DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN SHIT ALL. IF I DID I WOULD BE ROLLING IN DOUGH AND NOT STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL, BRUH

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM/ FEEDBACK ARE MUCH APPRECIATED SINCE I'M A TRASH CAN.

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT, GUYS! School just started and it's already getting out of hand. Argh, damn you law program! But hey! This is a long ish chapter, which hopefully will make up for the wait! Although fair warning, we're only meeting Eric in the next chapter :/ Sorry, guys!

ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO REVIEWED/ FOLLOWED/ FAVORED THIS STORY! :D

WARNING:

I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO FOLLOW THE BOOK, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I DO PLAN ON SHIFTING TO MAKE IT FLOW BETTER IN MY STORY! ALSO, I WILL START WRITING IN DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEWS.

I.E: FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, MAYBE OCCASIONALLY ERIC'S AND MOST LIKELY FROM A THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW.

ANY WHO, without further ado, (heehee that rhymed)


CHAPTER 4

- The Choice Is Mine -

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I let out a heavy groan of annoyance at the consistent beeping. Stretching out my hand, I try and reach for my tablet to stop the horrible noise that was probably invented by Satan himself.

Where the fuck is my stupid tablet?

Getting out from under my covers, I let out a loud yawn and rub my eyes while looking for the object of my torture. As you can see, I am clearly not a morning person despite the great sleep I had the night before.

Finding the tablet under my bed, I dismiss the alarm and get up to do my daily morning stretches half awake.

After finishing off a few poses, I finish in a split; my legs spread horizontally perpendicular from my legs and my body coming down to touch the floor.

I let out a soft sigh as the tension of my body releases.

I haven't felt this at peace for a month, and it's been nearly four years since I was this optimistic about my future. Moving my legs in front of me, I curl them and jump upwards with my arms in front of me for balance.

If the thought of leaving this Faction made me this happy, imagine how much happier I'd be when I go to the place where I truly belong in?

As I go into to joint washroom from my room, I think of my results from the aptitude test while doing my daily routine.

Going in the shower, I turn the tap on and start shampooing my wet hair. Thinking back to it all, it's pretty obvious that I belong to Abnegation.

Despite the fact that I have an eidetic memory, my characteristics and how I am do not belong in Erudite. Like most people born here, I love reading. I love getting lost in the books – whether they're books about facts or a novel in a fantasy world, they are my means of escape here for a short while. However, I don't have a thirst for knowledge, and I am not competitive when it comes to grades or being on the top. Even with the ability to retain everything I come across, it has never made me want to try any harder in school.

Scrubbing my hair and washing off the shampoo, I then apply the conditioner on the lower half of my hair.

As for Amity, I'm not a people person; my social skills aren't exactly what someone would qualify as…good. I'm not exactly all happy-go-lucky. I mean, I'm all for peace, hello, trying to save Beatrice from all impending doom and whatnot but the whole, "Let's go around a camp fire and sing songs," is definitely not my thing. Candor isn't an option either. I know that sometimes I don' have a filter and can't control what I say, but honesty has never been my forte either.

I heave a sigh and wash the conditioner off before grabbing the body wash.

However, out of all five Factions (minus Abnegation), Dauntless would be the least agreeable place for me. I am not loud, I'm hardly reckless and I most certainly am not brave. I have the courage of a walnut…which mind you is supposed to be a metaphor for NONE AT ALL. I admire the people of Dauntless, they are strong and resilient; they are the guardians and protectors of us all and I would never have it in me to be or do what they do.

Shaking my head of all this, I wash off and step out the shower stall, wrap myself with a towel, and grab the hair serum that's supposed to straighten my wavy hair. Should I? With a grin on my face, I put it back on the self – it doesn't matter. I belong in Abnegation, I think cheekily to myself.

As I walk out the washroom, I look into my dresser for something to wear. Since I'm in Erudite, our primary colors are white and blue – no gray. I put on some black, lacy undergarments. Today is a special day, and hey, every girl needs to own a piece of lingerie sometime in their adolescent hood. At least that's what I've read in a fictional book once.

Looking back at the selection of clothes I have, I settle for a light blue pencil skirt that shapes my legs well. They were the closest thing to grey I own. As for my top, I settled for a cotton black tank top with a white button up blouse. Black and white make grey right? I turn to my door to go to get some food before leaving.

Right as I turn, my reflection caught my eye. Just yesterday I looked like a completely different person. My eyes, although still filled with determination, now had life and hope in them. My cheeks were flushed with a barely noticeable blush from the excitement coursing through my body and my full lips were turned up.

I am happy. I stare a little longer until I decide on something without hesitating. I grab my brush from my dresser, and with great care, roll it into a donut bun like I've seen most Abnegation females wear.

Twisting my head left and right I look to see if I've miss any hair on my nape before slipping my fingers around my wrist and getting my favorite worn out elastic and tying it up.

Although it wasn't as well done the bun I see Beatrice wear at school, I am confident that it suits me. I nod to my own reflection, grab my tablet, and walk out my room.

Upon entering my kitchen I freeze involuntarily.

My mother is at the table is seems to be waiting for me to arrive for us to have breakfast.

We haven't had breakfast together since he died.

My mother nods to acknowledge my presence and gestures to the chair in front of her.

As I cautiously take my seat and set my tablet besides me, I take in all the food laid out in front of use; a bowl fresh fruit, a plate of warm, well cooked eggs with a side of bacon. The voice at the back of my head snarls. This isn't fair, there are people out there dying from starvation and here we are with most food than we can both eat on an empty stomach.

"Eat," my mother orders me, I stare at her. "Eat," she repeats, "you'll need your energy for today. It's an important day, honey."

Not once is the past four years, has she ever cared about my health, nor has she ever called me "honey". Not even before the incident has she ever used terms of endearments towards me.

I raise my eyebrows in question and she raises hers as well, as if saying, "Are you going to disobey me?"

Looking down, I start eating, but only to try and figure out what this is supposed to be.

What the hell is going on here?

After a moment of silence, she speaks, not even touching her food. "Jeanine's been asking about your work lately."

I tense and look up to see her steely gaze staring right at me. Something's not right, but I can't tell what it is.

"We've been giving you your space, Anna. We don't interfere with your work, and we don't even as for scheduled reports or updates, but it's been four years, honey," Ugh, there's that word again, "and we need some answers. How much closer are you to finishing to detector for help us find those Divergent scums?"

My eyebrows raise even higher at her blatant use of the 'D' word (not that 'D' word you perverts).

After not responding for a few seconds and instead staring at her, she slams her arms of the dining table – making me jump in surprise from the unexpected action.

"We need answers soon, Anna! Don't you understand the importance of it all? Does humanity mean nothing to you?" her voice getting more hysterical and frustrated after every word.

Losing my appetite at the mention of humanity, I gently put my fork down despite the forceful and tight grip I had on it. Taking a deep breathe, I look at my mother straight in the eye, "I've told you for the past month now, mother. This detector that you and Jeanine want me to create is impossible to make. I've worked four years on it, four years, and I have updated to you both about the possibilities, but as of late, I have learnt that it is impossible to make,"

"You're a liar!" She spat with such disdain that I almost recoiled at the hatred laced in the words.

Taking a deep and controlled breathe, I close my eyes a count to 5. When I open them again, she looks at me with a frazzled look in her eyes. Her young eyes, which were filled with life, are now sharp and old from bitterness and her face were lined with subtle wrinkles. Her once sleek straight hair was now thinning and grimly looking.

I can't believe I wanted her approval for two years before I realized it was a useless desire. I can't believe that actually thought that if I could've made what she needed, she would have come back to me as my mother. I should have seen it sooner, but my mother is gone. She died when my father and he did. This is just an angry shell left behind to rot in bitterness.

I look straight into her eyes unflinchingly, "You call me whatever you want, but I have tried and failed. Despite yours and father's background along with this memory of mine, I couldn't find a solution – a formula that could find these people for you," I spat the word father out as if it left a bad after taste in my mouth. This is why I can't be in Candor, honesty is not my policy, "and this is useless. This – this hunt that Jeanine has you caught up in, it's practically genocide!"

Her steely gaze hardened, Shit, I let out that I know of Jeanine's plan.

"You will not raise your voice and use that tone of voice with me, young lady! I am your mother –"

"Mo – Mother?" I cry out indignantly, completely forgetting about her not catching on that I knew, "You're really going to call yourself that about practically abandoning me four for years when I needed you the most? Where were you when I needed you – when I came out the hospital – when I woke up crying all alone in the middle of the night? Where were you, huh? "

I didn't give her a chance to answer as I continued on, "Oh, that's right, you were never there, so let me ask you this, why should I continue helping you when this is obviously a useless endeavor? Is it because I'm your daughter and I owe you? I don't owe you shit, lady," this was the first time I've ever cursed out loud, "Not after you left me to him, that pathetic excuse of a –"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Saved by the accursed item that Satan made himself, I think to myself.

Looking down, my alarm on my tablet tells me that I'll need to leave soon if I want to make it there on time.

Not making eye contact with her, I calmly push myself out, grab my tablet and walk to the front door.

"And where do you think you're going?"

I stop my tracks as soon as I slipped my feet into a pair of somewhat comfortable but low black heels with one hand on the doorknob.

Turning around and looking over my shoulder, I throw her words right back her, "It's an important day, honey," I sneer.

"We will be continuing this discussion when you get back," she said with a tone of finality.

I give her a look as she stares back. I already knew that she wasn't going to the ceremony but it was still discerning to see how sure she was that I was going to come back – like this wasn't a day that decided the rest of my fate. It was like the thought has never occurred to her before. I stare at her until she breaks eye contact.

Trying to assert her role to me as a mother, she flips her hair over her shoulder, crosses her arms and leans on one foot.

I almost snort at the image she made, "No, we won't,"

She opened her mouth to talk again before I cut her off, "because I won't be coming back. Goodbye, mother."

Turning around I take my pale blue blazer off the hook on the wall and open the door. I didn't need to look back to know that her mouth was dropped open and gaping. I didn't need an actual visual on her red face and furious eye; and certainly, hearing her throw things and making them break on the wall was most definitely satisfying enough.

xxx

Walking into the Hub, I join my peers as I make it right on time and squeezed in between the seats to take my assigned place. I sigh softly at all that happened in the morning.

Every year, a different Faction makes hosts the Choosing ceremony. This year is Abnegation, led by Marcus Eaton, one of the council members. As he started his speech of 'faction over blood', I think back to what happened.

It started off as one of the best morning I've ever had in a long time and ended up taking a turn to being one of the worst.

Looking forward as I slip my feet out of the heels, I tell myself that this day cannot get any worse. I refuse to let that woman ruin what is supposed to be a milestone for me. This is my day and mine alone. Nothing can make it any worse because I control my fate from now on.

I zone out and massage my feet inconspicuously. Huh, maybe they weren't as comfortable as I thought since my feet are already sore from just walking.

Before I even know it, names are being called up.

"Caleb Prior,"

My head snaps into attention at the Prior name. That's Beatrice's brother. From what I recall, he'll mostly stay in Abnegation since he's one of the most selfless people I've ever seen. Then again, people are known to do the things you least suspect when you don't expect it like –

"Erudite," Marcus announces.

He chose Erudite.

The noise from the crowd rises as he walks to my section. It's almost scandalous as he is the son of Andrew Prior, another council member; what's even worse the fact that there has been a huge amount of tension between both factions – nearly thick enough to cut through with a butter knife.

Wait. Beatrice's brother chose Erudite. One of the most selfless people ever –

My thoughts are cut off as the crowd is finally silenced.

"Beatrice Prior,"

We all watch her rise and walk uncertainly towards the bowls.

Every step she takes, I hear the beating of my heart resonate in my skull.

Everything is happening so slow but so fast at the same time.

Nonononono – she can't!

No matter what, Beatrice cannot choose Erudite. I took it for granted that she was from Abnegation but it has finally occurred to me that just because I got Abnegation as my results doesn't she did.

I pray to every deity and god I've ever read about for her not to choose this Faction. If she does it'll only make everything even more complicated and worse for her. I don't know if I'll be able to protect her here.

Anything but Erudite! Anything but here – please, please, please – I'll sing in front of a camp fire, I'll always be honesty. Fuck, I'll even jump out a moving train if I have to! Anything but –

The sound of sizzling coal echoes in my ears despite the fact that it should be impossible for me to hear it. It's loud and it rings in my ears so loud that I can barely hear Marcus announce her choice.

"Dauntless,"

A loud cheer to the right of the Hub is heard as I stare at her back while she takes her new seat.

I am frozen in my seat.

It hardly registers in my mind what I have to do now. Everything is so slow – I feel disorientated. Everything feels muffled and slow as I watch people from my faction starting to get called.

At least she's not here, right? My mind points our weakly.

I grimly smile to myself, Maybe there is a god out there – if so, he's a total dick for being such a –

"Anna Simone,"

Everyone from my faction looks at me, and my neck snaps all the way to the front. I stand up abruptly before remembering my heels.

I sit back down instantly and try and reach down for my heels without looking like a complete fool. I hear some snickers from my fellow peers who have probably heard of my clumsiness.

With my heels in place, I move past the seats and walk down the aisle towards the table with the bowls that will determine my fate.

I can feel the heat on my face as I straighten up.

With the confidence that I didn't have, I look straight into Marcus Eaton's eyes without truly seeing him. I take the knife he hands me and look down.

Five bowls.

One full of grey stones for Abnegation, another with water for Erudite, one with soft earth of Amity, one with glass for Candor and the last… it is filled with sizzling coal for Dauntless.

Looking to the right through the corner of my eyes, I see both Abnegation and Dauntless.

I need to make a choice, and it pains me that I don't even hesitant when I have both choices in front of me.

Looking back down, I see the knife and part of my reflection. Just like this morning I nod at the determined look in my eyes. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, I have made up my mind.

Slicing my palm, I thrust my arm onto the bowl and squeeze my palm tightly. I barely flinch at the pain as I watch my blood slip between the cracks of my fist. I don't hear the sound of sizzling coal when my blood hits it.

I only hear the cheers from the Dauntless Faction.

I walk and take a seat in the front as someone moved over to make room for me.

Maybe it's the Abnegation in me that made me join a Faction I don't belong in. After all, who else would sacrifice their future at happiness for someone who barely knows them? Such selfless acts only belong in Abnegation, I scoff mentally to myself.

I am suddenly reminded of the promise I made myself two days ago before the aptitude test in front of my mirror.

It doesn't matter what results I get, I know what I have to do. I will protect Beatrice Prior.

I almost snort out loud when I remembered what I thought of at the beginning of the ceremony.

And I thought things couldn't get any worse.


AN: Hey, guys! I really hoped you all enjoyed that :D TROLOLOLOOLOLLOLOOOOOOL

Sorry for the whole jam packing all that stuff in the beginning. I was just so excited to write! As mentioned above from the very top of my AN, school's already been hectic already but I promise you, I WILL NOT ABANDON THIS STORY! I was so happy and excited when I got emails on reviews and followers that I, no joke, walked into a hand sanitizer machine because I was so distracted! It was pretty embarrassing too since I did a man grunt and several people around me heard -.-

Anyways, I really appreciate those who took the time to review/favor/follow this story! It warms up my heart like how you warm up when you pee your pants :3…ewww, for some reason I thought that was clever but then reading it…well it's more nasty than anything…OH WELP, VAT CAN YA DO?

Please leave a review if you have time on what you think/want if you have time I love hearing from you people! That being said, I need to go do a poopoo, soooooo,

Much love y'all,

- Jam