Chapter 2
The net that catches me at the bottom of the hole knocks the breath out of me but only for a few seconds I look up to where I've just jumped from. "Wow" are the only words that come out of my mouth. I make my way to the edge of the net and two sets of hands help me down.
"What's your name?" A Dauntless women asks me, she's beautiful, she has green streaks in her dark hair, two piercings in her eyebrows and one in her lip, she doesn't smile at me just stares into my eyes, it's slightly intimidating. I was told once that when you transfer into a different faction you can leave your old self behind become someone new so that's what I decide to do.
"Roxy" I says and smile.
"Third jumper … Roxy" she shouts and the room erupts into noise with cheers and howls. I'm going to like it here I think to myself.
We take a quick tour and then shown to our room for the next 10 weeks. There are 8 transfers this year with only two girls, the other girl is from Erudite, she seems okay but I don't see us being that close. We quickly change into something a little more Dauntless and make our way to the dining hall, I hadn't even noticed how hungry I was into I smelt food for the first time all day.
The large dining hall is filled with bodies, I find an empty table and sit down looking at the array of food in front of me. I try a little of everything, in Abnegation the food is so plain and boring, but here it has flavour, it's nicer. A few of the other transfer join me after a while. Three boys, all from Candor, Alex, Nick and Connor.
"This place is pretty cool" Connor says looking all around him. He has a sweet smile and bright eyes, he must have been very popular with the girls back at Candor, I hope his face doesn't get too badly messed up during training.
"Do you not think it's a little over the top" Nick says rising his eyebrow, Nick is the largest of all the transfers, he towers over most the other guys, but he seems nice enough.
"I want to know who came up with the names, I mean The Pit really they couldn't think of anything better" Alex says making us all laugh.
"So what made you chose Dauntless … I thought once a Stiff always a Stiff" Connor says, there's no malice in his voice, Candor don't really have an internal filter they tend just to say what they mean to say, I admired that about them, at least you knew where you stood with them.
"I was never cut out for Abnegation" I say, it's weird to talk so openly at the dinner table, back home I wasn't allowed to speak unless spoken to, "The Dauntless seemed free and alive, I liked that" I smile as they all nod in agreement.
"Hmm guess you're not an ordinary Stiff then" Connor smiles and offers me some of this chocolate cake. The conversation moves freely from topic to topic as the four of us get to know each other better, I almost forget who I was supposed to be looking out for until he walks through the door into the dining hall with two others guys with tattoos and piercings, to my surprise Tobias looks almost the same apart from bulking up, he has the same haircut and same intense eyes, but no piercings and no obvious tattoos.
He sees me from across the room and moves towards my table, I don't get up, he wouldn't want a big scene made and to be honest neither do I, I don't want to be known as Tobias's baby sister, I want to make a name for myself.
He stops behind me and the others go quiet.
"Can I talk to you?" his voice is tense and intimidating, very Dauntless I think to myself.
"Sure … I'll see you guys back at the Dorm okay?" they all smile and wave as I follow Tobias out the dining hall and down a few different hallways.
He turns once we are alone and pulls me into a tight hug, he really has bulked up and grown a little taller since the last time I saw him.
"I can't believe you're here" he whispers, he sounds almost relieved. He pulls me away from him and holds me at arm's length and looks me up and down.
"Are you okay?" he asks concern filling his voice.
"I'm fine … how are you?" I asked and then mentally scold myself for sounding so Abnegation, Tobias laughs.
"I'm okay … I can't believe you're here … I knew you would chose a different faction but when they said you chose Dauntless I was a little shocked … but then you always were braver than I was" I watch as the life drains from his eyes a little as he remembers past events, I move the conversation along.
"When who said?" I ask.
"I got someone to go along to the ceremony, I wanted to know where you ended up so I could come see you on visiting day, when he said you chose Dauntless …" he didn't finish but lets the smile spread across his face.
"Its nice to know you were going to come and visit me" I smile but look down at my feet when I realise that he is the only family I have left.
"I hear you changed your name" he smirks, he finally lets go of me and leans causally against the wall, his thumbs through his belt loops. I cross my arms.
"You don't like it?" I ask rising an eyebrow.
"I didn't say that" he laughs.
"I thought it sounded pretty cool … very Dauntless and so much better than Anna" I scrunch my nose up at my old boring name. Tobias is still smirking.
"What did you change your name to then?" I ask letting attitude pour into the sentence, it felt nice to talk to Tobias like this, this is how sisters and brothers are supposed to talk, not continuously asking how everyone is or watching not to offend the others feelings.
"Four" he states as if it's a normally name. I almost choke when I start laughing.
"Like the number?" I ask once I'm done, he doesn't look impressed.
"Yes like the number what else" he asks sarcastically. I stifle another laugh but I can't stop the smile that comes with it, he rolls his eyes and pushes my shoulder with one hand. A few moments pass before either one of us says anything.
"I've missed you" I whisper not wanting my vulnerability to shine through to much. Tobias moves forward and pulls me into him again.
"I know … I'm sorry I left you there … if I could have taken you with me I would have" he whispers close to my ear. I can feel the burn of tears fighting to escape but I sniff them back and let go of Tobias.
I smile "guess I'll see you around then Four"
"See you around Roxy" he smirks and then disappears around the corner leaving me alone to find my way back to the dormitories.
When I found the dormitories everyone is already sitting on their bunks, I find mine and slump down. Alex's bunk is across from mine, he narrows his gaze on me.
"Who was the scary guy?" he asks, the comment makes me giggle, Tobias scary? But then I guess to people that don't know him he does look a little intimidating.
"Four" I answer honestly and without hesitation. I see a head appear from the top bunk.
"Well you're a pretty girl I can see why he singled you out from all the other initiate" Connor says winking at me.
"He's my brother" I say rolling my eyes.
"Oh" is all they say.
