So here ya go. I'm updating so much now! Whoo
Disclaimer: I'm not even going to bother.
(Fine. I don't own Divergent.)
"Choose wisely, little boy."
I hurry away from the factionless sector before finally slowing down to a normal pace again. I am almost home when I hear the sounds of laughter from Samuel, Roberta and Callie. At school we are quite and we don't try to draw attention to ourselves, but home is when the fun and jokes start. All of three walk up the steps. Callie and Samuel just stand there, and Roberta and I exchange glances like we often do when they flirt in the tentative way known only to the Abnegation. Roberta clears her throat, and Samuel walks down the steps after a quiet goodbye. Callie just stands there for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.
"Where were you?" She asks curiously, and I shrug, trying not to show that I'm lying.
"I think that liquid they gave us made me sick. Just don't tell Mom and Dad, okay?" I ask, and she nods. We enter the house, and I groan inwardly. My father made dinner last night, my brother cooked breakfast this morning, and my mother made lunch for us, so it is my turn to cook. I walk into the kitchen and start defrosting four pieces of chicken when Callie walks in to help me. I curse her under my breath.
Always being so damn selfless.
After thirty minutes dinner is ready, and my mother and father walk in to sit down at the dinner table.
"I heard from some people at the volunteer agency that there was a problem with one of the tests. Do you have any idea what that could be?" My father kindly asks, and I shake my head. I could never be Candor.
"I have no idea," my sister sweetly replies.
My sister could not be Candor either.
My father and mother quietly talk during dinner, with my sister and I only spoken when spoken to, in pure Abnegation fashion. My mother and father have their hands on the table, with my mother stroking her fingers over his knuckles. I am shocked to say the least, physical gestures in Abnegation are very rare. My mother starts talking about an Erudite report about Marcella and I raise my head.
"There have been reports about Marcella?" I ask, and immediately regret it. I should not be asking questions, because curiosity is for self-benefit. My mother says that we should listen during dinner, because after dinner our parents give us their listening ears. Then again, I probably won't be sitting at this table any longer after tomorrow.
"Yes." My mother says, putting her fork down.
"They're spreading reports about she allegedly abused her daughter, Tovia, and that's why she left for Dauntless two years ago." I remember Tovia. Everyone does. People rarely transfer out of Abnegation, and when they do, it is remembered. Tovia's father mysteriously died in a car crash trying to get to the birth of Tovia's younger sibling. The infant died minutes later.
"I just can't believe the nerve of those blasted Erudite! How dare they-" my mother starts, but my father calms her down. We finish dinner in silence with my sister sending me glares over her food. After dinner my mother and father do the dishes, saying we need to think on our choice for tomorrow. Usually we sit in the living room and talk about our day, but today is different. Callie and I walk up the stairs. Callie stops at the point that she goes to her room and I go to mine. She puts a hand on my arm and looks into my eyes.
"We must think about our parents. But. But we must also think of ourselves," My sister says mysteriously, and before I can ask her what that means, she just walks into her room. I ponder her words for a few minutes before walking into my room.
That night, I toss and turn thinking of my options. It would be selfless to choose Abnegation. It would be brave to choose Dauntless. Simply picking one over the other may prove that I belong.
The next morning, we show up at the building where the Choosing Ceremony is being taken place, and I can feel my stomach doing flip-flops. We start to walk into the elevator, but give up our space for a cluster of Amity. We march up the steps with the Abnegation that have taken example of us, our steps echoing in unison. There are times that I love it here, the safety, the uniformity of it all, but then I remember the grey clothes and plain food and restraint that I always feel. I feel bad for leaving my family, but my parents will forgive me, being Abnegation.
"See you soon," My mother says to my sister. Not even a trace of doubt. My father smiles at me and pulls me in for a rare hug.
"No matter what you choose, remember we will always love you," My father says, and when I look into his eyes I feel like he can tell that I am going to transfer.
We line up in alphabetical order and listen to the opening speech. The responsibility to host the Ceremony rotates every year, and this year is Abnegation's turn. Marcella gives the opening speech.
"After the war, things were in chaos. We formed the factions in order to keep the peace. All the virtues that are respected are what we thought would prevent more wars. Those who blamed violence formed Amity," Marcella starts, and the Amity exchange kind smiles with each other. I am not fit for Amity.
"Those who blamed dishonesty formed Candor," she continues. I cannot be Candor, I lie too easily. "Those who blamed ignorance formed Erudite," Not going to Erudite was the only part of this decision that was easy. "Those who blamed selfishness formed Abnegation," I blame selfishness, I do.
"Those who blamed cowardice formed Dauntless," She finishes, and the Dauntless deafen me with their cheers and stomps.
"Let us get on with it, shall we?" The ceremony goes in reverse alphabetical order, so Callie will choose before me. The people go by in a blur. I faintly register the first transfer, a girl who is immediately shamed by her former faction.
"Callie Prior," Marcella calls, and I tune back in. I go up to see her drag the knife against her wrist, barely registering it, and hesitating before pouring her blood into the reddish water of the Erudite.
How did I not see it? The stacks of books on her desk. I remember, a long time ago, when my mother was in the hospital, my sister saying it was only a hairline fracture and that she would be okay in a month or two. I thought she was reassuring her at the time, but now I realize that it was just something she had read in a book somewhere. The classic Erudite thirst for knowledge. I hear several gasps from the Abnegation, and see self-satisfied smirks from the Erudite. I crane my head to see my mother pursing her lips, staring straight ahead. My father nods at me and smiles, and I wince inwardly. How can I transfer now?
I faintly hear my name being called, and my feet transport me up the steps, with me wondering how my legs still work. Marcella hands me the knife, and I slowly cut into my hand, not even registering the pain. I swivel and look at all my options. The glass of Candor. The smooth grey stones of Abnegation. The used-to-be clear water of Erudite. Earth for Amity. And the lit coals for Dauntless. I position myself in front of the tables with the coals and the stones on it. I will be child that stays, I will. I thrust my hand out in between the tables, the blood dripping onto the carpet. My blood dripping onto the stones. My blood sizzling on the coals.
I swivel my feet and my blood hits the coals that represent Dauntless.
I am selfish.
I am brave.
Whoooooooooooo
Drama bomb! Then again, you guys already know what happens.
~Natacha