The Flame

Chapter 3

TRIS POV

My back jaw aches in the early hours of Sunday. He hasn't spoken to me at all this morning. No apologies. Simply a glare of anger. Sometimes an apologetic look. Later in the afternoon, around three, I pack a snack and go to see Four. I hang my head low in hopes they wouldn't see the bluish-purple bruise forming.

When I get to the place, Four is already there.

"Wow" he says, crossing his arms "Did you get in a fight?"

"No" I state, "My dad was being a dick"

I toss him an apple, and bite into mine, "Totally hated me for entering The Selection, so he lost it, I guess. Hopefully he doesn't do it again, though"

I sat on a nearby rock.

"I saw your picture" he says, sitting down next to me.

"You did?"

"Yah" he says, "I mean, wow, I have never seen you smile like that"

"Yah" I say, pulling my knees to my chest, "It's not like I'm going to get picked though" I take another bite.

"Who knows? May be you'll be the very last one on the list" he says, leaning back, looking up at the cloudy sky.

"I can't believe it's tomorrow, though" I say, "The Selection, I mean" I lean back on the rock, "I think the queen and king need to up their game"

Wow Tris. That was random.

"What do you mean?"

"They should work on letting people transfer factions" I say, biting into my apple again, "I can't even get into the Dauntless compound, because of the wall dividing the factions"

"Oh" he says, "That's not a bad idea, you know? Getting people to choose which faction they want to be in, that way if someone else has a different personality trait than the faction they were born into, and then they know what faction they truly belong in"

I nod, "Exactly" I say, "You sound a lot like him, the prince I mean, using all those sophisticated words"

"What?" he asks, "What's sophisticated word did I use?"

"Sophisticated" I say, smiling, and he laughs.

"Why don't you ever take off your mask?" I ask, suddenly.

I am full of random questions today, aren't I?

I can't believe I've never asked him that question.

He stiffens, "I just don't want you to see my eyes"

What? His eyes?

"Are you like, cursed or something?"I ask, sitting up. .

"No" he says, sitting up, like me"I just don't want you to know who I am"

"Wow "I say, "I show you my face, and you don't show me yours"

"That's just how it goes" he says. He takes another bite into his apple. Never. He will mostly likely never show me his face.

"For now"

PAGE BREAK PAGE BREAK

"And now" King Marcus says, "The ladies of The Selection"
I sit down on the floor looking at the television.

I am afraid I'll get picked. But I'm also I won't. If I get picked, then I'll most likely lose in humiliating defeat. If I don't get picked, I have to live the same BORING faction for the rest of my life.

"Emerald Meyers of Candor "was the first one.

"Vanessa Kinaco of Amity" was the second.

"Kierra Peters of Dauntless" was the third.

"Melanie Gratuka of Candor" was the fourth.

The list went on. I waited to see if Four was right. If I would be the last.

I waited for the last two.

"Alexandra Carney of Amity" was the thirty-fourth.

"Beatrice Prior of Abnegation" My eyes widen. I was the last one on the list. My heart felt like it stopped pounding for a second. I have been picked. Caleb's book is heard dropping on the ground, and his jaw is dropped; I did not see him standing there.

"Beatrice?" Caleb asks, "You-"

"I did now shut up" I say. My heart is still pounding. I actually have a small percentage that I can actually live a different life. We have to live the same. We didn't always have factions; no. First we had districts, when a girl named Katniss Everdeen went against the system and did what she wanted. I want to be like her. Then castes, which Maxon and America, currently grandparents, dissolved. I want to be like them. Change something about our boring system. May be even let people transfer factions.

"Now" King Marcus said, "Ladies, officials will be there tomorrow"

Today I am known. Today I will always be known as the first Stiff to make it in The Selection.

O.O PAGE BREAK O.O

After I answered a few phone calls, officials came and went. My dad wouldn't look at me. It's been almost five days since he punched me. Four since I last saw Four. I intend on seeing him one more time, if he can, but who knows?

With the guards following me around, I doubt it. I got fitted for my dress. I must have the smallest size of all the girls competing; I have a tiny frame.

Two days before I left, a man went over the rules with me. I didn't want anyone else there but me; I did enter the Selection without my parents noticing, but I blame Four.

"Now that you are a part of The Selection, you must take care of your body. I will read the rules, and if I ask you a question, you will answer me honestly" I nod "First off, any failure to these rules will have you pulled out of the Selection or worse"

I nod.

" Very good. Let's start with the easy stuff. These are vitamins. You must take one of these every day. You're on your own now, but at the palace, you'll have someone to help you."

I nod.

" I have with me the physical from your doctor. Not much of a worry there. You seem to be in excellent health, although he said you haven't been sleeping well"

"I mean.." I stutter, "I was just….thinking a lot about the palace" Lie. I wasn't. I was just so overwhelmed by everything happening, and the fact that I'll see the prince, or that I'll never see Four again… I can't tell him about Four.

"Now, we need to know that you are indeed a virgin" he says, "Here it says you are, but just to make sure, you are, correct?"

I nod, "Yes, I am" I can't help but let the heat rush to my cheeks.

"Now for the actual rules" he says, flipping some pages, "Ah here, You cannot leave the palace of your own accord. You have to be dismissed by the prince himself. Even the king and queen cannot force you out. They can tell the prince they do not approve of you, but he makes every decision on who stays and who leaves"

I nod.

"There is no set timeline for the Selection. It can be over in a matter of days or stretch into years"

Years? That's a while.
"It normally lasts a few months but who knows?" the man says, "You do not arrange your times with the prince. He will seek you out for one-on-one company if he wants it. If you are in a larger social setting and he is present, that is different. But you do not go to him without invitation" He looks up at me, and I nod.

"While no one expects you to get along with the other thirty-four contestants, you are not to fight with them or sabotage them. If you are found laying hands on another contestant, causing her stress, stealing from her, or doing anything that might diminish her personal relationship with the prince, it is in his hands whether or not to dismiss you on the spot. Your only romantic relationship will be with Prince Tobias. If you are found writing love notes to someone here or are caught in a relationship with another person in the palace, that is considered treason and is punishable by death"

Four. The only person who worries me is Four. He said he would go to the palace; what if he's caught?

If you are found breaking any of our written laws, you will receive the punishment tied to that offense. Your status as one of the Selected does not put you above the law. You must not wear any clothes or eat any food that is not specifically provided for you by the palace. This is a security issue and will be strictly enforced.

On Fridays you will be present for all Capital Report broadcasts. On occasion, but always with warning, there will be cameras or photographers in the palace, and you will be courteous and allow them to see your lifestyle with the prince.

For each week you stay at the palace, your family will be compensated. I will give you your first check before I leave. Also, should you not stay at the palace; an aide will help you adjust to your life after the Selection. Your aide will assist you with final preparations before you leave for the palace, as well as help you seek new housing and employment afterward.

Should you make it to the top ten; you will be considered Elite. Once you reach that status, you will be required to learn about the particular inner workings of the life and obligations you would have as a princess. You are not permitted to seek out such details before that time

And should you go to the end, you will marry Prince Tobias and become the crowned princess of Iléa and take on all the rights and responsibilities of that title. Do you understand?"

I do; I really do, but can I follow them? Especially the one about other romantic relationships. I suck in a breath. I can follow them, or at least pretend to.

"I understand"

"Great! Now that you've agreed, just sign this form right here "he says, passing me a form, which I sign. I sign hesitantly, but I sign.

I gave it to him, and he asked if I would show him to the door, and I did. It was kind of awkward.

"One more thing," he said with his hand on the handle.

"This isn't exactly a rule, but it would be unwise of you to ignore it. When you are invited to do something with the prince, you do not refuse. No matter what it is. Dinner, outings, kisses—more than kisses—anything. Do not turn him down."

My eyes widen. Does he mean intimacy? I have never seen even a kiss in my whole life, let alone kissed anyone.

"Uhhhh…" I drag on.

"I know it sounds … unbecoming. But it would not behoove you to reject the prince under any circumstances. Good evening, Miss Prior"

As he leaves, I chuckle.

"He said 'behoove'" I say to myself.

As I entered my room, I grabbed some pants and climbed out the window, hoping to see Tobias one last time.

I run towards the bushes, and dive for it, hoping no one saw me. I crawl, out of breath, towards the tree, and I sit on the rock I was on before.

"You came" a voice says. I smile. He's here.

"I did" I say, "I just had to tell you that you can't be in the castle, or they'll kill you-"

"I work at the castle" he says, "That's why I'm not in a faction. I work at the castle"

"Oh" I say, "Makes sense"

"Yah, I'll visit your room may be" he says.

"I already know what it looks like, I've been there and you have nice maids, really nice maids and-"

"Slow down" I say, "It's taking me a while to register that you are a guard, don't dump all this information on me now"

He nods, "Sorry, I just wanted to tell you before you were swarmed by social media"

I laugh, "It's okay, but they'll be looking for me soon, I'll have to go"

He nods, "Just give me one more hug"

I nod. He wraps his arms around me, and I burry my head in his chest. I will miss this. I will.

"Four" I say, "Please visit me"

"I will"

"You better"

"I will"

I smile into his chest.

"Now go" he says, pulling away, "I'll see you soon, okay?"

I nod.

He slips away, and I walk towards my house, where camera men fill the house, interviewing my parents, and my brother. But all I want to do is plump down on my bed, and have a good nights sleep.

I'll eventually get to that.

Thank You all SOOOO much for the good feedback!

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Isi