Chapter 2

The Choosing Ceremony

The morning is bright, I'm walking with the other Abnegation, we're all headed towards the hub where the choosing ceremony will take place. I wonder if an outsider can tell me apart from the other eighteen year old Abnegations. I doubt it, we probably all look like a big gray blob when we walk together.

My father has already gone ahead to help set everything up for the ceremony. I don't mind, I hate walking with him in public, being associated with him. Two years ago I was allowed to walk with Tobi and my father until we reached the Hub, then I had to go back. I don't know if I just wasn't allowed or if my father just didn't want me to be there.

Looking to my right I can see the Priors. Beatrice, their daughter is my age, so is her brother but I don't think I've ever talked to him. I'd like to consider her a friend, even though we rarely talk. But we always sit together at lunch and ride the bus home together, after everyone else has gotten on of course. I wonder if she'll choose a different faction.

I catch the eye of Beatrice's mother and she beckons me over a smile on her face. When I walk over to them I'm greeted by Mrs. Prior first.

"Isabella, how are you?"

I use my best fake smile when I reply, "I'm fine thank you for asking." I catch Beatrice's eye and she gives me an unconvinced look. She knows my smile is fake and she knows I'm not fine. Despite knowing what I'll choose I'm still nervous about being up in front of all those people. I hate crowds and I especially hate standing in front of crowds.

"That's good, would you like to sit with us?" Mrs. Prior asks.

"That would be nice thank you," I reply. It would be more selfless to try and not impose but I can't bring myself to try and refuse the offer. Sitting with them will give me a little bit of solidarity I wouldn't be able to find in my own home.

I fall into step beside Beatrice and her brother Caleb. "How are you really?" she asks me under her breath so no one else can here her.

"I'll be okay after I make my choice," I reply. "How about you?"

"Nervous," she says and I loop my hand with hers and give her a reassuring squeeze which she returns before we both drop our hands simultaneously. It's not Abnegation to hold hands, that's an Amity thing, I've seen large groups of girls from Amity making a human chain with there interlocking hands before.

We take our seats after a confrontation with Jeanne Mathews the leader of Erudite. A confrontation that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and my stomach turning. I wish I could tell someone that the rumors about my father are true. But what good would it do now? Tobias is in a different faction, so he's out of harms way, and I'm about to be Dauntless so I won't have to face my father again.

I don't have to wait long for the ceremony to begin almost as soon as I take my seat, my father is walking up to stand behind the different symbols of the factions. The speech he gives is just a reiteration of what we've been taught since grade school. He talks briefly about the war and how the factions were created and what each one stands for.

Then the first name is called, the boy looks nervous as he walks up. He glances over each bowl before seeming to make his decision. It occurs to me for the first time that not everyone comes to the ceremony knowing what they will choose. For me it was easy, I want to be stronger, and braver than I am. So I'll choose the faction that value these traits. It's just an added bonus that Dauntless will add salt to the wound that I'll be giving my father by choosing a different faction. He's never been a big fan of Dauntless. He's ranted to Tobias and I since we were old enough to walk about how selfish they are, and how they have no regard for anyone else.

More and more names my father calls out until finally he gets to Caleb's name. Caleb walks down slowly and calm. My father calls out, "Erudite," after Caleb holds his hand over the bowl of water. Then Beatrice's name is called. She chooses Dauntless and I allow myself to smile, I won't be on my own at least.

"Isabella Eaton."

I take a deep breath and let it out before standing up and beginning to make my way down to the bowls. The walk is the scariest part, I feel like everyone is watching me, even though my mind tries to rationalize that they're probably not.

My hand shakes a little when I pick up the knife and I will it to still before I make a small slice in the skin on my left hand. I look at up at my father, he gives a slight nod as if to encourage that I pick Abnegation. I keep eye contact with him while I hold my hand over the bowl with burning coals. My blood makes a small sizzle sound and a vein in my fathers neck jumps. I bet if he could he'd take off his belt right now and make sure I wouldn't be able to lay on my back for a month.

His voice is hoarse when he calls out, "Dauntless."

Cheers erupt from the other Dauntless and I quickly make my way over where one of the boys sitting next to Beatrice stands up and lets me take his seat. "Did you know the whole time what you'd be choosing?" Beatrice asks me as I get settled into my seat for the rest of the ceremony.

"Yeah," I reply, "I decided a long time ago."

"At least we'll both know someone going into this," she says what I thought earlier.

I nod my head. Before looking up at my father every once in a while his eyes flicker to me and I grin widely at him. He won't have anyone to take his anger out on when he gets home tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if he destroys both mine and Tobi's old rooms tonight. The vein in my father's neck jumps when he looks back at me and I'm still grinning.

"Do you think your father is mad at you for choosing a different faction?" Beatrice asks me.

"God I hope so," I say without thinking and quickly clear my throat. "Do you think your parents are upset that you chose a different faction?"

"If they are they'll get over it," she replies, "they said they loved me no matter what."

Parental love must be nice. I don't think my father has ever said he loves me. My mom used to when I was little but she passed away a long time ago. I can hardly remember her face now. Tobias and I never really said it but it didn't need to be said. Tobi showed it when he would take the belt for me and I hope I showed it well enough when I would sneak him a cream I stole from the nurse's station at school that was supposed to help with stings and burns. It was the least I could do when he took the blame for something I did or didn't do.

"I'm sure they're not really angry at you," I inform her. "They're probably just sad to have both they're children in different factions, but they know you have to make your own way and find your own path."

Beatrice nods and we fall into a comfortable silence as my father finish up the end of the list and gives a few parting words of thanks to everyone. As soon as his voice goes quiet the Dauntless around me are up and running for the doors and I am running right along side them with out a look back.

The bright light out side is almost blinding as we come out of the dimly lit building. I feel almost reborn as the wind whips around me and my light brown hair falls out of it's stupid Abnegation style bun. Then all of a sudden were climbing up the support beams of the train tracts and I have to remind my self not to look down otherwise I'll freeze. It's not so much heights I have a problem with as it is the fear of falling. I lost track of Beatrice almost as soon as we broke outside but I find her again when I pull myself up and stand beside the other transfers.

I know what's coming next, I've seen the Dauntless do it hundreds of times. I have to jump on to the train, otherwise I'll get left behind. I've just got my first taste of freedom, and I'm not going to give it up to become factionless. The train makes a turn around the corner and I begin running with everyone else. As soon as I get to an open door I throw my self in then scoot back to make room for the next person.

The next person is Beatrice who all but falls on a Candor transfer. "Sorry," she apologizes quickly.

The Candor shrugs her off. "Is it just me or are they trying to kill us?"

I laugh along with Beatrice. The Candor girl introduces herself as Christina.

"Isabella," I tell her.

"Beatrice."

"You two twins or something?" she asks us.

Beatrice and I share a look. It's no big surprise that someone from another faction would think that. "No," Beatrice says.

"Sorry, all you Abnegation girls look the same to me."

"Ir's okay," I say, "all you Candor girls look the same to us too." This gets a laugh out of both Christina and Beatrice. I haven't stopped smiling like an idiot yet.