Chapter 3
I felt myself fly through the air and as my feet collided with the ground I bent my knees and allowed the rest of the momentum to push me into a roll.
I turned around to look for Peter and found him tangled in a group other initiates that had jumped at the same time. I walked over to them and helped them get on their feet. "Are you guys okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine." Peter mumbled seemingly annoyed at the whole situation. The other two stood up and shook off the dirt and rumble that had found it's way in to their clothing.
"Yes, I think so. Thank you." The tallest of them responded. He was very broad and he towered over the rest of us. It wasn't hard to see why he transferred. His clothing lets me know he's from erudite. I should have paid better attention to the choosing ceremony. Then I might have known who all the initiates were with me.
Scanning over the crowd I notice that two other people were missing and I see a flash of them as the train goes around the next bend. I can't make them out, but a quick scan of the rest of us and I notice Christina nursing a gash in her left forearm.
After everybody has composed themselves, they crowd around the back of the building and a man steps on to the ledge. "My name is Eric. I am one of your leaders." He said scouring over all the initiates. "The jump off this edge is the entrance to Dauntless. This is the first of a series of tests part of the Dauntless initiation."
"Is there water at the bottom or something?" An erudite clothed initiate asked.
"I guess you'll find out. Who would like to go first?" He asked. He looked over at us and I figured he was trying to pick someone. Unfortunately for him my hand shot up just as he finished his sentence.
"I'll go!" I said drawing his attention to me. When we locked eyes he smirked at me impressed. It was then that I realized he was the man I saw earlier during the choosing ceremony. There was something about him that made me shiver. Maybe it was the way he seemed to be analyzing and processing everything.
I slowly made my way to the front of the group and climbed up on the ledge next to Eric. I looked down to see a large gapping whole in the roof of a shorter building. The darkness inside of it made my heart start to race, but I couldn't back down now. I looked up at Eric who was staring down at me. He had about a good foot over me. The sun behind him cast a shadow over his whole body and made him look even more menacing than before.
Swallowing my fear I turned around to face the crowd. If I was going to die today, I might as well go out with a bang. "By the way, peter," I said looking at him. He raised his eye brows at me. "I totally win." Peter scowled at me as everybody turned to look at him. I let out a loud laugh and tipped myself backwards.
I felt gravity pull me down and the wind whip at my back. I watched as Eric become smaller and smaller up on his ledge and then darkness engulfed me. I gasped out and then my back hit a net that shot me back in to the air after the force of my body made it stretch. After landing back on the net, I felt it tilt and I rolled against my will. I felt hands grabbing at me, helping me to my feet on the steady floor.
"Ah, a Candor. Can't say I'm surprised." I heard a voice say. I look up to see a man standing at the net. He has a lazily smile on his lips and his posture seems relaxed, but I feel the tension in his muscles. "What's your name?" He asks loudly.
"It's Sylvia." I reply standing up straighter.
"First Jumper – Sylvia!" He shouts out the dark cavern I finally take notice of. It's large and dark and filled with a small group of people. A few people whoop for me, but they all clap. I smile proudly and look up the large hole that I had just jumped through. I hear them before I see them. The next jumper yells out in fear as he falls through the hole. I help the others tilt the initiate and get them on the ground. I start to laugh when I see their face and find that it's Peter. His face is red and he looks like he might throw up.
"What's your name?" The man asks again, but Peter doesn't reply.
"Give the poor boy a minute Four. He looks like he'll be sick." A women laughs from behind him.
"He still jumped before you did when you were an initiate Lauren." The man – Four – said. Lauren shook her head and turned back around to wait for the next jumper.
"My name is Peter." Peter managed to get out.
"Second Jumper – Peter!" Four shouted out as he did for me. Peter and I stood back to allow the others to help with the net. We clapped along with every one as each jumper was named and when it was all over the initiates become separated from the Dauntless.
"Though you are all now initiates, we will be splitting in to 2 groups. Dauntless born with me please. I'm sure you don't need a tour." Lauren announces. As she walks off the dauntless born initiates follow her.
"The rest of you are with me." Four calls out. "My name is Four and although I mostly work in the control room, I will be your instructor during your initiation."
"Four?" Christina says from the middle of the group. "Like the number?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?" Four responds blandly. Christina shakes her head slightly still a bit green. Four continued to look at her for another moment before turning away. It seemed like he was getting ready for her to challenge him.
We all continued walking after him when we entered a large cavern that I could barely see the other end of when I squinted. It was full of people walking around in Dauntless clothing going in and out of the stores and restaurants carved in to the walls of the cavern. "This is the Pit." Four announces. "It may seem a bit dim now, but you'll come to love it. As all Dauntless have."
Four continues moving and as we reach a railing a roar starts to drown out the noise of the pit. We all look over the edge of the railing where the cavern floor seems to drop off to a river. I follow it's flow and notice a part of the river fighting with the rocks below. My stomach flips and I grip the railing tighter out of fear of falling.
"This is the Chasm. It's a reminder to all of the line between bravery and idiocy!" he shouts above the roar. "Some have made the jump, none have survived. Take this as your warning." His voice becomes low dark like the rumble of thunder. His threat makes me gulp and I imagine people making the jump and dying. What would possess someone to jump?
Next we start walking to a large hole in the cavern wall and come in to a cafeteria. Inside several Dauntless stand waiting for us. They instantly start cheering and stomping and I can't help but smile. Peter nudges me on my side and I look to see his smile reflecting mine. I think we both feel like we are where we belong. It feels right.
A/N
Okay guys I know this beginning is long and you want to get to some action and the two meeting (trust me I do too) But I feel like all of this is necessary to just know where they're coming from. Plus the beginning is where all the info is at and it's a nice refresher on the factions and what not. I promise it's not going to be exactly like the book/movies. I'm getting like a butterfly effect feel from this story! A few things are already different, because Tris isn't there and Sylvia is! I hope you guys are enjoying the story and if you have any ideas, thoughts, or questions let me know in the reviews! I'd love to hear what you guys are thinking!
