Divergent: The Story of Sam
Chapter 2
I leave the school since that's what I was told to do. I decide to walk home because I don't want my parents to know I went home early. It feels weird being by myself for a change and I don't like it. I wish Ash was here, he could do anything and would do anything for me which is one reason I hate having a twin, but what can I do? Nothing, I can do nothing about it, he acts like Abnegation when he's around me. He acts like I can't handle myself. He's wrong when he thinks that, if he chooses Dauntless tomorrow with me, he will soon find out that I can hold my own.
I had been walking for what seemed like 30 minutes when I get to my house. I walk up the steps and sit down, so I can wait for the bus that should be here in any minute. As if on cue, the bus arrives and stops for Ash to get off. He walks over to me.
"Why were you told to come home early?" He asks me with a confused bite to his tongue.
"Why don't we go inside and discuss it in my room." I say so that no one but Ash knows what I am.
He nods to me and he opens the door to direct me in. I sigh and go in. We get to my room and we sit on my bed.
"What were your results?" I ask so that I know if he's going to be in Dauntless and to change the subject.
"Hmm…we're not supposed to say them, but I guess I can if you tell me yours." He says as I nod to him and then he continues, "My results were Abnegation and Dauntless, in other words I'm Divergent."
"Which one are you going to choose?" I ask feeling somewhat relieved that I'm not the only Divergent in our family.
"I'm going to choose Dauntless."
I feel like I'm going to pass out from relief that I won't be separated from him.
"My results were Dauntless, Erudite, and Abnegation which means in other words you're not the only Divergent in the family." I say hoping I sound better than I feel. I was fine with being in danger, but to have my twin of all people be in danger as well is unbearable. "I'm going to choose Dauntless. That's a definite, but how will mom and dad react when we switch?"
"I don't know, but we should be careful. What we are is dangerous and we can be dead before the end of our initiation." Ash says as he looks me in the eyes, "Please don't do anything stupid."
"Hey! I never do anything stupid!" I just about yell as I punch Ash hard on his arm which makes him groan in pain.
Before we can do anything else, the house door opens and then closes.
"Kids!"
We run down the stairs to see our father, he is built strong in the arms and legs like he was training for years in Dauntless, which he was before he switched. The only reason I know that is because he has a Dauntless tattoo on his back.
"Hey dad!" We say in unison.
After that, the day just flew by as I now wake up the next morning ready to start my new life as a Dauntless initiate.
"Sam! Sam, get up."
"Okay, okay, I'm up. Jeeze." I say annoyed by the shaking. I open my eyes to find an irate Ash above me. He looks more like an 18 year old than a 16 year old, but compared to me, a 16 year old who looks like a dang 9 or 10 year old, he looks fit to be in Dauntless while I don't. I just hope people take me seriously because if they don't then they will end up in even more pain than before.
"You have 20 minutes to get ready. You over slept." Ash says as he leaves the room.
After he says that, I jump out of bed and decide what to wear. I decide on a dark blue shirt, a pair of sport pants of the same color, black shoes, and a sleeveless jacket the same color as my shirt and pants.
After I'm dressed, I go into the bathroom and brush my teeth really quick and then I run down the stairs three at a time to see my parents and Ash walk out the door once they see me. I get to the bottom of the stairs and run out the door faster than before. For the second time this week it's my fault we almost miss the bus.
We catch the bus just as it's about to drive off. We get on the bus, but unlike yesterday there are open seats for my parents, Ash, and myself. We sit down and I think of how I purposefully put on clothes that look of a dark blue that is almost black. I wanted to look like I belonged to Dauntless in the very beginning.
My parents don't question my clothes as if they know that I'm already going to choose Dauntless. I see the look in their eyes and it's a look of understanding. I think I know what it means but I'm not positive.
I must have been thinking for about 10 minutes because we're at the building already. We get off the bus and go inside to the elevator. The elevator is mostly empty, so we get in and wait for it to fill up and then we go up to the twentieth floor.
We get in alphabetical order which means Ash is before me and Zeke is before both of us. This year it's Dauntless' turn to do the opening ceremony.
"My name is Eric and I welcome you all to this year's choosing ceremony where the 16 year olds choose what faction to go to. They will grab the knife I hand them and will cut their palm and let the blood drip into the bowl of their choice. Each bowl represents a faction. Lit coals for Dauntless, gray stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, earth for Amity, and glass for Candor. We will go in alphabetical order from A-Z. First is Robyn Brown."
Robyn (an Amity girl) walks up and takes the knife and cuts her palm at the Amity bowl. Then she stands where the Amity's are supposed to stand.
He calls name after name and then it's finally Ash's turn.
"Ash Smith."
After he says that, Ash walks up and takes the knife from Eric. He goes to the Dauntless bowl and cuts his palm with a pained look. Then he stands where the Dauntless are suppose to.
"Samantha Smith."
I walk up there without a moment's hesitation and take the knife from him and cut my palm over the Dauntless bowl without feeling the pain of the cut and then I walk over to the Dauntless line. He calls the last name.
After that we take off and I see my parents look of understanding again. They knew we were going to choose Dauntless and they don't feel betrayed. That's good to know. I think to myself.
We go toward the stairs and start running down them and I wonder why until it hits me that this is for the fun of being reckless. I'm the only initiate that's realized it already, but I push that thought aside and concentrate on preserving my energy. We get to the bottom of the stairs and I have even more adrenalin running through my veins than before. I run faster and find myself side by side with Zeke.
"I see you have a lot of energy." Zeke says as he realizes that I'm beside him.
"I always have, but I was never allowed to use it for anything." I say as I look up at him. Zeke is a very bright person and he looks taller than the first time I saw him. He's about a head taller than me and the best part is that he looks at me like I'm an equal and not a weakling.
Finally we reach the train tracks and I follow Zeke's lead and jump on the train. Everyone successfully jumps on the train except for a candor girl and an Erudite boy, who weren't fast enough to jump onto the train. I sit between my newest friend Zeke and my brother Ash. The only thing that pops into my mind is that there were ten initiate transfers and now there's eight. I wonder if we're going to lose anymore, but I hope we don't.
Zeke gets up and I take that as my cue. He goes to the open train door and jumps out, I follow suit along with Ash and everyone else. I land on my feet and feel pain strike through me, but I ignore it and start running until I find Zeke. Though Ash isn't so lucky, he lands on his side and rolls over a couple times and then gets up a little shaken up but not much.
"You looked like you've done that a thousand times."
"Huh?" I say because I don't necessarily know that voice. I look up to see a guy who looks a few years older than I am and has dark skin. "Um, thanks? I think?"
He stands on the ledge and looks at everyone. "I am Max and I am one of your five leaders in the Dauntless compound. Your fellow faction members are at the bottom and are waiting. The initiate transfers have the right to jump off first."
"We have to jump off the ledge!" Ash exclaims, "But, we could be killed."
"No one's going to die you dipwad!" I say and then walk up to the ledge. I decided I would go first since no one else has.
"You've got guts, go right ahead." Max says and then steps back, allowing me to stand on the part of the ledge he was on.
I look at Ash and Zeke to see them giving me a nod and a thumbs up, then I jump and feel the wind between my hair until I hit something and feel numb, but it's not enough to daze me. A net, I realize and then I see hand after hand and grab one. He, I realize that by the firm grip, pulls me to my feet.
"Thanks." I say giving him a semi smile. He just nods.
"Name's Four. You?" He asks me and I already know the answer.
"Sam. My name's Sam."
"First jumper-Sam!" Four shouts over his shoulder.
After he says that I hear Ash screaming as he falls and I hide a smile. Then its falling initiate after falling initiate until there's no one left to jump.