CHAPTER ONE: Choosing
A hand on her shoulder is what woke me up in the morning. Blearily, she opened her eyes and raised her fists up to rub the sleep out of them. Her mother rested on the side of the bed, her hand running through her hair.
"Good morning sweetheart, it's time to get up today." She whispered softly. Rosemary nodded, and pushed herself up, rubbing her eyes once more.
"Today's testing day isn't it?" She questioned, as she turned her head to look at her mother. Her blue eyes were filled with something that she couldn't place her finger on. She nodded. The girl breathed out a sigh before speaking again.
"We don't have classes today, since it's going to take awhile to do all the tests, I already talked to Layla, and Aurora and I are going to help in the daycare until it's time to go." The words slipped out of her mouth, as she shoved the light pink covers off her body and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Breakfast will be done in ten minutes, wake your sister up will you?" She asked, as she moved to head out the door.
"Yep!" she responded brightly. Rosemary got up, and quickly remade herbed, making sure everything looked good. Pulling a red shirt and a skirt, she left the room, and went to go wake her younger sister up. Dalia was bunched up in the covers, left leg sticking out. Rosemary couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she bent down to get closer to the girls level.
"It's time to wake up Dalia." She whispered softly as she ran her hand up and down the girl's back. The kid let out a whine as she yawned and opened her eyes.
"Time to get up kiddo, breakfast is going to be done in a few. So get dressed and brush your hair."
"Mmhmm." Was all the response she got. Shaking her head, the girl left, and headed down the hall.
"Need help with anything?" She questioned as she walked into the kitchen, her mother finishing up in the kitchen.
"It's all good, just need to be put on the table. Your brother and father should be coming inside in a few minutes." Rosemary nodded as she grabbed the water pitcher and placed it on the table, and went back to grab the cups. Shuffling sounded as her sister made it into the kitchen, and flopped down at her seat. The air was quiet for a few moments until the front door opened and the voices of her father and brother reached her ears.
"Breakfast is done! Go wash up you two." Her mother called out to them, as she started to place the dishes on the table, pressing a kiss to her daughter's heads. Breakfast was a joyful affair, talking about everything. When Rosemary was done, she glanced at the small clock on the wall and her eyes widened.
"I have to go! I'm supposed to meet Aurora at ten!" She called out, as she placed her dishes in the sink, and quickly went over to where her shoes were and shoved them on. "I'll be back after my test!"
"Jackson, get back here!" Rosemary turned the corner, chasing after the little boy who seemed to be wanting to avoid nap time. He screamed gleefully but was stopped by Aurora who scooped him up. The teen breathed out, a grin on her face.
"Need a little help?" She asked her friend as she started back to the room. Rosemary nodded, catching her breath.
"Didn't want to go down for nap time, got away when I wasn't looking." She replied back, watching as Aurora finally got the boy to lay down. The two went to their spots in the corner, talking quietly amongst themselves.
"Nervous at all?"
"I mean, a little bit. Everyone already knows where they're going, me on the other hand, I have no clue."
"Just trust the test Rose, and follow your heart."
"Thanks, it's just that this sets up the rest of our lives, can't make a quick decision."
"We'll be okay. Who knows, maybe we'll go to the same faction." Aurora smiled. Rosemary sighed softly, resting her elbows on her knees, and her chin in her hands. She had known since she was twelve that she wasn't going to be staying in Amity. It just wasn't for her. She wanted more in her life, something more meaningful. More excited. This would finally be the escape that she had always wanted.
There was a nagging feeling that her mother just knew that she would be leaving, but something told her that her mother would be okay with it. Rose only hoped that those feelings were right.
At noon, they were notified that they best head to the school since the test would be starting soon, and the pair headed out and got onto the truck with their friends and other eighteen year olds. The ride was filled with nervousness but the smiles never lifted from their faces as they chatted. Hoping down from the back, Rosemary helped Aurora down, as she pulled her hair up and out of her face as they started to walk into the school where the tests were to be held at.
The cafeteria was split into different factions. Dauntless were playing some dare game, the Candor were talking rapidly, hands moving out and about, and the Erudite were hunched over their books. Amity filled in the remaining tables, and luckily Rosemary was able to sit next to Aurora. Her fingers twisted into the bottom of her shirt, her her nerves building as the names started to get called.
"From Amity, Aurora Scott and Rosemary Stone!" Was called out, and the friend glanced at each other before getting up and following the person that called their name. A woman in Abnegation clothing was preparing the equipment, as Rose stepped in, letting the door shut behind her. The woman smiled softly at her, as she finished.
"Have a seat please." her voice was soft, and Rose sat down on the chair, laying back against it. A vial of something blue was pressed into her hand, and she arched her brow at the woman.
"Drink it, it'll take about 30 seconds to take effect." Shrugging, she let the contents of the vial spill down her throat. It was cool as it went down, and she could already feel the effects of it. Then everything went black.
A room full of mirrors is what she first noticed, the second was the three bowls. One had a knife, the second had cheese and the third had meat.
"Choose."
What?
"What do you mean?"
"Choose." sounded again. At the last second, almost like on instinct, the brunette grabbed the knife, and watched as the bowls disappeared. Was the test really going to be that easy?
Nah, it couldn't be.
A split second later, she heard a growl. From the other side of the room, she could see a large dog stalking its way towards her. Then she heard a child's voice.
"Puppy!" And the animal started running. As it leaped over her to get to the child, she had a split second to think, and shoved the blades into its chest.
The scene changed again.
Now she was on a train, and a man appeared to be asking her something.
"What?"
"I said, do you know this man?" He practically shoved the newspaper into her face. Glancing down at it, she had that feeling that she had seen the man, but biting her lip she replied.
"I have not." Instantly the man's expression turned into anger.
"Liar!" He threw the paper to the floor, and started to charge at her. He paused for a second, sizing her up, before throwing the first punch. She let out a gasp as it made contact with her cheek, and stepped back. This went on for a minute, before she got a shot, and punched as hard as she could back.
Unluckily the man was near the opening of the train, and the punch sent him stumbling back, and made his foot slip. Last thing she saw was the man tumbling to his quick death before everything went black once more.
Jolting up, she could feel her heart felt like it was beating a mile a minute.
"It's okay, you're okay." She could hear the woman speak to her, and after a couple deep breaths she felt like she could breathe again. From the side she could hear typing, and quietly asked the woman what her results were.
"You received Dauntless. Which for an Amity, doesn't happen that often." Somehow Rosemary wasn't surprised that she received that. She always did love watching them jump off the train before school, and always wondered what it would be like to do that herself.
"You can head home now dear, and good luck." Composing herself, she left the room quietly, heading down the hallway that lead to the side exit. The walk home was filled with her getting lost in her thoughts.
Which one would she pick?
Could she be brave and go with her heart?
Or should she stay where life as she knows it is easy.
Blowing out a sigh, she could see the outskirts of Amity appearing. Could she even tell her parents that she got Dauntless, or should she just keep it to herself. Her mother was out in the garden when she arrived home, and could see the distress on her daughters face. Plopping down, she rested her head on her knees before speaking.
"I got Dauntless." She whispered out, not having the courage to look at her mother.
"Okay, and?"
"Wait, so you're not mad or upset?" Her mother ran her hand down her back, pulling her close.
"Not at all. I was Dauntless born, I should of seen it coming with you. You always were the wild one, trying new things." A laugh escaped her mouth. "What ever you pick, I will always love you no matter what."
As the night came to an end, and as Rosemary got ready for bed, she hugged her parents a bit tighter, and her sister a bit longer. Tomorrow was when it would all change, and who knew, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.