I changed a few things in this chapter, so I advise to read it again. I wasn't complelty happy with it.

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Chapter 25

Staying away from Eric wasn't as easy I had imagined it would be. Eric still checked up on me while I was working in the kitchen. I tried to keep the conversation to a minimal, but he always knew to say the right thing to either make me angry and yell at him or to make me want to reply with a smug answer. I just couldn't find it in myself to shut up. It's so frustrating, because it's like Luissa feels when we are in close proximity towards each other and every time she would walk in on us. I wasn't the only one noticing. Eric had commented on it that it was funny how the girl always seemed to be around. He even asked me once if she was stalking me.

"Possibly, but who can prove that," I answered and I went to take out the garbage cans to distance myself from Eric. The Luissa stalking was getting ridiculous, but I tried to ignore it as much as possible. I couldn't do anything about it anyway. She is Max his niece and I don't have any proof and I'd rather not have her voicing her opinions out loud to anyone.

I'll just beat her up once I have officially become Dauntless. That is if she makes the cut. She is currently last one in ranking and she is not improving. Maybe that's why she hates me. I started this stage of initiation with a score of zero points and I am currently 12th. I am moving forward and she isn't. Maybe she is jealous of me?

Whatever, I don't have proof and I like to stay in Max his good books as long as possible. I have had enough changes. I don't think I will be given another one if I screw up now.

"Today there will be no simulation training," Max tells us, once everyone has gathered in the pitt. What a relieve! I really wasn't feeling like taking on my fears with all this Luissa stuff going on. My friends cheered at the good news, however it was short lasted: "You have been living on our expanse so far, so it is about time you did something back for us. Today, every one of you will be working for Dauntless. According to your ranking you will be given a job and you will try to be an assist to our compound. This will give you a taste for what lies in store for you, if you pass initiation."

This sounds interesting. I guess I won't get a good job, considering I am ranked 12th. Please don't let me be stuck with Luissa though. I wouldn't mind working with Rob, Annie, Andrew and Sarah. Maybe I'll be lucky.

"The first five ranked initiates will join me and Eric, the next five will go with Lauren and the rest will go with Four. They will explain to you what your day will look like and what will be expected from you," Max explains and I am curious what we will do today. I guess maybe something like guarding the fence or helping transporting goods between factions. Please, don't let it be something like garbage collecting or cleaning toilets or something. That is not why I chose Dauntless and trained my butt of all those hours.

"Today you will learn what it is like to work for us. If you don't like your job, I suggest you work extra hard to climb up on the ranking list. The higher you are ranked, the better the jobs are," Max finished his speech and I walked over to Four. The others disappeared quickly and Four waited until they were gone before he started explaining what our job would be today.

"You are in luck. Normally you would end up doing not very appealing jobs with your current ranks. I suggest you try harder in climbing up the rank. But like I said, you are in luck. They need extra hands at the Amity compound. We are going to help them bring food to the other compounds," Four informs us. That doesn't sound too bad. It will be hard work, but I rather do this then working in the kitchen (again) or having to collect garbage.

"There are six of you, so you will go in pairs to each faction. Annie and Sarah will go to Abnegation, Andrew and Rob will go to Erudite and Luissa and Andy will go to Candor. I will come and check up on all of you and the people supervising you will tell me if there are problems. I hope for your sakes that I don't get any complains." Four sounded angry. I don't think he likes this part of his job. Maybe he thinks its humiliating having to take the bottom six to their 'not-so-impressive-jobs'.

We go to the Amity compound with a truck. We sit in the back quietly. Only Rob and Annie are excited to go to Amity. I cannot believe I am going to be stuck with Luissa the whole day. Maybe I can befriend her some way. Maybe she will let go of whatever it is she is holding against me. How Amity of me to think like that. I thought I didn't have any aptitude for that faction?

I am glad though to leave the compound for a day. The fresh air will do me some good. We arrive at the Amity compound quicker than expected and we start loading the trucks that will bring food to the other compounds. Luissa and I stay away from each other while loading our truck. Our supervisor notices, but he doesn't mention it. He is just pleased that we seem to be hard workers.

After an hour of lifting heavy bags and boxes, we get into the truck and we head of towards the Candor compound. I have been there before, but I was always supervised by my mother or father. Remembering them made me feel sad. It still seemed unreal that they were gone, just like that. As if my parents would get themselves killed in that fire in Erudite. They wouldn't have gone back inside the building. They would let Dauntless soldiers handle it because they would know that they would achieve more. They would just be in the way. My parents knew that and they were perfectly capable of stopping themselves from doing something, even if they really wanted to do it. They were disciplined that way. Unlike me.

"So how is your initiation going girls? Still glad you chose Dauntless?" Our supervisor, Mattheus, asks us while we drive away from the Amity compound. He is driving our truck and there are two following us that are also heading towards the Candor compound. He seems like a friendly man. He is somewhere in his 40 and has three children apparently. They haven't taken the aptitude test yet.

"It's going good. It's difficult but we are managing. Hopefully we will rank higher at the end of initiation," I answer and I can feel Luissa push her elbow in my side: "Sorry that was an accident."

I smile and nod, not giving her the satisfaction of me accepting her apology. Urgh, this is going to be a long day. I ask Mattheus about Amity and his work, to avoid having to talk to Luissa and to not let an awkward silence fall over our truck. Luissa seems to be in a bad mood, because she just keeps sighing and she doesn't say a word.

When we reach the Candor compound, we start unloading the trucks and help bring the bags and boxes to the storage rooms. It is a boring job and my muscles are aching after two hours. I am so grateful when we take a break. I cannot believe that when we are done here, we have to go load the trucks for the Dauntless compound. I need to get more points, because I do not want to do this for the rest of my life.

"Excuse me, but aren't you one of the Caine daughters?" A Candor woman approaches me and eyes the empty chair next to me. I invite her to sit: "Yes, I am the oldest, Andrina, but I go by Andy now."

"I am so sorry about your parents. I knew them from when I still lived in Erudite. I lived on the same floor as your parents. They were very nice people," the woman told me. I have never met anyone from another faction who knew my parents from when they were young: "My name is Clara by the way."

"Did you know them well?" I ask, curious to knowing what my parents were like as children. I couldn't picture it. They just seemed like perfect Erudite people. I forget about my plate filled with food and turn my full attention to Clara, who starts telling me stories about the past: "Your parents were neighbors and I remember people telling us that when we were five, your father had said that he would marry your mother because there wasn't anyone more beautiful. Haha, he was smitten with her from a very young age, but she didn't want to hear it. She was a lot like her mother, your grandmother. She came from Dauntless originally, didn't she? You could tell. She was like a free bird, never really caring about Erudites strict rules and their constant thrust for knowledge. I never understood why she chose Erudite. I never had the impression that she wanted to learn more about science and stuff. She was a perfect example of a Dauntless woman. Maybe also a bit Candor. You didn't lie to that woman. If she found out about it, she would give you hell. Yes, your mother was a lot like her. When we had to choose our faction, I wasn't sure if your mother would stay in Erudite. I had a feeling she might choose Dauntless."

"You thought my mother would choose Dauntless? I never knew she was so much like my grandmother," I mutter and am surprised to find out that the woman in my family seem to be cut out for Dauntless. I wonder why my grandmother transferred, if she really was a perfect Dauntless woman, why did she want to become an Erudite? Maybe she searched, like me, for a different kind of knowledge? Maybe she met my grandfather and wanted to be in the same faction as him? It's a shame I can't ask her these questions anymore.

"Oh yes, both were very stubborn and headstrong and they didn't except rules easily. That made your mother clash a lot with Jeanine Matthews. I was surprised to hear that they worked so much together, they didn't get along when we were younger. Jeanine was, still is, a complete Erudite and your mother liked to challenge her. Provoke her and ask why Jeanine thought Erudite was so great. They were very opposite of each other."

My mother and Jeanine didn't get along? But I never noticed any of that. I thought Jeanine was a friend of the family and a long time friend of my parents. Maybe things were different. Maybe Marie and I didn't see it because we were children. Maybe our parents put up an act, to not raise suspicion or to protect us. But why? Did they not trust Jeanine? Marie had overheard them talking about me before the fire. Maybe they have known all along that Jeanine wasn't to be trusted.

But why is Jeanine interested in my family? Could there be more Divergents in my family? Maybe my grandmother and mother were Divergents? What this woman is telling me about my mother, I have never seen her like that. Maybe my grandmother left Dauntless because she feared she would be discovered.

Andy, stop it! You have no proof for all of this.

"Your father, on the other hand, was calm and could keep the two women out of each other's hair. He had to," Clara informed me. What is that suppose to mean? The woman understands from my look that I don't understand: "Well he loved your mother, so he wanted to protect her and Jeanine was his cousin so…"

"What? What did you just say?" I ask, shocked and unable to move. Jeanine Matthews is family? She is my father's cousin? But how can that be possible? They never told us and they don't look anything alike. Is that why Jeanine was interested in our family? Because it was also hers, distant related that is. She must know that there are more Divergents in our family, that we have an aptitude for more than one faction. That's why she is so interested in me, she wants to know if I am Divergent. That means she is also going to be equally interested in Marie. I need to get her out of Erudite, away from Jeanine.

"Jeanine and your father are cousins. They used to get along great, but your mother sifted the dynamic in the family apparently. I don't know the details, but around the age of fourteen, your father started hanging out less with Jeanine and started to take your mother's side more and more. I thought he did it because he loved her and wanted her to love him back or at least get on her good side," Carla explained. I had so much more question I wanted to ask, but Mattheus told us it was time to head back to the Amity compound.

"My sincerest condolences Andy, your parents were lovely people. Always remember that," Carla told me and she turned her attention to the man sitting on her other side. I thanked Carla and followed Mattheus and Luissa, who was, again, eyeing me suspiciously: "Had a nice chat?"

"The best," I answer short and climb in the truck. We drive back in silence to the Amity compound. I don't know what to do with this new information. I cannot tell Rob or Annie, maybe I can tell Michael later. Is it wise to tell him this? I don't know yet what this means. Why didn't my parents tell me about my connection to Jeanine? They must have kept it hidden for a reason, but what was it? Maybe they left a clue in our apartment or in their notes. No, they would never do that, because anyone can read their notes. If they left something behind, it has to be in our apartment. But is our stuff still there? I haven't heard from Marie or anyone about what happens to my sister knows. Where is she staying? Who is taking care of her? What has happened to our stuff?

When we get back at the Amity compound, I see Four helping Andrew and Rob loading a truck. They must have started gathering the goods for the Dauntless compound. Maybe he knows more about what happened to Marie. I approach the man: "Four, can I talk to you for a moment, in private?"

Four eyes me curiously. He can tell I am a little on edge. He nods and leads me away from the trucks. Andrew and Rob follow us with their eyes, but they just lift their shoulders and get back to work: "Is there a problem Andy?"

"No, I was just wondering something," I ask and look around me to make sure no one is listing to our conversation. My fellow initiates don't need to know that I am worried about my sister. They think I am fine and I plan on keeping it that way: "I was talking to this woman in Candor and she made me wonder about my sister's wellbeing, seeing as she is alone and only fourteen. Do you know who is looking after her?"

"No," Four sighs and he drops his shoulders a little bit. He seems to be relaxing. He must understand my worry. I feel disappointed though that he cannot tell me more about my sister. It was a long shot anyway. Maybe I should ask Eric. He knows Erudite, he used to be a part of them. Plus he is a leader. Maybe he heard something concerning my sister. But wouldn't he have told me then? I know we aren't the best of friends, but he was sincere that morning on the roof when I had heard about my parents passing.

"But I could try and find out what happened to her. I understand that you are worried. She is young and someone should be looking after her and I am sure that someone is," Four comforts me. I am not interested in his comforting words, I just want to know about Marie and who is taking care of her. Please, do not let it be Jeanine. Keep that woman as far away as possible from my little sister.

"Okay, thank you," I say and want to walk back to my truck and help load it, but Four graphs my elbow and stops me: "I have been meaning to talk to you. If you need help concerning the simulations and whatever else you might be dealing with, you can come to me. I can help you."

What is he saying? Does he mean concerning being a Divergent? Does he know? How can he know? My fear simulations. He must have noticed my how well I handled them and he also saw my fears. He must have put two and two together.

Maybe he is one of the traitors? It would be too obvious if it was Eric. He looks the part, but Four doesn't. He seems like someone you can trust. Maybe this is a trick to get me to come clean. What should I do? Who can I trust now?

"I am fine," I answer shortly and pull myself lose. I need to get away from this man. They told us in the beginning that they wanted Four as a leader, but that he had refused the job. Why? Maybe they know that the leaders are considered traitors and they needed someone among the people, someone who doesn't have a lot of power, someone who trains the initiates and can evaluate if they are Divergent or not.

I shake my head and try to focus on my task, but my mind keeps wondering to Four. What do I know about him? I know more about Eric then I do about Four. He keeps a lot to himself. Why? Why doesn't he let others get close? I have noticed that he doesn't seem to have deep relationships with others in the compound? Why does he distance himself so much?

My eyes wonder from time to time to the man and he catches me a few times. Damn it, what should I do? He knows?

"Okay, that is everything! We are heading towards the Dauntless compound," Mattheus catches my attention and I climb on the truck. Luissa sits next to me. The other initiates and Four climb in on the back of the truck and sit between the food boxes. I can feel Four's eyes on my back and it's making me freak out. I have to stay calm, I cannot let Luissa or Mattheus or Four know that something is going on. Stay calm Andy, we are almost at the compound.

Suddenly a man appears in front of the truck. Mattheus is able to stop the car just in time. The man doesn't flinch though. He is wearing a gray shirt, orange pants and black jacket. He is factionless. I can feel Mattheus and Luissa tense beside me.

This isn't good. Wait, maybe they just want the food and they will let us leave.

More factionless people surround the trucks and they lift guns at us. I count fifteen of them. We are not only outnumbered, but we also don't have any weapons to defend ourselves with. What should we do?

The man standing in front of our truck walks closer to us and he pulls a gun from behind his jacket: "Get out of the truck, slowly."

I eye Mattheus and nod. We cannot refuse. Mattheus opens the door and I hear Luissa do the same thing. I follow them out of the truck. I see the others follow our lead. We can't refuse. We have to do as they say. We cannot protect ourselves from guns. If we attack them, they will shoot us immediately and if we run, we won't make it far.

"What do you want," Four asks the factionless and he positions himself between us and the man addressing us. He doesn't seem impressed by Four trying to shield us. I pull Mattheus behind me. It is my Dauntless duty to protect the citizens, even if they are a head taller than me.

"I think that is obvious, the food. Stay where you are. Anyone who moves, we will shoot on the spot," the man threatens us, as his men start to load our food on their own truck. I hadn't even notice it pull up next to ours. I can tell that Four is furious and so are the others. How dare they just steal the food? The Amity people worked hard for it and the Dauntless disserve it. It is ours! We cannot let them do this. We have to do something. But what? We don't have any weapons or any leverage.

Suddenly an explosion goes off in a nearby street and it makes everyone run to take cover. We forget about the factionless men, holding their guns. They seemed to be equally surprised by the attack. Who is attacking us then? The commotion gave us an upper hand though. The factionless were confused and the others had graphed the opportunity. They attacked the factionless men.

I graphed Mattheus and pushed him away from the fight. A factionless man blocked our way and he wanted to aim his gun at me, but I was quickly in front of him and knocked him to the ground by punching him in the jaw. They might have guns, but I have been training psychically for a few weeks. If I am fast enough, I can get Mattheus away from the fight.

I graph the factionless men his gun and knock him unconscious with the back of the gun. I didn't feel comfortable killing him. I am surprised at how calm Mattheus is staying under all the commotion. This isn't the first time this has happened, is it? He must be used to factionless people trying to steal food when he delivers it to other factions.

Another man appears in front of me. I cannot get to him quickly enough to knock him down, so I aim my gun at him. I don't think and pull the trigger. The gun doesn't fire though. It just clicks. I look at it confused. Wait a minute. These guns aren't loaded. That would explain why I haven't heard any gunshots yet. I get pulled out of my thoughts, when the man's fist collides with my jaw. I stumble backwards, but Mattheus catches me and pushes me back towards the man. I graph his arm and turn my back into his chest, pulling the man over my shoulder, like I had done with Lucas during our training. When the man is down, I sit on top of him and slam my fist against his head, making it slam against the concrete floor. He doesn't move and I see blood cover the ground beneath his head. I ignore it.

"Mattheus, get to the other truck and get out of here," I order the man and I am surprised at how easily he takes my order. He climbs in and he starts driving into the crowd. Half of our goods are still on the truck. I spot Annie and Andrew fighting of three men. I throw myself into the fight. Three against three. Why aren't they using their guns? They are holding them, but not firing. I turn to others and yell: "Their guns aren't loaded!"

"I thought it was weird they hadn't fired at us yet," Four shouts back and I dive into a close combat fight with a man, not that much older than me. He is wearing Candor pants and an Amity shirt. He seems scared and it doesn't take me long to scare him of. He runs of. Another man appears. This one is bigger. I use the back of the gun I am still holding and smack it into his side, so that he falls down. I use my elbow to knock the man unconscious. I try to scan the others, but another man appears and I can't figure out if the others are alright. I hear a truck drive past me and I think I see Annie and Rob standing on the loading part. They pull someone on the truck. I want to see who it is, but the man I am currently fighting tackles me and I fall down, smacking my head against the ground. I see black spots for a second, but I retaliate quickly because the man's fist is coming down on me fast. I graph it with one hand and use my other to punch him. He falls back and I get up quickly. I hear another truck drive past me. Wait, didn't Mattheus just pass me? Is there another…

A shot is heard and I feel an incredible pain spread threw my body. I see Annie run towards me and she is saying something, but my ears don't catch it. The world grows quite and I feel my legs bucked out from underneath me. I crash into the ground and my mind goes blank.