Wow! Two chapters in one day, this is what happens when you're avoiding doing your homework. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy. Please review, I'd love criticism.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Liss.
The next two years pass by quickly, there is no word from Tobias, but I assume that that's for the best. Today is the day of my choosing ceremony. Yesterday, I had my aptitude test; I went through the test picking the choices that Marcus had trained me to choose. I picked cheese over a knife and jumped in front of the dog when the little girl appeared; afterwards when they asked if I was aware during the simulation I lied and told them no. However now that the time has come, I'm unsure if I wish to switch to the Erudite faction or to join my brother with the Dauntless.
Marcus and I are one of the first people to arrive to the ceremony. Before we had left, he had explained what exactly I was supposed to do; take the knife, cut my hand, and pour my blood over the grey stones. I converge into line with the other sixteen year olds; I'm situated near the back since my last name begins with an E. At last the ceremony begins; I don't listen as Marcus gives his speech. My feet feel as if they're glued to the ground and my head is spinning.
This is the day that I've been waiting for, I should feel excited but I don't. Instead, everything feels unreal. Marcus' voice is muffled and I dig my nails into my hand to bring myself back to reality. My eyes focus in on the bowls on the center platform. I skip over the dirt for Amity, the glass for Candor, and the grey stones of Abnegation. Rather, I allow myself to gaze at the water for Erudite and the burning coals for Dauntless.
I'd like to pick Dauntless, but I'm unsure if I'm brave enough. I can't even stand up to my own father, but I do face him every day. If I took a guess, I'd say that he is my worst fear. Also, I believe that selflessness and bravery aren't too different. In order to be brave you usually end up putting others before yourself, and I've had years to practice being selfless.
However, I could still be considered a coward. I had never stood up to anyone about anything. I've watched people bully others and haven't said anything about it. Erudite was a backup plan, but I was divergent and from what I had heard, the Erudite faction wasn't excessively accepting of divergents unless they were dead.
The first name is called and I watch an Amity girl pour her blood onto the soil, choosing to stay in her own faction. I zone out for the most part until I hear Marcus announce,
"Caleb Prior."
I watch as he strolls up and cuts his hand, he hesitates for a second before thrusting his hand over the Erudite bowl. My eyebrows lift slightly at that, there are rarely any transfers from Abnegation and now there will be at least two. I watch Caleb's sister, Beatrice, go up next. She follows the process and I feel confident that she's going to pick Abnegation, especially when she puts her hand over the bowl. However, at the last second she moves her hand so that her blood spills into the Dauntless bowl. The ceremony goes on and I wait for my name to be called.
"Alyssa Eaton," Marcus calls out and for a second I'm frozen with fear, but then I'm moving, one foot in front of the other.
When I reach him, he presents a clean knife; I take it and lift my eyes to meet his. Not breaking eye contact I run the knife along my palm, I place the knife back on the table before curling my hand into a fist and putting it over the Dauntless bowl. I watch as my blood scatters over the burning coals.
Suddenly, it feels as if a string has been cut and I'm finally free. I feel lighter and my breathing becomes easier. He can't come after me, it would ruin his reputation. I can feel Marcus' eyes on me, no one notices the way he's glaring at me, they're too busy shouting about my choice. I let out a small laugh and smile at him before exiting the platform and joining my new faction.
Upon arriving, I'm instantly clapped on the back and cheered for. I stand next to Beatrice, who smiles at me in greeting. Throughout the rest of the ceremony my lips continue to twitch upwards. Finally, it comes to a close, immediately the Dauntless start shouting and pouring out. We head for the stairs and soon I'm running alongside the other Dauntless. I hear a boy ask "What the hell is going on?" instead of answering I laugh.
By the time we arrive outside my lungs burn slightly; the chilly, crisp air however is refreshing. The Dauntless quit running after a minute, instead they sprawl out across the street; I push my way towards the front of the crowd and then I hear a horn. I turn my head and see a train sailing along. The Dauntless jump on first, until only the initiates remain.
I run alongside the Dauntless-initiates, I push one of them out of the way and jump into the car. My hand fumbles slightly on the handle, but I manage to pull myself in. Looking around the car, I notice that I'm the only transfer; the others must be on the ones further back. I hastily move out of the doorway and sit on the floor.
"What's the stiff doing in here?" shouts a boy with a nose ring, once it's clear no one else is getting in this car.
"She should be in the car with the other transfers," a girl with light purple hair claims.
"Hey, at least she got on the train," says a girl with golden eyes and an eyebrow piercing.
A tall boy with dark skin and eyes slides down the wall next to me and holds his hand out, "I'm Uriah."
I stay quiet for a moment before sliding my hand into his and shaking it awkwardly, "Liss."
"I didn't actually think you'd make it at first, in Dauntless."
"Gee, thanks."
"But now I think you might."
"Is that cause I pushed some initiate out of my way to get on?"
He tilts his head back and laughs, "Wish I had seen that, a feisty stiff. But, uh, no that's not why. You just look like you're prepared to fight. Anyways you might want to stand up, we're going to be jumping in a moment."
I stand and look out the window, ahead the Dauntless were streaming out onto the roof.
"Hey, move! Let the stiff go first," Uriah orders.
"What are you doing?" I shout.
"Helping you."
He pushes me towards the doorway and I wait for our car to approach the roof. As soon as we are close enough, I push off, not allowing myself to think about it. It feels like I was flying for a moment, then my feet hit the ground harshly, and I stumble forward but manage not to fall. A hand lands on my shoulder and I look up to see Uriah,
"Good job, Liss."
I smile back and open my mouth to reply when I hear a scream. I look over and see a girl hovering next to the edge of the roof, I don't look over the roof to see what's happened, it's obvious that someone hasn't made it. I wince as does Uriah we then join the group that is forming near a side of the roof.
"Listen up! My name is Max! I am one of the leaders of your new faction!" exclaims a man with grey hair and several wrinkles, that is standing on the ledge of the roof. "Several stories below us is the members' entrance to our compound. If you can't muster the will to jump off, you don't belong here. Our initiates have the privilege of going first."
"You want us to jump off a ledge?" an Erudite questions.
"Yes," Max replies.
"Is there water at the bottom or something?"
"Who knows?"
I almost want to laugh. I'm not afraid of heights but becoming a pancake on the cement doesn't sound too enthralling. Yet, I highly doubt that they want to kill all the initiates. I'm about to volunteer to go first, the anticipation to make the jump already eating at me, when Beatrice makes her way forward. I'm not surprised, she's selfless, no one else was going to come forward, so she did.
She stands up there for a while, staring down at whatever's below; finally she strips off her over shirt and throws it at a Candor transfer before jumping down. I wait a second before walking to edge, looking down I spot a huge hole in the ground. My eyes shift over to Max, he looks down at his watch before giving me the go ahead. I turn around and fall backwards off the roof.