Chapter Two
I awoke to Christina repeatedly tapping lightly on my shoulder.
"Tris, you need to get ready, and quick! Everyone has to be assembled in the hall in two minutes!" She explained.
After recovering from the deep sleep, I attempted to stand up, steadying myself on one of the wooden beams of the bunk bed. I noticed that Christina was wearing her new top. It was black I colour and cropped just before her waist. It had short, slashed sleeves and a large hole in the back. As she turned to face me, the top boasted a beautiful metallic unicorn shape. It shone prettily as she moved slightly, reflecting off the lights.
"Lovely top!" I exclaimed.
"Thanks" she beamed.
It was after admiring her unique top when I realised I too needed to get dressed. Carelessly, I slung on some jeans and a plain black vest top, also putting on a large, knitted grey cardigan. I tugged firmly through my bed hair and tied it messily with an elastic at the crown of my head. I had no time for make-up, so I would just have to survive with bare skin.
Christina and I shuffled apprehensively down the corridors towards the hall. When we got to the hall, I was shocked to see the female Dauntless gathered on one side of the room and the male Dauntless assembled on the other. Why are we divided like this? I thought.
Eric cleared his throat and everyone turned to face him quietly.
"Girls, follow Lauren. Lads, follow me." He demanded firmly.
Panic-stricken, I scanned the bustling crowd of men for Tobias, but there were too many people. Huge waves of panic devoured my thoughts. Where are we going? What if I never see Tobias again? What if Eric knows my secret? What if I die? What if... There were so many probably unlikely scenarios flooding into my mind rapidly.
Lauren lead us to several trucks. My heart started pounding explosively and my breaths got heavier and more frequent. I was too absorbed in fear to hear what someone (most likely Christina) was mumbling to me.
Several other Dauntless as well as Lauren briskly guided us into the trucks. Fortunately, I was with Christina which reassured me a little. Cautiously, I sat on one of the benches in between Christina and Lynn.
"W-w-where are we g-going?" I managed to shakily stutter.
Lynn just blanked me but Christina replied,
"I'm not sure Tris." She looked around warily and then squeezed my hands nervously. "I'm really not sure..."
After what seemed like all the female population of the city had noisily piled into the vehicles, the engines groaned unwillingly as we unsteadily travelled down the roads.
Colossal buildings menacingly towered over us as the truck bumped harshly along the dusty roads. The town wore a veil of mist and when I looked up I saw thick, grey clouds conquering the sky far past the horizon. I saw people (presumably factionless) trudging along the abandoned streets, their posture withered and their expression hopeless. A feeling of sympathy grew inside me as I realised how lucky I was to get through initiation rather than being dismissed and sent to live with them.
The direction we were going in was unfamiliar. I continued to clutch Christina's hand tightly, wishing for a drop of hope in the vast ocean of fear that I was drowning in.