Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As this point there is swearing, sexually reference, and other references not meant for an audience under the age of thirteen. A bit more swearing then the books but about the same for other adult references.
"We All Fall Down"
Chapter 4 "Wind,"
Yesterday seemed almost like a dream. The look on Cara's face told her it wasn't. Cara had something between a smirk and a frown. The apartment smelt like burnt pancakes. Dorothy was almost going to miss it. She did miss edible food more though. But she wouldn't go to Dara and ask for food because she didn't want tom embarrass Cara.
"I'm sorry it's burnt, I was trying to make something special," said Cara her voice cracking.
Dorothy sighed. This was the hardest part about leaving. Leaving Cara. She could care less about her 'parents'. They lied to her. She didn't care about them. But she did care about Cara. Cara had been her best friend since she was six-years-old.
Dorothy got up and hugged Cara. They never really hugged. Hugging wasn't really a big thing in Erudite. Showing emotions wasn't very popular in Erudite. The fake glasses were way cooler then hugs. But Dorothy didn't care about anything Erudite had to say anymore.
"It's going to be okay, Cara. You know I have to leave. You won't spend your entire life alone, I know that's what you are really afraid of. I know there is someone for you. Will didn't leave because of you, I know him. He didn't tell me why and he probably never will, but I just know he left because the test told him so," said Dorothy "and let's be honest he's happy there."
"Well, at least try to act nice to Will," said Cara cautiously accepting the hug.
"I'm not angry with him. I get the temptation now. I see why it appealed to him. I'm not angry with Alex. I never really was. I just didn't like being left alone with them," said Dorothy.
"Be careful. Don't trust anyone. I still don't trust Henry. Don't let your emotions blind you. And remember put yourself first," said Cara.
Dorothy rolled her eyes. Cara always trying to be sisterly or motherly figure. She didn't need a motherly figure despite what people thought. She still remembered bits and pieces of her mother. She may have been online five when her mother disappeared, but she still remembered some things about her mother. No one could ever live up to the memory.
"I will help Will and Alex burry that boy if he hurts you," said Cara.
"Oh my god, not everything is a conspiracy," said Dorothy.
"I'm serious. Just because you like a boy doesn't mean he won't use you then stab you in the back," said Cara.
"Are you sure you aren't a Dauntless?" asked Dorothy.
"I'm very sure, thank you very much," said Cara.
"I'll miss you," said Dorothy.
"Now don't go all sappy on me. You're going to be Dauntless now," said Cara.
"Dauntless," muttered Dorothy to herself.
"Come on, let's not be late," said Cara holding open the door.
Dorothy takes a deep breath as she leaves the Erudite Headquarters. She looked back from her home. The world seemed to be spinning. The ground was pulsating in waves under her feet. She stumbled in Cara.
"Whoa there, are you okay?" asked Cara her blue eyes filled with concerned.
"Take deep breaths," reminded Cara.
Dorothy took deep breaths. Dauntless. She reminded herself what she had to become. She couldn't hesitate. That wasn't the Dauntless thing. But she wasn't just Dauntless. She was an Erudite. She was Divergent. How could she be one thing? She couldn't be. She had to be smart.
A deep inhale and exhale. She closed her eyes. She reminded herself where she was going and what she had to do. This wasn't the time to hang onto safety. She wasn't safe. She had to be afraid. The fear would keep her alive. She didn't know a lot about what she was doing, but she only knew that she was in danger.
"I'm fine," said Dorothy forcing herself to steady herself and step forward.
"It's okay to be afraid," whispered Cara.
"I am afraid, but I can do this. I have to," said Dorothy.
"Don't get arrogant," said Cara.
"Please," said Dorothy rolling her eyes.
"I'm serious. I don't want to see you with the Factionless in a few days," said Cara.
"I won't be," said Dorothy.
"You hope you won't be," corrected Cara.
"No. I won't be. I won't fail," said Dorothy firmly.
"Just don't get full of yourself. It could be your downfall. If seen plenty of Erudites of all ages succumb to arrogance," said Cara.
"Alright, fine," sighed Dorothy just to get Cara to shut up.
The elevator is crowded. Cara and Dorothy are nearly crushed by all the people. Dorothy looks over to find herself standing next to Henry. He looked over then quickly away. Dorothy frowned slightly. Cara raised her eyebrows slightly but didn't ask. There was fire Dorothy glared into the door of the elevator. It seemed to edge people away ever so slightly. No one spoke. The ding of the door comes with great relief. Everyone pushes out the doorway. A Candor boy held the door. His parents gave him a weird look.
Dorothy finds her way among the rest of Erudite. She fits into their perfect postures and serious faces. She does it because she that was what she was supposed to do. She looks over at Cara and bursts out laughing. Everyone in the aisles bellow and above them turned and glared. Dorothy just waved and smiled.
"Don't be such a smart ass," muttered Cara under her breath and elbowed Dorothy's ribs.
"Sorry," mouthed Cara.
Cara gave her best you-are-going-to-get-yourself-in-trouble look. Dorothy stuck out her tongue and rubbed her ribs. Not that it really hurt. The thought hurt more than the jab.
"Jeeze, what have you been doing? That actually hurt," whispered Cara.
"A healthy mind needs a healthy body," whispered Dorothy.
"How long were you planning this?" asked Cara frowning.
"Honestly I really wasn't planning anything. I needed a way to blow off steam," whispered Dorothy.
Jack Kang, the leader of Candor, took the stage. He was a tall man with dark brown hair and eyes. He wore a black paints, a black shirt, a white tie and a white jacket. His shoes were also black. He stood tall and his shoulders wide.
Everyone went silent. Dorothy took a deep breath. Soon she'd slide the knife across her hand it would sizzle over the coals. She'd risk everything for a chance to be free. She had nothing to lose. If she failed in Dauntless, she'd die. If she failed in Erudite, she'd be murdered. Failure wasn't an option.
"Welcome everyone to the Choosing Ceremony," said Jack cleaning his throat slightly. He was good at demanding attention. People paid attention not because they to, but because he was good speaker and knew how to get the crowds to listen to him. A very powerful and dangerous tool. "Today is the most important choice of your life. Today you choose your faction. This is the moment you either make it or you fail."
Dorothy scowled. Candors, so little tack. It's not like all these kids weren't nervous enough. Now you just tell them that this is the most important day of their lives where they will choose either live or die. Awesome idea.
"A long time ago our ancestors realized everyone was at fault for the misfortunes of the world. However, they could not agree on what the cause of the misfortunes was. Some said it was ignorance, these people became the Erudites," said Jack.
Knowledge was power without a doubt. But power went straight into the head of knowledge people and made them do stupid things. Knowledge breeds greed and pride. Those two combined can be a very deadly flaw. Dorothy knew that much. Every Erudite did, but none of them wanted to admit it.
"Some said it was deceitfulness. These people became the Candors," said Jack.
Dorothy had a deadly secret she had to keep. Candor wasn't an option. However, their honestly was honorable. It takes a quite a lot to be honest all the time. Dorothy knew how much words hurt. Sometimes more than a punch to the gut.
"Some said it was aggression, they became the Amity," said Jack.
Amity seemed like a wonderful way to live. But every fraction had its secrets. And Dorothy feared Amity's secrets. She wasn't sure why. But that sounded horrible, being happy all the time. She also didn't like plants that much either.
"Some said it was cowardice, they became the Dauntless," said Jack.
Dauntless, Dorothy's new home. She knew she could be brave. But was she brave enough? She wasn't sure, but she had to try. She might just make it there. Erudite she was trapped.
"Some said it was selfishness, they became the Abnegation," said Jack.
The life Abnegation lived was quite beautiful really. Dorothy wished she was that selfless, but she wasn't. She couldn't imagine not thinking about herself at all, it seemed impossible. She wasn't sure she could go on living life in a boring grey tone forever.
"Each faction has a function. Without one faction our city would fail. Erudite supply knowledge and curiosity. Candor provides trustworthy and fairness. Amity gives understanding and kindness. Dauntless insure our safety and peace of mind. And Abnegation aids us and provides sound leaders. It is time for you to choose your purpose within the city," said Jack.
The audience gave a round of applause. It was a good speech. Some go on forever, so Dorothy had been told, and some are so short you don't have time to think about your choice. Dorothy took a deep breath. She knew she would no longer be Erudite.
"Derry Ventura," called Jack.
For the first time Dorothy's first Dauntless friend was no longer just her Dauntless friend but a name, a real person. A real sixteen-year-old like her making the same choice as her. He seemed so calm it was unreal. Derry cuts his hand and lets the blood drip grey stone. Dauntless gasped, namely Iris, and so did Dorothy. That wasn't what she expected.
Dino Robertson was the next transfer. He left Amity for Candor. Dorothy gave him mental cheers for that. Good for hm.
"Gwen Norton," called Jack.
Gwen was a petite girl with a gentle smile. She had long wavy blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was pretty to say the least. Dorothy hadn't been close with her, but they few times they had spoken she had seemed very kind. Her blood falls onto the dirt. Dorothy wasn't very surprised. No one in Erudite showed any sort of emotion, even her family.
"Ashton Kessler," called Jack.
Ashton was brown haired and brown eyes boy. He was tall and lean. He looked like a typical Candor. Nothing too special. Well, until his blood sizzles over the coals. His mother's sobs was piercing into the minds of the teenagers remaining.
"Henry Hyatt," announced Jack.
Dorothy sat up straighter to see over other people's heads. She leaned forward slightly in her seat. She wasn't sure what she felt. She wasn't sure what last night was. She just prayed that what she told him doesn't come back to bite her. But she supposed she had a weapon as well. She watched as his blood fell onto the water. Coward, the only word that came to her mind. Cara put a hand on Dorothy's back cautiously hoping not to get her arm broken. Cara saw the horror, shock, and hurt on Dorothy's face. Cara scowl. She'd get the little rat back.
"Natalia Hanna," said Jack.
Natalia had straight flaming red hair and deep blue eyes. She had a rosy compaction. She walked with a spring to her step, which looked odd for an Erudite. She certainly would transfer. Dorothy had seen her around enough by herself to know she didn't fit in. Natalia's blood sizzle over the coals.
"Nelda Giles," said Jack
Nelda was a dark-skinned and dark haired girl. She wore her jack hair back in a braid. She looked very happy and cheerful in her Amity clothes. It was no shock when her blood dripped onto the soil.
"Dorothy Fitzgerald," announced Jack.
Dorothy takes on last breath before getting up. She walked down the aisle. She was glad she had planned accordingly by wearing flats. She would have looked like an idiot if she had fallen. She stepped up onto the platform. She takes the cleaned knife. She cuts it across her hand. It hurt, but she didn't cut deep. Without any hesitation drips her blood over the coal, it sizzles as it hits the steaming coals. She steps down and gave Henry a dirty look before joining her new faction.
Everything seemed rather dull after that. It all meshed together. Huge amounts of transfers this year. Most of them coming from Erudite to another faction. Things were changing in Erudite and the youth was escaping while they could. Candor and Dauntless had a fair amount of transfers as well. Amity and Abnegation had the lowest, actually no one in Abnegation had transferred this year.
Dorothy finds herself running along with Dauntless down the stairs. She looked over to see Natalia panting to keep up with the Dauntless. Dorothy hadn't really realized she didn't find this that exhausting, though by the third flight of stairs going down she was losing speed and stamina.
"Doing good smarty," said Iris pushing her way through the crowd.
"I always did like to run," said Dorothy.
"So what are you going to go by? Dorothy sounds sooo…" said Iris.
"So smarty," said Dorothy.
"Yes," said Iris.
"Destri," said Dorothy.
"Nice, I like it," said Iris.
"Listen up you have a lot of competition. Keep your head in the game. There are also a lot of boys, use that against them. They aren't used to hitting girls. And those Amity girls look like trouble," said Irish.
Destri looked over at the Amity girls. Both were rather short but stocky. Most Amity were barely a stick figured. Destri saw the threat Iris saw. She was suspicious of it now. She had to scout everyone out. She had to have a strategy to keeping her secret. She had to see who was friend or foe.
The Dauntless break out into the street. Destri just fallowed the group. She barely walked around the city unless she had to get somewhere. She just had no need to walk. Walking for fun was seen as illogical, so she didn't do it. Drawing attention on yourself in Erudite was a very bad idea for anyone let alone anyone like her.
The roar of the train rattled the ground. Destri frowned, she knew what came next. Cara told her from what Will had to her. It was the first test. The first of many to come. She could do this. She could do it. She really hoped she could.
"You got to be kidding me," said a tall Erudite boy.
Most Erudites were nameless to Destri. Erudites didn't have friends. And she never cared to know much about them. Logic, facts, and statistics were very boring topics to discuss. And in a faction where that is every conversation practically it wasn't worth Destri's time in in her opinion.
Destri wasn't afraid of the train. She easily ran beside it and pulled herself instead. She was in the last cart not because she was lazy, but because everyone was pushing and always in the way. She easily pulled herself inside. She stumbles around in the train trying to gain a way to balance on the train. She grumbled under her breath and she nearly stumbled into a Dauntless-born guy, one of the scary dudes you want to stay away from. She ends up back near the door, her body ached. She edged herself to peak her head out. She saw Natalia struggling to get in. Destri pulled herself up and reach her hand out as far as she could. She felt the slight contact of soft skin and pulled Natalia in. All but one transfers. A short lean Amity boy just couldn't make the final leap on board.
"Damn, I should have worked out more," panted Natalia.
"I could do without the swaying train," added Destri.
"Motion sickness?" asked Natalia.
"No, I just like the surface under my feet not to move," said Destri.
"I'm Natalia," said Natalia holding out her hand.
"Destri," said Destri "I refuse to go by my old name, totally not Dauntless worthy."
Destri doesn't shake Natalia's hand. She gave her a fist pump. Natalia raised her eyebrows at Destri. However, Iris gave Destri a thumbs up. Destri didn't care what a former Erudite thought, she was Dauntless now.
"What is that called?" asked Natalia.
"A fist bump. Dauntless only shake hands with leaders during a evaluation or something formalish," said Destri.
"Good to know," said Natalia.
"You're Dauntless now, observe then do," said Destri.
"You even sound like them," said Natalia.
"You are them now," reminded Destri.
"Something tells me you're a good person to know but a pain in the ass," said Natalia.
"Good observation, but I'm not the one you want to observe," said Destri.
Destri got up and started to gain her train legs. She helped Natalia up. They watched out the window together occasionally when Natalia wasn't taking Destri's advice about observing. Destri watched the city pass by that she would be protecting. It was a lot of reasonability.
"Those Amity girls, they don't look like Amity girls," whispered Natalia.
"Hmm, that's for sure," muttered Destri.
"I don't trust them," whispered Natalia.
"Don't trust anyone but yourself right now. And at that don't trust your head, trust you gut," whispered Destri "and especially don't trust those two. They are trouble."
"Hey! You got something to say!" yelled one of the Amity girls.
"Are you a Dauntless or Candor? Make up your mind," snapped Destri.
"Are you saying something about me?" asked the girl.
"Will you just shut up? You're making yourself look like an idiot," said Destri.
"Well, if you ask me you sound very Candor yourself," said the girl.
"No one asked you," said Natalia.
"Hey now! No fighting down there, you'll get plenty of time to do that later," said a Dauntless woman, late twenties.
The woman had long black hair. She didn't look as severe as some of the Dauntless-born initiates even. Destri could barely see the tip of a tattoo, wings of something or another.
"Now that is something worth waiting for," smirked the other girl.
"Dream on," said Destri.
Whooping and hollering told Destri that something was changing. She looked out the door to see Dauntless jumping. Destri just shook her head. She knew what she was signing up or. She watched as Iris and a Dauntless-born boy jumped together in the next closer door. Destri wasn't hanging around for the Amity girls to push her and Natalia out.
"Come on," said Destri pulling on Natalia's shirt.
"You got to be crazy," said Natalia.
"Do you want to be Factionless?"
"I didn't think so."
Destri and Natalia backed up slightly and went at it a run. Destri barely made it over the ledge. She did a summersault in the stone landing area. Natalia hadn't even made it over the ledge, she was hanging there. Destri offered a hand to Natalia, but she refused. Natalia pulled herself over the ledge.
"I'm Dauntless now," smirked Natalia.
"I think we will get along great," said Destri.
"Hey! Everyone shut and get over here! I'm Max one of the leaders of your new faction!" shouted a man.
The man was older than the other Dauntless Destri had seen. He had dark skin with deep creases showing his age along with grey hair. He stood on the ledge of roof as if his life wasn't on the line.
"Several stories down below us is members' entrance to our compound. If you can't muster yourself to jump, you don't belong here. Our initiates have the privilege to go first," said Max.
"Got to love Dauntless," whispered Natalia into Destri's ear.
"What did you think you were signing up for?" asked Destri into Natalia's ear.
"Any volunteers?" asked Max.
There was silence. Not even a Dauntless-born was volunteering. Natalia and Destri looked at each other. Everyone was looking away at their ripped clothes, tending minor wounds, or simply paying attention to someone else. Max sighed as if this happened often.
"I'll go," said Natalia.
"Finally," said Max hoping off the ledge.
Natalia climbs up onto the ledge. She stands on the ledge and looks over. She bends her legs and jumps. She doesn't make a sound. Maybe too scared to scream or just that she couldn't or wouldn't. She made the jump look like an easy one to make. Max peered over the ledge.
"Next!" called Max.
"Me," said Destri.
"What is with you Dauntless-borns letting all these Erudites take the spotlight," said Max.
"She ain't not Erudite. She's Dauntless," said Iris.
Destri looked back and smirked at Iris. She then turned and bent her knees and leapt. The air rushed past her. She doesn't scream. She's afraid but height never bothered her. And she knew that the Dauntless weren't going to kill off the initiates right away anyways. She however felt her heartrate increase as she neared a hole. She squinted as she fell through the hole as her eyes adjusted. The air seemed to be sucked out of Destri's lungs. The last time she felt the air be expelled from her like that was when she fell from the playground equipment's as a little kid. She bounced into the air as she hit the net.
The net was pulled down. Destri was offered a hand but didn't take it. She hoped down herself. She didn't need help. She didn't need help on the train, off the train or jumping. She wasn't going to take help now.
"Hey what's your name," said a man as Destri was starting to wonder of.
He had a three years on the initiates. He had dark blue eyes and dark brown hair. He didn't appear as severe as the other Dauntless. No visible tattoos or piercings. Destri and Natalia are able to conclude he was a transfers.
"Destri," said Destri.
"Destri!" called the man.
"It still sound weird," muttered Natalia.
"Whatever, I like it. It will grow on you," said Destri.
People kept dropping from the sky. Iris gave Destri and Natalia for being the second and first jumpers. Natalia gave Destri a what-just-happened look and Destri just laughed. Natalia was just going to have to loosen up in Dauntless. Destri was trying to forget all about Dorothy while trying to hang on to important memories that her who she was.
"Welcome to Dauntless. I'm Four, that's Laura, and this is Tris. We are going to be your instructors," said the man.
Laura was a severe looking Dauntless woman. She had dark brown hair. She had plenty of piercings and tattoos to fit right into the stereotype of a Dauntless.
The three of them lead the initiates down a long dimly light hallway. Natalia kept stepping on Destri. Destri kept walking on the heels of a Candor boy in front of her. He turned around and glared at Destri. Destri pointed a finger at Natalia, who pointed a finger pack at her. Natalia gave Destri an irritated look when he turned back around; Destri just stuck her tongue out.
The crowd stopped suddenly. A push from behind sends Destri slamming into the Candor boy who fell into an Erudite boy. Luckily the domino effect didn't last long. But something else snapped.
"Real mature," laughed Destri getting up off the ground and turned around face to face with one of the Amity girls.
"Apparently the theory of gravity is true," said the girl.
This on had blond hair and brown eyes. She wasn't nearly as bulky as her brunette friend, but still was not the average Amity girl. She had a sneer in her eyes that concerned Destri. Destri saw that look all too often in Erudite. That was nothing but trouble.
"Pushing someone from behind, how Amity. Too afraid to push me from the front," said Destri loudly.
"Come on, you think you're so high and mighty try that again," said Destri.
"Hey! No fighting!" yelled a bold appearing man, around the same age as Four "yet that is."
"Watch your back," growled Destri in a quiet, but intense whisper.
"This is where we divide. Dauntless with me, you need a tour," said Laura.
"Most of the time Tris is on fence duty and I'm in the control room. We can talk about duties later. First we will go into the Pit," said Four.
"The Pit?" asked one of the Amity girls.
"It will grow on you," said Tris.
Tris wasn't a petite girl with blond hair and green eyes. She didn't have any piercings, but she had a tattoo of three crows. Though she was not big she looked very fit.
The initiates fallowed Tris and Four through a doorway onto a platform. The Pit was a huge underground cavern. The roof was made out of glass panels, allowing sunlight to light up the Pit. Uneven rock walls rose several feet into the air. Built into the stone walls were places for food, clothes, supplies and leisure activities. Blue lanterns hang above the stone paths at random heights; they grow brighter as the sunlight decreases.
People dressed in black were gathered in Pit talking loudly, and gesturing widely. There was a noticeable amount of older Dauntless members. There was a slow shift happening in foundation of Dauntless. Children run around the narrow paths without the railings without a single thought to the danger if they slipped to possible death or at least severe injury.
"Let's continue," said Four.
The group began to move again. They walked to the right side of Pit. Natalia nearly stumbled watching the people in the pit. Destri instinctively groups Natalia's shirt. She rolled her eyes pulling Natalia back up to a safe position. Natalia brushed off her shirt like nothing happened.
The surroundings became darker. The sound of roaring water becomes louder the farther they move into the darkness. Destri looked over the edge. The floor dropped sharply and several floors below was a river. Water gusted against the stone wall spraying upwards. To the left water was clear and calm to the right the water battles with the rocks in the shadows of a misty white color.
"This is the chasm. This reminds us of the fine line between bravery and idiocy!" yelled Four "a daredevil jump off this will end your life. It has happened and will happen again. You've been warned," said Four.
Tris winced looking at the water. Destri scowled. While the others talked she was watching. Natalia noticed Tris's wince but didn't pay much notice. It wasn't any of her business. However, Destri saw the potential to do well if she understood how others before her had.
Four and Tris lead the group to through the Pit to a hole in the wall. The hole leads into the dining hall. The dining hall was full of people. Clattering dishes and loud conversations fill the air between all the people. The Dauntless stop and cheer, shout and stomp for the initiates.
Natalia and Destri made sure to stay far away from the Amity girls. No one really wanted to fight yet. It was all smack talk. This was the time to figure out who could be trusted or not. Their guts was the best friend of an initiate.
"What do you think we will do?" asked Natalia as she picked apart her hamburger.
"Hmm, I heard we fight," said a Candor boy loudly into Destri's ear.
"Damn, was that necessary we are sitting right here," said Destri rubbing her ear.
"I'm Ashton," said the Candor boy "are you the girl that kept stepping on my foot?"
"I sure am," said Destri smugly.
"This is Tammy," introduced Ashton guesting to a girl across from him.
"I'm Natalia, call me Natty or Nat, I will kill you," warned Natalia.
"And I'll teach her how to kill you properly," teased Destri.
"You are?" asked Ashton grinning.
"Wipe that grin off your face you look like a hatter," said Destri.
"What's a hatter?" asked Ashton.
"Ugh, ever read Alice in Wonderland. One of the really old classics. It was a reading in like the fifth grade," said Destri rolling her eyes.
"I'm sorry I don't remember a class assignment six years ago," said Ashton mocking Destri's tone.
"It was rhetorical," said Destri.
"What is rhetorical?" asked Ashton.
"Are you wanting to be killed?" asked Destri her ears flushing with irritation.
"It wasn't meant for an answer idiot," said Tammy.
"You still haven't told us your name," said Tammy.
"Destri," said Destri.
"Did you change it?" asked Tammy.
"No, my parents just named me something strange. Okay that was rude. Sorry I don't want to talk about me," said Destri.
"Why not?" asked Ashton "I think you are quite interesting."
Ashton yes wondered up and down. Tammy huffed in disgusted. Natalia snorted, she had already seen Destri's short-tempered side. Ashton was poking the wrong bear.
"I want to forget me and make the new me," said Destri, obviously to Ashton's wondering eyes.
"I think this me is perfectly fine," said Ashton, his voice lowering.
"What?" said Destri turning catching Ashton red handed.
Destri slapped the back of his head and pushed it into his food. She moved to the other side of Natalia away from Ashton taking her plate with him. Natalia burst out laughing as Ashton flung mashed potatoes off his face.
"What the hell," said Ashton.
"I should be the one saying that," said Destri.
"You just pushed me into my food," said Ashton his voice shaking with anger.
"And you were staring at me in an immoral way," said Destri.
"Since when is staring a crime?" asked Ashton.
"It isn't. I guess manners aren't too big in Candor. You don't look at a girl like that. You should be glad that's all I did," said Destri.
"True," said Natalia.
"Stay out of this," snarled Ashton.
"Don't tell me what to do? I didn't come to Dauntless to listen to a jackass tell me what I can say and when. Every other faction has expectations about the treatment of woman besides Candor. Get your head out of ass," said Natalia.
"Ashton, can't you think of anything but sex. Obviously you need to change your game," said Tammy.
"What on earth are you initiates talking about," said tall man walking up to them and sitting next to Tammy.
Destri recognized her adoptive brother right away. He looked a lot different now but he was still Alex. His black hair had bright red tips. He had a stud in his nose, and two earrings in his left ear. He had a fresh piercing in his right eyebrow. His arms where tattooed top from bottom. It was hard to imagine him as a button-up Erudite boy he had been three years.
"Oh you know just sex and fighting," said Natalia.
Destri nearly choked on her water. Natalia was completely unaware of the relationship between Destri and Alex. It's not like they looked anything alike. They didn't even have remotely same hair, skin tone, eyes, or noses. There was no genetic relations.
"Now that sounds like an interesting conversation," said Alex raising his eyebrow.
"What did you change your name too?" asked Alex directly to Destri.
"Destri," said Destri.
"You tell him right away, but not me," huffed Ashton.
"No one asked you," said Destri.
"I'm still temped to call you Dodo, though you don't look much like one anymore," said Alex.
"Well, it's been three years since you left me hanging," said Destri looking straight into Alex's stormy grey eyes.
"I can't help three years difference between us. You seemed to handle just find with mom and dad," said Alex.
"They are your mom and dad not mine," snapped Destri.
"I get it, I was a jackass. But would you have rather I stayed and we'd be separated for food," said Alex.
"I didn't say any of that. I'm just saying they aren't my parents," said Destri.
"No kidding. I thought I was the adopted one," said Alex "oh sorry, that sounded better in my head."
"It's true though," said Destri.
"Enough sappy talk. Make a plan and stick to it, all of you," said Alex noticing looks from Four.
Alex slipped back with Zeke and Shauna. This left the group of four in a silence of sorts. No one knew what quite to say or had nothing to say. Destri had no comments on Alex.
"Who was that?" asked Tammy.
"Alex," said Destri.
"Who's Alex?" asked Ashton.
"None of your business," said Destri.
"Obviously they are related or close friends. They seemed to be referring to the same people as a parent figure,' said Natalia.
"Call us what we want. But don't ever call them a parent figured," said Destri her eyes narrowing.
"Alright, alright, I won't," said Natalia.
Dinner couldn't end fast enough. The transfer initiates are led by another temporarily nameless guy through dark hallways lit by sparse bluish lights. He was a former Erudite, every Erudite in initiate group could see it in the way he walked through dark hallways lit by blueish lights. He stops in front of a wooden doorframe.
"For those of you who don't know, I'm Eric. One of your five leaders in Dauntless," said Eric.
Destri inwardly groaned. Just what she wanted. More Erudites it control. He could say all he wanted that he was Dauntless, he was still an Erudite. From the calculated look in his eyes and his pompous walk.
"I will be overseeing your training occasionally," said Eric.
"Let's get this over with, the basic rules," said Eric "You have be in the training room at eight o'clock every day. Training takes place every day from eight to six, with a break for lunch. You do whatever you want after six. You will also get time off between the stages of initiation."
Natalia eyes widened at the word 'stages'. Destri was too far into analyzing Eric to notice. She was trying to figure out who he was and what his game plan was, every Erudite had one. She had one. She was sure all the other Erudites had one.
"You are only permitted to leave the compound with a Dauntless," adds Eric "behind this door is where you will be sleeping for the next few weeks. Everyone has a bed, so no fighting over beds. We week Dauntless-born and transfers separate. Your rankings will be compared with the Dauntless-born. They are already better then you, so good luck."
"Rankings?" asked Tammy.
"Rankings are to determine the order you will pick your jobs, there are only a few desirable jobs so first come, first served. There used to be a second purpose but due to a drop in Dauntless population we got rid of it this year, that just means all the more competition for a good ranking," said Eric.
There were a lot of breathing people. Destri crashed hard right away, she was used to falling asleep with the sounds of breathing people. Natalia in the bunk above her wasn't having an east time falling asleep.
"Psst," whispered Tammy from the next top bunk.
"Can't sleep?" asked Tammy.
"Someone is the snoring machine," whispered Natalia pointing to Ashton.
"Trust me I know, I'm right above him. He's shaking the bed he's so loud," whispered Tammy.
"It's so weird sleeping all together like this. I'm used to sleeping in a little cubical alone," whispered Natalia.
"So what's with Destri?" asked Tammy "like her story."
"I don't know. I just know her name was Dorothy. And I think that dude was her a step or adoptive brother. They certainly aren't genetically related," whispered Natalia.
"Whoever she is, she's about the most able out of the three of us. She's prepared," said Tammy.
"Of course she is. All Erudites have a plan. It had to be back of her mind to fallow that guy here, even if she wasn't aware," said Natalia.
"Shut up," said another female voice.
"Yo, Stefan you transfer too," said Natalia.
"No shit," said Stefan.
"Do you know Destri?" asked Tammy.
"Well I knew her as Amie. She used to live next to me. Then she disappeared when we were about five. Doesn't even remember me much at all besides a name. I think something happened to her real mother, something really bad. My dad said he heard a lot of rumors. He said if she didn't transfer she'd end up dead by the end of her first week, whatever that meant," said Stefan.
Those words shut Tammy and Natalia up. Natalia wondered if her new friend was dangerous for some reason or why someone would want her dead. She knew she was pain the ass but that was no reason to kill her. There had to be more and she had to find out.
Author's Note:
I promised a long chapter and there you go. There are a lot of transfers in the story so I'll try to introduce everyone in the next few chapters. I know you saw mostly females but there are a lot more male characters. A lot of things don't make sense yet just use a guess of what you think the reasons are until I reveal them. What's the fun of a story that tells you everything up front? Anyways thanks for reading. I enjoyed writing. And please take the time to leave a review. I'd like to improve where I can or if my style is fine or needs to be adjusted.