I wondered how my Aunt Atlanta had ended up at the bottom of the chasm.

An extreme loss of balance?

It can't have been. She would've learnt from what happened to my parents.

Suicide?

Surely, I would've been able to tell?

Perhaps someone pushed her?

But she didn't have any enemies. None that would want to kill her anyway. But the look in her eyes suggested otherwise. Like a rabbit being hunted.

I now had no relatives left. Zoey's parents said they would love to have me move in with them if I wanted. But I decided to stay put in my apartment. I could look after myself just fine. Anyway, I would be sixteen in two years, and possibly moving to Amity.

School suggested for me to take a few days off, but I refused. I'd rather be doing something to distract myself. But school didn't really help. I was overcome with grief at losing the woman who had lived and raised me. Also, my brain was still going over how my aunt fell into the chasm. These thoughts occupied my brain, as the factions once did.

I was walking to PE class with Zoey and Liam. It was the last lesson of the day, and we would be playing dodgeball. That was my favourite. My aim and force of the throw was usually exceptional, but I wasn't as good as catching the ball. Dodgeball would probably give me a break from my constant thoughts about my aunt; the game required my full attention.

As we left the changing rooms, the coach told us to get straight into the game. He blew his whistle, and I immediately ran to retrieve a ball. Liam and Zoey were on the opposing team, so I would try to get them out first. I threw my first ball at Liam. He saw it coming and managed to jump out of the way right at the last second.

Next, I hit an Amity. They were usually quite easy to get out, dodgeball wasn't the friendliest of games. I caught a ball thrown by a Candor next, then dodged an Abnegation throw. A Dauntless kid was hit in the arm by another throw of mine.

Soon enough the opposing team were all nearly out, apart from Liam. I was the last person on my team too. A head-to-head. Liam's main strength was dodging the ball. It was like he had a super sense for any incoming flying objects. The easiest way to beat him would be to catch the ball. That did not play to my strengths.

I picked up a ball and threw it at Liam's chest, with the greatest amount of force I could muster. It would be hard to dodge. But by some god given miracle, he leapt out of the way. He picked up a ball and threw it at me. By a god given miracle, I caught it. My team erupted into cheers.

"That throw was too high. I knew it!" Liam said frustratedly.

I went over to him. "Hey, you still played a good game. You stayed in the longest out of your team."

Liam perked up a bit as he left for the boys changing rooms.

Back at the compound

I was in my apartment, curled up on the sofa, thinking about my aunt yet again. In my hands was her notepad. Before she died, she was jotting down a small order list for the clothes shop. It said:

Combat boots

Small black shirt (2)

Eyeliner, pack of six

Cargo trousers

Kids combat boots

Black leather jacket

I'd have to give this list to one of Aunt Atlanta's co-workers.

I was reading through the list again when there was a knock on the door.

"Hey kid, are you in?" It was Four.

I got up, opened the door and let him in. We both sat at the table.

"So, how have you been today?" he asked.

I wasn't feeling good today. But I wasn't going to admit that. Four would start playing the role of big brother maybe a bit too much of I did. "Yeah, I'm good."

Four didn't look convinced but didn't push me for a proper answer.

"How are the initiates doing with the fear simulations?" I asked, in an attempt to change the subject.

"They're doing well. Tris is doing especially well." His voice changed slightly when he said her name; it was barely recognisable, but I had a sense for noticing changes in voices, facial tics and the sort. I decided to do some digging.

"So do you talk to Tris a lot?"

"I'm her instructor, so yes, I talk to her."

"Oh okay."

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. She seems like a nice person, that's all."

"What are you trying to say, Theia?"

"Your voice changed when you said her name."

"You and your almost superhuman senses."

"Well, she is nice, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she is." Four finally admitted. "Anyway, enough about that, I want to speak to you."

He looked around, like he thought someone was hiding in the apartment, and lowered his voice. "I want to put you in a fear simulation. I suspect something that could be very dangerous."

I registered what he said. I wasn't even an initiate. There were no rules against those younger than initiation age using the fear simulation room; it had never really been specified. But no one under initiation ever used it.

"What, why? What do you suspect?" I demanded.

"I can't tell you that unless I know for sure." Four replied.

"Know what? Come on Four, if you're going to put me in a simulation can't I at least know why?"

"Theia, this is a matter of life and death. No exaggeration. Now, are you coming? It should be done before dinner." Four asked as he got out of his chair. He walked towards the door and stood there.

I reluctantly got up. Even though I was annoyed that Four wouldn't tell me anything, I was curious to see what the simulation would be like.

The simulation had a chair in the middle, monitors to the side, and a table with a syringe on. I cringed as soon as I saw the syringe. I hate needles. I can handle gore and blood, but as soon as I see a needle, I want to run a mile.

I sat in the chair and watched as Four put a fresh needle in the syringe. Four told me he would be injecting the needle into my neck to start the simulation. I cringed at this, and as he came to inject me, I held my breath in intense fear.

"Breathe, and don't look as I inject you," Four instructed. How could I not look at the massive needle being poked into my neck? But I closed my eyes and waited for the simulation to take over.