I wake up with a buzzing feeling inside me. It's bubbling up, ready to boil over at any moment. Pacing around only intensifies it.

I can't tell if it's good or bad.

The final exam is today; our fear landscapes. I saw my fears a few weeks ago, but it feels like years, lifetimes ago. I'm a stronger person than I ever have been; both physically and mentally.

And a lot more knowledgeable.

The things I've found since the beginning of initiation. I know a lot of people who would have done anything to know what I know. Jeanine told me that in coming here I would find out a lot of interesting things, but I would never have even dreamed this.

It was Amar's funeral yesterday. People were in varying degrees of grief. Most were flat out drunk; happy drunk, not roaring for a fight drunk like my dad used to be. I close my eyes, trying to block out the flood of memories that are rushing through my mind.

But there were people who weren't so happy. Tobias, for one. I bet his Stiff family didn't have anything even close to this. The thought of the Stiffs having a Dauntless funeral makes me want to laugh out loud.

The best thing by far, though, is something completely different.

I caused it. I set off all this.

I was the one who sneaked off to see what Tobias and Amar were doing. I really just went to the bathroom, but on my way back I heard them and went to see what happened. The conversation I heard was very, very interesting. And going by all the information I've collected over the past few weeks, that's really saying something.

I reported it to Jeanine after my simulation. She was incredibly pleased. 'This is what people like you are for, Eric,' she said. I still remember the warm glow of pride spreading through my body. Everyone knows that there are some transfers who don't pass initiation, which really defeats the purpose of strategically being placed in different factions.

Jeanine was the one who administered my aptitude test. She told me that I should choose Dauntless, but keep reporting back to her. Anything suspicious, out of the ordinary, would have to get back to her. And in return, she'd make me a Dauntless leader.

And now, here I am, ready for my final exam, knowing that I'll be a Dauntless leader soon.

Jeanine and two other Erudite called Tobias and Amar in for an evaluation. I wonder what went on in there. I'll always wonder, because Jeanine doesn't seem to show any signs of telling me what happened. All I know is that a week later, Amar jumped into the chasm.

She did tell me, however, about being Divergent.

'Right, everyone!' Lauren breaks into my thoughts. 'Fear landscape time!'

Zeke walks with Tobias and Shauna. It's almost a shame - if Zeke wasn't friends with Tobias and Shauna, I might have befriended him. But Shauna's a sissy, and don't get me started on Tobias.

'Who do you think's going to be ranked first?' Zeke says behind me.

'Four, no question.'

It'll be me, I want to scream. Tobias is a Stiff who doesn't have the courage to tell anyone his real name. He's not going to be first ranked initiate. Whereas I, on the other hand, have the second-lowest amount of fears in the class, have won all my fights but one, and have the second-lowest simulation time.

I ignore the little voice in my head that says I'm more likely to be second.

'Hey, Four,' Shauna says. I try to tune her voice out, but there's nothing else to listen to. 'Did you know that the last fears in your landscape are the worst?' The effect on Tobias is instantaneous. He doesn't stop walking, but he stiffens and frowns.

'No, I didn't know that.'

'What's your worst fear?' asks Zeke. Four snaps his mouth shut and doesn't reply.

I'm racking my brain for something to say when Lauren shouts, 'Quiet! You have all been through your fear landscapes before, at the beginning of initiation. As some of you may know, fear landscapes will change over time. You will overcome fears and gain new ones. You are all stronger than you were when you started out here, but don't be surprised if you have different fears.'

'Right. Who wants to go first?' Tori calls. I expect Four to volunteer, but he stays silent. A Dauntless-born that I barely recognise steps up. Tori nods.

The exams go too slow and too fast. I ache to move on, but some instinct makes me hang back. Tobias goes in the middle. I almost envy him; only four fears. Then I mentally slap myself. Stop envying a Stiff.

It takes two minutes, and he's done. There are awed murmurs round the room as he goes to the dormitory, where we've been told to wait. He looks over at the group of leaders and instructors at the front of the room. Tori gives him a thumbs up, and I feel the familiar pinch of jealousy. Why do they like him so much?

I'm the last initiate to go. My fear landscape is the same as it was when I started. Ignoring the stab of disappointment and the hope that I overcame some of my fears, I will the fears into submission. They will not control me, not today. Deep breathing, again and again, until I reach Alex. I watch him for a moment, wishing I could talk to him. Instead, I dive at him, snatch the gun out of his hands, and end the fear landscape. I breathe a sigh of relief. The leaders are nodding approvingly.

The dormitory is packed. I didn't realise the Dauntless-borns had to come here as well, but there's barely breathing room, let alone room to move. I stand in the doorway, entertaining thoughts of me being first. 'Time to get our results,' I say. Everyone gets up and walks out past me. Some look nervous, others don't. Tobias stays on the edge of his bed until everyone else has gone. He crosses his arms and looks at me. I notice his eyes are dark blue, not black as I first thought. 'Got something to say?' I ask.

'I know it was you,' he says. 'Who told the Erudite about Amar. I know.'

My first sensation is shock. How does he know? Who told him? Then I feel anger, coursing through my body. How dare he accuse me? A few seconds later, I'm worried. If this gets out…

Then I realise.

He has no proof.

'You don't know what you're talking about,' I say, although we both know that's not true.

'You're the reason he's dead,' Tobias says angry. I know, I want to say. Instead, I smirk, unable to resist the opportunity to irritate him.

'Did you get hit in the head during your exam, Stiff?' I place special emphasis on the last word, knowing that I will never forget his origins. 'You're not making any sense.'

Suddenly he shoves me, hard, against the door, and holds me there with one arm.

'I know it was you,' he says quietly. 'You're the reason he's dead, and you won't get away with it.'

Then he releases me, and walks away.

Everyone's nervous. No matter how much they try to hide it, every single initiate is silently worrying right now. The dining hall is packed with older Dauntless, and the almost claustrophobic air isn't helping matters.

I watch Zeke shake out his hands, Shauna accidently knock over a glass. Tobias steals a roll from Zeke, who pretends he doesn't notice. The noise is ear-splitting. Most initiates stay silent because it's easier than yelling over the noise. I can't shake the smug feeling that I'm the only one not nervous.

I see Max get up onto a table and hold his hands up. Most of the crowd fall silent, but you can't silence all the Dauntless.

'A few weeks ago,' Max begins, 'a group of scrawny, scared initiates gave their blood to the coals. To be honest, I didn't think any of them would make it through the first day,' he pauses for laughter and it comes readily, 'but I'm pleased to announce that this year, all of the initiates attained the required scores necessary to become Dauntless!'

Everyone cheers and I instinctively cover my ears, trying to block out the roaring, thrumming noise that somehow reminds me of the chasm.

'No more delays,' says Max. 'I know our initiates are jumping out of their skins. So here are our twelve… new… Dauntless members!' He shouts the last words, and the names appear on a screen behind him that instantly sets my mind whirring. There isn't a visible projector, so how does it work?

Shaking my head to clear my mind, I look confidently up at the first slot.

1. Four

2. Eric

Second. To a Stiff.

There's a yell from behind me. Shauna and Zeke leap on top of Tobias, and he returns the hug, laughing. People crowd around him, hugging him, cheering his name, laughing, congratulating him. No one says anything to me. No one congratulates me on being second. Everyone is focused on Tobias, the Stiff who is too scared to reveal his name.

I am Dauntless, a full member of Dauntless, a good candidate for leadership. It's all I ever wanted.

But I still want so much more.

A/N: Hi! I am giggling like an idiot right now. 41 reviews! (At the time of writing this) I remember less than three months ago, I had a notification telling me there were 2 reviews on my story, and I started giggling like a maniac. (I still do that.) But it's now at 41! Thank you, everyone who's ever reviewed. It's you guys that keep me going :)

So, what do you think of Eric's chapter? Please review! Reviews feed my plot bunnies and also keep me going :D

Disclaimer: I don't claim dis. (giggles at own joke) Updates will follow, stay tuned! No idea whatsoever who it's going to be next… Feel free to guess :)