I stand with the other Abnegation born initiates, next to Susan, who has a crush on Caleb. I thought they would grow old together. I thought that Caleb would stay and I would leave and he and Susan would get married and have a family and live a selfless life together.
After the last girl chooses Amity we are allowed to go. I look over at Caleb standing with the Erudite, and he stands talking to another initiate, a smile on his face. I look over at my parents and see my father's proud eyes looking back at me.
All the other factions leave before us and then we are left to clear up. We gather around the outside of the circle again while Tobias stands at the podium.
'I will be one of the people to lead you through your initiation,' he explains. 'Mary, Angela, and Matthew will be the other three to help.' He indicates to his left at the three people. 'We are here to help.'
One of the girls, Mary, walks up to the podium as Tobias stands aside. 'The abnegation born initiates and the transfers will work together to help the community. You will live in the initiation quarters in town. Firstly you will help to tidy up in here before we go back.'
They all step down and start to help clear away the chairs. The initiates follow suit. I start collecting chairs behind me. I breath a sigh of relief. I haven't ventured into the unknown, I feel safe. I am used to helping to tidy up.
Susan sticks by my side, collecting chairs, but staying quiet. We take the chairs to the storage room and stack them neatly. Then we help to clean out the bowls, and carry them, as a team, to the storage area too. The bowls are heavy and it takes three or four of us to each bowl to carry it safely.
'He didn't leave to leave you,' I say to Susan, thinking back to the books I caught a glimpse of in Caleb's room. 'I could tell he liked you too.'
Susan smiles at me and then turns away again. I hear a sniff. I bow my head, maybe I made it worse.
'Beatrice,' I hear my fathers voice. 'Talking makes us slower.'
I nod quietly.
They tend to never kick anyone out of the initiation for abnegation, they are too selfless to force anyone to be factionless. So I guess this is the safest place for me. The safest place for a divergent.
