Candor
Christina sighs, running her hair through her short, choppy hair as she stares out the wide picture window in the living room. In the background, she can hear the commotion as her parents argue in what they call hushed tones. They couldn't even get along on this, the day of the Choosing Ceremony. Have you ever heard a Candor argument? They could last a long time. She paces the room, her bulldog following at her heels. Christina has had a long time to think about what she would do today. A day that would greatly impact the rest of her life. Her aptitude results were clear, and the things she experienced while under the serum still hung dauntingly in the back of her mind. She could still feel the hot breath of the dog as it leaped at her. Christina kneeled down, stroking the shiny fur of her own dog, trying to rid her mind of the images.
When her test-giver had told her about her high aptitude for Dauntless, Christina had to admit she was slightly surprised. The Candor looked down on them, considering them reckless and deceivingly cunning. The possibility of joining them had never even crossed her mind. But the more she thought about it, the more she recognized her admiration of their bravery. The Dauntless weren't afraid of anyone. The Dauntless could do whatever they pleased. And that appealed to her. As required, Christina didn't share her test aptitude with anyone, but that didn't prevent her father and mother from pressing their beliefs onto her. Their strong desire for her to stay in Candor was one of the only things they agreed on. For what purpose that was, Christina wasn't sure.
Presently, they both entered the room, wearing smiles that were forced onto their faces. "Ready to go, Christina sweetie?" her mother asked. She reluctantly got up, brushing off her black dress trousers and heading towards tthe door. "Let's get this over with." Christina waited, surrounded by her peers inl the large hall that held the Choosing Ceremony. Marcus Eaton, an Abnegation leader, has just finished his speech and the sixteen year olds are now starting to choose their factions, whether they are new to them or not. Most of the Erudite youth, Christina noted, chose to stay with their native factions. She had known since she was small that Erudite would never be the faction for her. That was one part of her assessment that hadn't surprised her.
Christina is roused from her thoughts from the sound of murmuring around her. She looks to the stage and sees a frail looking Abnegation girl standing in front of the flickering coals that signified Dauntless. Christina couldn't help the skeptical expression that crossed her face. A stiff, joining the Dauntless? It seemed hopeless, but she felt a grudging respect for the girl. Simply choosing Dauntless was an act of bravery in itself.
Her steps shaky against her will, Christina approached the stage. She forced a few deep breaths as the knife is handed to her. A few minutes ago, she had been convinced that she would follow the example of the Abnegation girl and choose Dauntless. But as she cast a tentative glance at her parents, their reassuring gazes almost made her think otherwise. Would she really go against their wishes? She had to admit that they hadn't been the best parents, but at least they were always there when she needed them. She stood in silence as long as she could bear. As she reached out, letting her blood drip into one of the bowls, only one thought surfaced in her mind: Now was the time to be brave. Only the sound of the sticky, red liquid sizzling against the coals welcomed her into Dauntless.