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story, and if you have any recommendations on things you would like to see let me know!
I only own Lydia. The rest belongs to Veronica Roth.
The painted wall is where home is. It's not gray and bleak. It's got life in the rhythm of the brushstrokes and it crawls up and down the wall. The first thing I wanted to do when I became Dauntless was rid myself of the dreary life Abnegation gave me. I picked a wall in my apartment, a fresh canvas, and went to work. That wall describes who I am, after all I spent hours putting my blood and sweat into it. Abnegation was not me. I remember vividly the day where I exchanged a selfless mindset for one that clinged to survival and the nature to protect and defend. It's unheard of for an Abnegation to switch factions, nonetheless, to Dauntless. But then again, I myself am pretty unheard of. I kept quiet in my Abnegation days. The dull, gray environment didn't make it hard. My life was flipped upside down when I entered such an energetic, and brave front where I quickly opened up myself and became the person I am now. The person I've always really been deep down.
I lace up my boots that have been beaten and worn from all the training. I train and instruct the initiates when the time comes. On the off season, as I like to call it, I spend some of my time in the tattoo shop. Today is going to be a busy day. We have a new group of initiates and as much fun as I have training, it's completely tiring at the same time. Training is a joint effort. Four and I take on the transfers and Lauren does the Dauntless born. Occasionally Eric joins Four and I, but the past few years he hasn't been as present as he was with my year.
After tying my last shoe I get up and approach the mirror lying on the back of my door. I give myself a final glance before heading out.
I meet Four at the net. We wait for the first jumper to arrive. This part generally takes awhile. Most people prefer to know where they are jumping, where some just prefer not to jump at all. I was a good mix of both but after 4 jumpers I figured I had to get it over with eventually and that's how I became the 5th jumper.
"What faction do you think it will be first?" Four asks me, curiosity in his voice. We both look towards the sky to see that no one has yet to jump.
"I think Dauntless. Every other year I've said other factions and I've been proved wrong by Dauntless. So, I'm going Dauntless." I answer back, excitedly. It's always fun to see who jumps first.
"I'm going Amity. I mean we have had some crazy outcomes." Four mumbles, as someone falls towards the net. I laugh, his phrase directed at both of us, former Abnegation. The body lands with a scream in the net which sling shots him back up. He laughs as he lands, rubbing the hair out of his face. We pull back the net, Four extending an open hand out to the boy laying in the net. From the clothing he's a Dauntless. I turn to Four sticking my tongue out at him as he pulls the boy from the net. All jokes aside, Four's face turns back to his stone, hard look.
"Name?" He asks, almost irritated. This is the mask that Four wears. When he opens up to you he's a lot of fun. When I first started hanging out with Four and Tris, I was still intimidated by him from initiation. That changed quickly and now we are pretty close friends.
The dauntless boy backs up a bit, obviously intimidated. I cross my arms, adding to the intimidation, but not by much. "Ethan." He stutters out, turning from me to Four. I give Four a grin and he calls it.
"First jumper, Ethan!" His low voice echoes. Ethan smiles at the title and moves over to the side of the room, making way for the others. Once the first person jumps the rest typically follow suit.
"Would you look at that! I guessed right." I marvel, winking at Four. He throws his head back, a grin spreading across his face.
The rest of the initiates eventually jump down, and pile in the corner, nervous chatter filling the once quiet room. One last figure falls from the roof and we don't have to guess who it is, we both already know. The figure dressed in black and covered in distinct facial piercings and multiple tattoos lands into the net. It throws him up and he lands back down. Four doesn't bother to help him. He's already grabbed ahold of the side of net, launching himself out gracefully. He fixes himself before walking over to us, his glare dead set on me.
"Hello Four." He greets, no enthusiastic tone in his voice. "Lydia." He acknowledges. I lift my head up giving him a nod.
"Eric." Four greets back. I can feel the tension between them in the air. You would think that after all this time they would at least learn to get along but that has not happened. I don't know Eric that well, but I know that he's a pretty intimidating person. I turn to look at Four, giving him a shrug. He lets out a sigh and heads over to the group of initiates.
"Alright, listen up!" He yells, silencing them. I approach them also, standing beside Four.
"Before we get started on anything, we will be splitting you up." His voice echoes through building, laced with determination. "Dauntless born over there" He points towards Lauren. "With Lauren. Transfers, you are here." Looks of concern cross the faces of the initiates as the group splits into two.
Lauren smiles at the initiates. They follow her as she leads them out of the headquarters and towards the pit.
"For the rest of initiation you will be training with us. I'm Four, not only do I train you but I also work in the control room." He says. A few laugh at his name but are quickly silenced by the look he gives them. I look over at Eric who stands tall, rubbing his jaw. Four continues, pointing to me. "This is Lydia. You can also find her in the tattoo parlor."
Eric clear his throat, walking over to join us. I feel uncomfortable at the little room he leaves between us, so I shift over a bit. "I'm Eric. I am also one of your leaders. Because the initiation process is very important, I volunteered to oversee training." He says. He doesn't lighten his glare on them and I can see some of them are even more nervous knowing that he is a leader. I smirk, remembering how I felt when I was in the same shoes.
Four takes over and starts them on a tour of the compound where I tail the pack, walking slowly behind.
"So remind me again how you got the job to train?" Eric mumbles quietly, appearing by my side. He doesn't actually want me to remind him, he thinks that I'm not qualified. Eric never liked me when I was in initiation. It's because I was good. Better than he'd like to admit.
I turn to look at him, his hard, defined features detailed with piercings and tattoos. He continues to walk beside me in silence. That's the thing about Eric. He's almost scarier when he's silent.
"Listen Eric. I don't know you and you really don't know me, so save all your critical thinking for the initiates." I grumble. Four leads the initiates into the living quarters and I pretend to be paying attention to what he's saying, hoping Eric doesn't continue to bother me. He can sense when he gets under someone's skin and it practically gives him energy.
"So I'm a critical thinker? Thought you didn't know me." He voice pulls at me, taunting a response and it takes everything in me to ignore it. It's not that hard to piss him off and I don't have a death wish.
After awhile we end up in the dorms. I walk over to stand by Four, turning back to see Eric and a small, evil smirk played on his face. I quickly look away, fixing my eyes on the initiates. Most of them look as if they could make it through initiation, a few look out of place.
"You've got 15 minutes to change out of your clothes and into Dauntless ones. When you are done you will meet in the cafeteria." I announce. Most of the transfers are from Candor or Erudite. A few are from Amity and will take awhile to adjust to the new lifestyle, that is if they make through. When it comes to who will and won't make it through, I try to keep an open mind. As someone who came from Abnegation, not a lot of people thought I would make it and I ended up ranking second.
I scan the room for Eric to see if he has anything to add but he has already slipped out. I shrug to myself and follow Four as we make our way to the cafeteria.
We join our friends at our usual table. I take a seat in between Tris and Zeke, right as Uriah launches a fry at Zeke. It bounces off my shoulder and lands next to my empty plate on the table.
"Nice job, stupid." Zeke says, laughing at his brothers failed attempt to hit him. I pick the fry up and chuck it back Uriah's direction.
"Hey!" He yells. I give him a grin, and pile food on my plate.
"Hey now, wouldn't want to set a bad example for the initiates." Tris jokes. We all laugh as Four takes a seat on the other side of her.
"Speaking of them, any interesting transfers?" Will asks.
"Besides a few Amity, no Abnegation if that's what you're asking." I say. Every year I secretly hope there are Abnegation transfers. There are a few people I remember that never really quite fit in. "Are we not good enough for you?" Tris asks, mock seriousness takes over her face. I bit my lip, grinning. Will starts to panic a bit, afraid that he offended Four, Tris, and I.
"N-no! You guys are great! I was just curious!" He defends. Christina, sitting next to him, hides a smile.
"Will, she was just kidding." Uriah finally admits. Everyone laughs as his face grows red. I pile food onto my fork and continue eating as Christina plants a kiss on Will's cheek. "You know sometimes I can't tell when you are serious!" He says, finally laughing along.
"And you called me stupid, Zeke." Uriah mumbles under his breath. Zeke winks at him and the chatter grows steady at our table.
"Incoming!" Shauna alerts as the initiates file into the room. You can almost smell the fear coming off them as they walk around uncertain of what to do. I watch closely as some take up empty seats and soon there are only a few left standing, looking for open spots. All eyes are on them and for a second I feel bad but that's quickly washed away when a fry is tossed my way.
"Excuse me!" I shout in Uriah's direction where he sheepishly grins and points to Marlene. I roll my eyes at him and give him the middle finger. He feigns being hurt and Marlene reaches across the table to high five me.
Finishing my food I see Eric walk by our table, a blank expression on his face. "He's probably off to ruin initiates lives." Tris comments, noticing that I'm watching him. I nod my head slowly in agreeance, my eyes following him as he walks out of the dining hall and into the pit. What does Eric do in his freetime? I never actually thought he has much of a life besides tormenting people and probably drinking all the time. He has a select few friends but they are all still located at their table, without him.
A hand reaches in front of me, snapping in my face. "Lydia, you there?" Zeke asks. I break my thoughts and return back to the conversation. "Yeah, sorry. Uh, what were you saying?" I push my plate further away from me, signifying that I'm done.
"We are having a party, but not just any party. A Dauntless or Candor party!" Christina shrieks from across the table. I throw my head into my hands, already regretting asking what they were saying. I groan remembering the last time we had one of these parties. Things didn't end so well for me and the last thing I need is a repeat of a little too much alcohol.
"C'mon Lyd! It will be fun, you don't even have to drink." Tris says, putting her hand on my shoulder. I grumble, lifting my head up. "Fine." I say. Everyone around me cheers, and we all get up from the table to leave the dining hall.
"Lyd, I promise you will have a good time." Christina urges, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Yeah, yeah." I say, a smile appearing on my face. We walk through the pit to get to the living quarters where we all go our separate ways. "I'll let you know later when the party is!" She yells as I stop at my door and she keeps going to reach her's. I give her a thumbs up and head inside.
I go straight to my bed, crawling in. Tomorrow is the first day of initiation and I'm going to need all the sleep I can get.
