"The first thing that you will learn today is how to shoot a gun. The second thing is how to win fight. Thankfully we don't have to teach you how to jump on and off a moving train" Zeke presses the gun into each initiate's hands, with a goofy grin on his face, "Initiation is divided into three stages. We will measure your progress and rank you according to your performance in each stage. The stages are not weighed equally in determining your final rank, so it is possible, though difficult, to drastically improve your rank over time,"
Tris stares at the gun in front of her. Never in her life did she expect to hold a gun, let alone fire it. It felt dangerous to her, as if she could hurt someone by firing it. Like how her dad hurt her.
"We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear," Eric says, leaning against a wall, "Therefore each stage of initiation is intended to prepare you I a different way. The first stage is primarily physical; the second, primarily emotionally; the third, primarily metal,"
"But what…" Peter yawns through his words, "What does firing a gun have to do with bravery?" Eric steps away from the wall before flipping the gun in his hand, presses the barrel to Peter's forehead, and clicks the bullet into place. Peter freezes with his lips parted, the yawn dead in his mouth.
"Wake. Up," Eric snaps. He lowers the gun. Once the threat is gone Peter's eyes harden, his cheeks red.
"And to answer your question…you are far less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you are prepared to defend yourself," Eric yells.
Zeke stops walking at the end of the line of initiates, "This is information you may need later in stage one. Watch Eric,"
Eric faces the wall with large targets on it- one square of plywood with the large red circles on it. One target for each initiate. He stands with his feet apart, holds the gun with both hands and fires. A loud bang burst through the room. The bullet went through the middle circle.
The initiates turn to their targets. Tris set her feet shoulder-width apart, delicately wraps her both f her hands around the handle of the gun. The gun is heavy and hard for her to lift away from her body. Imagine that it's Andrew, Tris thought, imagine that the target is Andrew. She pulls the trigger. The recoil sends her hands back, hitting her nose. She stumbles back, presses her hand against the wall. The bullet didn't hit the target.
Tobias on the other hand, separated from Tris by Christina wasn't having any trouble at all. Even though he didn't have much muscle he is tall, he can easily overpower the recoil. Every bullet he fired didn't leave him stumbling back but left him perfectly still. Barely could he hear from the other side of the room was Zeke.
"Eric," Zeke said, "Looks like you're going to have some competition," Zeke nodded toward Tobias.
"What…the stiff?" Eric says, his face red with anger and…jealousy. Tobias smiled before firing the gun.
Tris fired the gun again and again with no success. Come on Beatrice, Tris thought, where is your anger.
"Statistically speaking," the Erudite boy next to her-his name Will-says grinning, "You should have hit the target at least once by now, even by accident," He is blonde with shaggy blonde hair and a crease between his eyebrows.
"Is that so," Tris said, annoyed.
"Yeah," he says, "I think you are actually defying nature,"
Tris grinds her teeth and turns to her target. She squeezes the trigger, hard, and this time she's ready for the recoil. The target hole appears at the edge of the target. Tris raises her eyebrows.
"So you see, I'm right. The stats don't lie," Will says. Tris smiles.
It takes her five more rounds to hot the middle of the target, and when she does a rush of energy courses through her. Maybe I do belong here, Tris thinks.
...
By the time they break for lunch all initiate's arms are throbbing with pain from holding the gun and their fingers stiff from pulling the trigger.
Tris and Tobias sit down at a table with Christina, and a boy from Candor-Al- that Christina invited.
"Oh, come on. You don't remember me?" Christina asks Al while making a sandwich, "We were in math class together just a few days ago. And I'm not a quiet person,"
"I slept through math most of the time," Al replies, "It was first period!"
"Do either of you ever remember taking class with me?" Christina asks Tris and Tobias, "I mean no offense but I probably wouldn't remember if I did. All Abnegation looks the same. I mean, they still do, but you're not Abnegation anymore," Tobias and Tris stare at Christina.
"Sorry, am I being rude?" Christina asks, "I'm used to speaking my mind. Mom used to say politeness is deception in a pretty package,"
"I think that's why our factions don't normally associate with each other very much," Tris says.
"Can I sit here?" Will asks, tapping the table.
"What you don't want to sit with you Erudite buddies?" Christina says.
"They aren't my buddies," Will says, "Just because we're from the same faction doesn't mean we get along. Plus Edward and Myra are dating, I'd rather not be the third wheel,"
Two tables down sat Edward and Myra, so close that they bumped elbows as they cut their food. Myra pauses and kisses Edward. Edward pauses and presses his lips to Myra's. Tris looks away as air hisses through her teeth.
"Do they have to be so public?" Tris says," Tobias looks over his shoulder at the couple. After a second his face becomes strange. At first a look of disgust but then it turned into something else. Like a look of longing.
"They were just kissing," Al frowns, "It's not like they're stripping naked,"
"In Abnegation public display of affection is frowned upon," Tobias explained.
Al, Will, and Christina gives the two a knowing smile.
"What?" Tris says.
"Your Abnegation is showing," Christina says, "The rest of us is all right with affection in public,"
"Oh," Tris says, "It look like we'll have to get over it then," Tris looked at Tobias. Tobias rubbed her back.
"Or you could just stay rigid," Will says, "You know. If you want," Christina throws a roll at him.
"Don't be mean to them," Christina says, "Rigidness is in there nature. Sort of like being a know-it-all is in yours,"
"I'm not rigid!" Tris shrieked.
"Don't worry about it," Will says, "It's endearing. Look, your face is all red. You, no-name on the other hand have to get over it," The comment makes both Tris and Tobias's face turn red. Al, Christina, and Will chuckle. Tris forces up a laugh after a few seconds while Tobias stays silent.
...
After lunch, Zeke leads the initiates to a new room. It's huge, with a wooden floor that is creaky and cracked and has a large circle painted in the center. On the left wall is a green board-a chalkboard. The initiate's names written in alphabetical order. Hanging at three-foot intervals along one end of the room are faded black punching bags.
The initiates line up behind them, Zeke standing in the middle, where they can all see them.
"As I said this morning, "Zeke says, "Next you will learn how to fight. The purpose of this is to prepare you to act; to prepare your body to respond to threats and challenges-which you will need to survive Dauntless. We will go over technique today and tomorrow you will start to fight each other. So I recommend that you pay close attention,"
Zeke names a few different punches, demonstrates each one as he does so first in the air and then against bag. Like earlier Tobias catches on quickly while it takes Tris a little longer. The kicks are the hardest but Zeke only teaches them the basics. Like Tobias, Tris hits the bag with power but the bag barely mover. Once her fist and legs make contact with the bag they instantly began to sting and turn red. Come on Tris, Tris thinks, imagine that the punching bag is Andrew.
Zeke wonders through the crowd of initiates, watching them as they go through the movements. He stops in front of Tobias.
"You're really good. Just be careful with speed. Someone that is quick could easily get in the first hit and you could lose control," Zeke says, "Other than that, good job,"
Zeke walks to Tris.
"You don't have much muscle. You're kind of small, but you're fast, so it would be easier to win a fight if you used you elbows and knees. You can put more power in them," Zeke says.
Tris nods.
After five minutes of Punching and kicking Zeke dismisses them for dinner.
"I want to get a tattoo," Al says.
"A tattoo of what?" Will asks.
"I don't know," Al laughs, "I just want to feel like I've actually left the old faction. Stop crying about it," no one responds.
"I know you've heard me," Al adds.
"Yea, you learn to quiet down, will you," Christina pokes Al shoulder, "I think you're right. We're half in, half out right now. If we want to be all the way in, we should look the part," Christina give Tris and Tobias the look.
"No," Tobias says.
"No what," Christina asks.
"No. I will not cut my hair, or dye our hair strange colors, or pierce our faces," Tris says.
"What about piercing your bellybutton?" Christina asks.
"Or your nipples?" Wills asks. Tris groans.
They walk to the Pit. The Pit is swarming with people.
"Okay," Christina says, "Tris and I will meet you guys at the tattoo parlor in one hoar," Christina then drags Tris to a clothing store.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Tris asks, "My not wearing grey anymore,"
"They're ugly and gigantic," Christina says, "Will you just let me help you? If you don't like what I put you in, you never have to wear it again, I promise,"
Ten minutes later Tris stands in front of a mirror in a small dressing room, wearing a knee-length black dress. She examined her reflection, making sure none of her scars showed. The dress isn't full, but it isn't stuck to her thighs unlike the first dress Christina picked out, that Tris refused to try on.
"Okay," Tris says, walking out of the dressing room. Christina holds up a small black pencil.
"Eyeliner," Christina says.
"You know you're not going to be able to make me pretty," Tris says while closing her eyes. Christina runs the tip of the pencil along Tris's eyelashes.
"Who cares about pretty? I'm going for noticeable. Anyway what's going on between you and no-name?" Christina asks.
"WH-what?" Tris stutters.
"Oh come on, you two are touching and talking to each other," Christina says.
"Nothing! He's been my best friend since I was ten!" Tris says.
"Yeah, but you want it to be more," Christina teased.
"No I don't," Tris says.
"Yes you do, and don't try lying, remember I'm from Candor," Christina says.
"Look, even if I did, nothing could ever happen. He's been my best friend for six years," Tris says.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm shocked that he'd let anyone befriend him. He's so quiet and almost scary,"
"Yeah, he defiantly has built some walls over the past few years, but when you get to know him you almost forget how closed off he can be,"
"If you say so,' Christina, who was standing in front of Tris and the mirror, now steps to the side.
"See?" she says, "You're striking,"
Tris smiles.
"You like it?" Christina asks.
"I look like a different person," Tris says.
Christina laughs, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Tris looks at her reflection, "A good thing," she says, "Come on, let's go watch Al get tattooed,"
Christina and Tris walk to the tattoo parlor. When they get there, Al is sitting in in the chair, and a small man with more ink than bare skin drawing a spider on his am.
Will, Christina, and Tobias flip through a book of pictures. Christina and Will elbow each other when finding one they like while Tobias just sits quietly, looking over their shoulders. Tris wanders around the room, looking at the artwork on the walls. She skims her fingertips against the artwork. One picture of a hawk stands out. It looks like the tattoo that Tori has, Tris thought. Tori, the woman that distributed Tris's attribute test. The woman that explained to her that she is divergent. Beneath the hawk is a bird flying.
"It's a raven," Tori says, standing behind Tris, "Pretty right,"
"Hello there," Tori says, "Never thought I'd see you again. Beatrice, is it?"
"Tris actually," Tris says, "Do you work here?"
"I do. I just took a break to administer the test. Most of the time I'm here," she taps her chin, "I recognize that name. You were the first jumper, weren't you? With your friend. What was his name again?"
"Yes, I was and he doesn't have a name. Everyone just calls him Stiff or no-name," Tris says.
"Well done," Tori says.
"Thanks," Tris touches the sketch of the bird, "Listen-I need to talk about...something. Sometime,"
"I'm not sure that that would be wise," Tori says, "I helped you as much as I could, you will now have go it alone,"
I know she has answers, Tris thought.
"Want a tattoo?" Tori asks.
"Yes," Tris says, "Two of the flying bids," Two for each person in my family I lost, mom and Caleb, Tris thought, Andrew is not my family.