Chapter 2
Standing is something, I am well used to by now.
On my way to the hub, I stood all the way on the bus, because I gave my seat to man from Candor,( dressed in their standard black and white outfit, which probably signified their beliefs in truth or lie), who didn't even have the courtesy to thank me.
It is expected of us to be compassionate and caring. I never understand why, why only us?
Because we belong to Abnegation, is not a reason enough for me.
Not all Candors speak truth, all the time or favor justice, not all Erudites are as curious as they pretend to be, not all Abnegations are selfless and I happen to be on of those.
Amity, well that is an exceptional faction, all silly, merry and happiness!
Whereas, Dauntless are just unpredictable, free spirits, all adventurous and fun loving, living as they like, lucky souls.
..0..
Outside the hub, everyone proceeded methodically, in lines, and I had to allow them to move ahead, pretending to be indifferent, but it was situations like these that lead to comical situations which I loved.
"You go, I'll follow ."I said, gesturing a boy from Abnegation to proceed.
"Nope, you go, I'll be patiently waiting for my turn." He replied, appearing flustered.
"But you have been waiting for so long!" I stated, so very politely, with a small smile on my face.
"So have you." He countered, turning red.
"You look tired." I answered, insistently.
It was fun to mess with people sometimes, and right here was my victim.
"Ladies first." He stated.
Agreeing I proceeded to the hall, smiling and thanking him for his kindness.
It was a charade, that I had to maintain, for the sake of my mother.
According to her these conversations were a mere waste of time, an annoyance.
Not to me.
Evoking response from the people I conversed with, helped me know them, understand them . Each human was a walking mystery, mystery that I so wanted to solve, if not solve, atleast know .The one here, had his cheeks and ears turn somewhat red. It isn't hard for people around me to lose their calm. But, I have no idea about why it was so?
... 0...
I was on the stairs when I saw them, rolling or running and then jogging, they jumped from the moving train, giggling and laughing they made their way towards the main hall in the form of a crowd, roaring and thundering, making their presence known. Something about this wild attitude of theirs scared me but even filled me with excitement, an emotion unrealistic to my faction.
By the time I reached the main hall, I was panting and sweating. It was on the twentieth floor and I had to use the stairs.
Abnegation didn't use the elevators, thus facilitating the members of the other factions, it was one, among the multiple drawbacks of belonging to Abnegation.
Soon, after having taken my seat, I was requested to join the initiates on the square stage, beside the main podium.
Having nothing to do, I let my eyes wander around the hall, allowing the image of the surrounding and importance of the moment to sink in.
The main hall was huge, currently ,it was dimly lit, the chairs had been arranged to form a semi-circle while narrow passages between the seats marked the division between the faction, it appeared to resemble a coloor palette (or so I think it was called, Amity was the only faction to care for things such as arts) with six shades, namely Blue (for Erudite), red mixed with yellow and orange (for Amity), black and white (for Candor and Dauntless) and Grey (for Abnegation).
It was interesting to think of it as various parts of humanity separated only by small differences in beliefs, causing each to be different from the other, yet constituting a whole.
The sound of a clap echoing through the hall, broke me out of my reverie.
Looking for the source, my eyes landed on Eric Dragomir, the Amity leader. Clearing his throat he began-
"Welcome! Members of the fellow factions and the initiates, the choosing ceremony for the year is to commence soon and I request for your undivided attention."
As the hall became quiet, he continued.
"It was the war that had destroyed our world, costing us our peace, freedom, food, loved ones, land, in a nutshell, our life... "
I zoned out, having an idea of what he wanted to deliver. This wasnt the first initiation ceremony I was attending, but definitely the first where I was to make a choice.
The gist of the speech almost remained the same every year, only the speaker changed. It was different words, with the same meaning.
I was lost in my thoughts, until the first name among the initiates was announced and I kept a count of the number of initiates ,patiently waiting for my turn.
The procedure same for all, they were given a sterile knife and they had to slice their palms, or make cuts large enough to allow the blood to flow freely from it, which was dropped in the required bowl.
The ceremony was of great significance, it symbolized the ulterior motto of the faction system,
'Faction before blood.'
After twenty two initiates, Mr. Dragomir finally called for me,
"Hathaway, Rosemarie." I was relieved and equally stunned. There was no going back now.
Making my way towards the podium, despite trying, I couldn't catch her eye, she was pointedly looking away, with a stoic expression on her face, she was avoiding me, I realized .