A/N: Oh my goodness, I can't tell you how amazed I am at the response this has gotten so far. Thank you all so much! I'm sorry for the delay in the new chapter. There's been a lot going on and I have a new nephew now, so it's all very exciting. I was hoping to have more written ahead of what I post, but I got stuck with some writer's block and I think you all deserve this. Thank you for reviewing, favouriting and following! It means the world to me. Thank you also to Sarah who is the best beta I can ask for.


Chapter Nine

The next two weeks fly by. One of the initiates has already failed, having a mental breakdown as he prepped for his individual project. Vera, the possible Divergent, has chosen serums and how they work as her project. It's a dangerous choice. Jeanine has developed many of the serums and her interest has increased in the girl. She might let her finish the project before she makes her decision, just to see what the girl has to offer.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about Jeanine calling it our research. Despite the fact that she may have been projecting, seeing me as an extension of herself, it makes me nervous. It feels like added responsibility, like I'm doing it willingly instead of just trying to protect myself. I hate it. Guilt creeps up on me like a virus. I'm doing my best to shut it down, to stop thinking of what I'm helping and focus on my family. It doesn't always work. My throat tightens, my hands shake, and my stomach rolls. Nausea floods over me, goose bumps prickle over my skin when I even read anything about Vera. I need it to stop. I can't afford to react to this, not when it's likely to get worse.

It's the end of the day when Riley walks up to my desk. Reports about the initiates are sent in daily. The librarians tell me how much time each initiate has spent in the library. It's evidence that they will work hard and do research, which will work in their favour. Riley usually writes about the results of each test. The tests are sometimes random, and sometimes the initiates are warned, but judging form the look on Riley's face, today's results aren't good. I wait until he's in front my desk before I look up at him.

"Can I help you?" I ask. Usually he sends his reports in via message. This is the first time I've seen him since the Choosing Ceremony. He smiles widely. Riley has never been one of the people who have tried to use me to get close to Jeanine but I still don't trust him. I've seen him with others. Despite being one of the top educators in Erudite, he can be cruel to anyone he thinks less of.

"Amelia," he says, "how long have we known each other?" His glasses glint in the light, blocking my view of his eyes.

"We've known of each other for two years," I reply. Riley is older than me, closer to his thirties and highly ambitious. He was rising to the top before I came into the game. I never paid much attention to him, noticing him only when my work involved him. Even then it was fleetingly.

"I've been thinking," he says, leaning against my desk. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from replying. He looks like he wants something and I'm curious as to what it is. "You're one of Erudite's top members and so am I. I'm aware that you're single." My eyes narrow. What is he getting at? "And so am I. I propose that we work together to solve this. We could be the solution to each others problem." Dread settles in the pit of my stomach.

"What problem?" I ask.

"We could marry each other, that way it is out of the way, and we can continue to focus on our work," he says with a smile. I stare at him in disbelief. I was getting proposed to...by theory? I have to stop myself from laughing in disbelief. "Both of us are at the top of our sectors, I don't see a problem in attractiveness on either side and our genes together will bring forth the next generation of higher intellect." He looks proud and I have to wipe the stunned look off of my face. The next generation? I'll consider myself lucky if I make it through my generation. Divergence might be genetic. I didn't want to expose any children of my future to the same fear I live with.

The problem is his proposal isn't that uncommon. Erudite's focus is on work, on furthering society through intelligence. There are often marriages that are made simply for the act of procreating. There are laws in place that every family in each faction must provide at least two children to society. I had been so wrapped up in my fear, I never considered that it would be a possibility. No one had ever been interested in me like this, or I've never noticed if they have. It was odd to consider.

"Amelia?"

I look at Riley quickly and force a smile. He looks a little concerned. "Thank you," I say. "It certainly does seem logical." He smiles widely and I wonder briefly if I could marry him. If I wasn't Divergent would I end up with him? His gangly limbs remind me of my brother who has yet to grow into his. "However, I'm afraid I cannot agree to this at this time." The smile slides off of his face and I watch as his eyes grow hard.

"Why not?" he asks.

"Because I am busy," I say clearly. "I have no desire to consider marriage or procreation at this time. You have come to me in the middle of choosing initiates," I don't say that its the precipice of war. "Let me think on it and I will give you an answer."

"When?" he demands and I straighten in my chair.

My voice goes cold. "When I'm ready." I take a deep breath. "Did you bring me the result of the tests?"

"Yes," he replies, standing up and away from my desk. I've insulted him but I can't bring myself to care. He can assume all he wants that he is the best option, but he makes me sound like a trophy. The best breeding with the best. He's lucky all I do is delay him. "Two of the initiates are on the edge of failing." Hope flutters that it's Vera. It's cruel, but I can't help it. "Derek Wells and Isabelle Olson." I know the names. Isabelle hasn't set foot in the library since the tour, according to the reports. Derek has nearly failed all of the tests so far. "Isabelle passed with a 68 percentage but Derek passed by a mere 52. The others are all far ahead."

"What about the Amity transfer?" I ask.

"She's been improving. Last test places her at a 74 percentage," Riley says. "There more hope for her than the other idiots. Derek, I understand, he used to be Dauntless. All muscle, no brain, but Isabelle is born Erudite. You think she'd know better."

"Hmm," I say, not quite sure how to respond. I type out the results on my computer, filing them with the other ones. They're a low grouping for Erudite initiates. Usually the percentages are higher, averaging in the high 80s. Jeanine won't like that. She'll want better. Nothing that will surpass her, but maybe closer to me. I ranked in the high 90s. It was enough to gain her attention. I look up, away from the computer to see that Riley is still standing there. "Is that all?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

His jaw clenches, but he nods. "Yes."

I wait until he strides out of the office before turning back to my work. Marry him? I scoff to myself. It'd be like marrying Jeanine, and I already felt like I did that considering how often I am in contact with her. I take a deep breath and look back at the results. There are only two days left in the initiation process. Jeanine will get the individual assignments and the test results before making her decision about who will better the faction and who won't. I hope they all run while they can.


The eve before the Welcoming Ceremony is a noisy one at my family dinner.

"Are the tests hard?" It's the third time that Brighton's asked about the initiation process. He already knows too much and he's getting irritating. I don't reply, instead grabbing the bowl of vegetables that's on the table. My father is muttering about some machine that broke that morning. They still haven't fixed it.

"Brighton," my mother says, "why don't you tell Amelia about school?"

"Because that's boring," Brighton says. "She's been to school. I want to know how to score high on the initiation. It'll be my turn soon."

"Not for a couple more years," I say. Brighton frowns at me and I stop myself from rolling my eyes. "You'll be fine. I could test you now and you'd probably rank higher than some of them." My mother throws a disapproving look at me for talking about it but Brighton's face lights up. It's worth it.

"I heard that Riley Givens stopped by your office today," my father speaks up suddenly. I look at him and he's watching me carefully. I stuff food in my mouth and chew, trying to keep my annoyance from showing. I don't know how he knows about it, but my mother looks intrigued. It feels like more weight is pressing down on me. My lips press together as I think about it.

"Yes," I admit, "he did. He proposed."

"Really?" My mother asks. "Did he say why?" I look over at Brighton whose face is scrunched up. It matched how I felt.

"He thinks that since we're both high up in Erudite, it would be a beneficial match. Apparently our children would benefit greatly from our genes." My mother has a calculating look in her eye. I hope she doesn't push it. There's too much that I have to worry about and most of it she can't know. I can't explain to her why I'm not interested.

"I hope you said no," Brighton says. I look at him in surprise. "I don't like him."

"I can't say I do either," I agree. "I've barely spoken to him before today. He was rather...presumptuous." It's the best way to describe him. Once again, I'm thankful that I wasn't born Candor. They'd see through me instantly.

"He has a point though," my father says. I wish he'd drop it. "I'm not saying marry him, but look around. You're getting older."

I sigh. "I'm aware of that, thank you." He smiles at me suddenly and I feel myself relax at his teasing. "Are you looking for another son?"

"Hey!" Brighton protests.

"No," my father says. "My children are my greatest creation." A rush of affection spreads through me. I smile back at him. I was worried that this dinner would be as strained as the previous ones but the distraction of the initiates proves to be helpful for once.

"And mine," my mother agrees. They make eye contact over the table and smile softly at one another. It's sweet. For a moment, I find myself wondering if I could ever find anyone like that. If I make it through this, I could find someone who was sweet and easily distracted. Someone who focused more on his work than on me.

"Ew," Brighton says. "Can you save that for when I'm not here?" My mother laughs.


There's a loud, pounding knock at the door. I look around, surprised. No one ever comes to visit my family during dinner.

"Brighton," my mother says. "Go see who it is."

Brighton grumbles about being the youngest, but his curiosity is betrayed by the quickness of his movements.

It's silent around the table. I can hear Brighton talking to whoever is at the door, but I don't hear the reply. Is it one of his friends? I look at my father curiously but he shrugs. I try not to frown. I hate not knowing something.

"She's in the...hey!" Brighton calls out. I hear feet coming down the hall, the steps too heavy to be my brothers. Eric appears in the doorway, smirking as soon as he sees me. Brighton is looking at me from behind him. The fury that I feel is almost overwhelming. I stand up quickly.

"What," I demand, "are you doing here?" He should not be here. It was bad enough he knew I had a brother, but now he knows where my family lives. Fear builds in me. I don't trust him and I don't know what he can do with this information.

"You said to inform you immediately," Eric says. He's taunting me again. I knew that word would cause problems, but I never anticipated this. I think quickly. I am used to people trying to use me for Jeanine, but nothing like this.

"Amelia," my mother stands from the table, breaking the tension that has formed between Eric and I. I want to tell my family to hide, to leave the room while I deal with him so they're not exposed to him. I don't break eye contact though. "Who is this?" Eric smiles at her suddenly and I'm thrown by the difference it makes on his face. He looks pleasant. He'd be attractive if I didn't know him better. If my memories of him weren't filled with fear. The thought churns in my stomach.

"I'm Eric, ma'am," he says, moving forward and offering his hand to shake. She does so and my father stands up from the table to greet him. I have to stop myself from yelling at them to stop. "I'm sorry for intruding, but Amelia and I have some business to take care of."

"Of course," my father says, but my mother looks at me with questions in her eyes.

"What type of business?" Brighton suddenly speaks up. He's looking at Eric with open curiosity. "Does it have to do with Jeanine?" Eric turns to look at me and answers the questions. I'm tense, prepared to pounce if he makes a move towards Brighton. His tone is friendly though.

"Dauntless and Erudite have always been close," he says. He doesn't break eye contact with me and I have to hold back the urge to hit him when he smirks at me. "We're just bridging the gap that's left."

"What does that mean?" Brighton asks. I act before Eric can answer again.

"Excuse me," I mutter to them, moving forward and grabbing Eric's arm. He follows willingly as I pull him out of my parent's home.

I turn on him as soon as the door closes behind us. "What are you doing here?" I try to keep my voice down. My family is already going to ask questions. I don't need to add more fuel to their fire.

"You said to inform you immediately." He smirks at me, arms folding across his chest. I glance at the muscles in his arms, which suddenly seem to stand out so much more than before. I ignore it.

"Yes," I say and poke him in the chest. "Which means sending me a message, not showing up at my parents house!" I'm too loud. I take a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"Would you rather I showed up at yours?" He has that amused look on his face and I want to wipe it off. He knows where I live. The thought makes me shudder. That would have been worse. The people in my building were solitary and unlikely to get involved if he threatened me again.

"No," I say. "I'd rather you message me."

"Your codes are deficient," he says lightly. "I didn't trust it." Any chance of calming down is gone. Anger wells up in me.

"My codes are not deficient!" I practically snarl. It's alarming how easy he seems to get under my skin. I pull back, trying to regain control but he has that intense look in his eyes again and I suddenly feel like prey. My heart is racing. "Those codes," I say, trying to appear unaffected, "were approved by Jeanine herself. They are not deficient."

"I must have been mistaken then," he says it like it's nothing. Like he hasn't just insulted my intelligence but he's watching me carefully.

"Indeed," I grind out. "You can go now. I got the message." I point the way towards the nearest train tracks.

"No," he says before moving closer to me. I inhale sharply and instinctively move back.

"No?"

"No." He doesn't elaborate.

It's almost like a dance. He moves closer and I move back towards my parent's house. It only lasts a few steps before my back hits the wall. I inwardly berate myself for cornering myself. I stand up straight, unwilling to back down any further. His arms rise up and his hands rest on either side of my head as he steps forward. I'm trapped.

"When can we expect you?" he asks, his voice low. My heart is pounding. I feel like he surrounds me. His body is almost touching mine and he smells like smoke and sweat. Heat flares through me unexpectedly. I glare up at him, annoyed at the cage he makes.

"Not for a couple days," I say. "We have initiations to finish." He tilts his head slightly.

"Good," he says smugly "So do we." My jaw clenches and I have to quell the frustration I feel.

"Good, we'll arrange it as usual."

"Hmm," he says. It's not quite an agreement.

"You can leave now," I tell him. It feels like a stare down, both of us refusing to break eye contact. He leans forward and I tense, unsure suddenly as to what he's going to do. He moves slightly to the right, past my face and I feel his lips brush my ear before I hear him.

"Don't accept the proposal."

I reel back and my head slams into the wall behind me. The flash of pain is enough to distract me as Eric pushes himself away, laughing. How does he know that? That information was new. He walks away from me, heading in the direction of the train. "'Til next time, Amelia," he calls out. I lean against the house, heart pounding as if it's about to burst out of my chest. I feel like I can barely breathe. My theory about remembering my brother from school had been disproven the moment he stepped into my parent's home. He has to be getting information, but how?


My mind is whirling over possibilities, trying to figure out the source, as I step back into my parent's home. They barrage me with questions as soon as I enter the dining room again. I can see the nervousness in my father's eyes, like the thought of me working with the Dauntless doesn't agree with him. My mother is watching me carefully, but Brighton looks cautious. The impulsiveness of the Dauntless never sat well with him.

"How do you know a Dauntless?" Brighton asks. "What work was he talking about?"

"Are you okay?" my mother's voice is calm and steady. A lifeboat in the chaos of my mind. I look up at her and I realize I'm still standing in the doorway of the dining room.

"Yes," I say. I sit down at my seat and continue eating, ignoring my mother's concerned stare. Brighton, seeing that I won't answer, starts telling his own theories, but I ignore him. I can picture Eric's face above mine, that irritating smirk on his lips. He had leaned forward...and I felt oddly disappointed, but I can't explain why. Frustration builds up in me and I stab at the left over meat on my plate with my fork. I have to cut off the source of his information. He already knows too much about me. I need to find a way to make him stop.

I stand up abruptly, cutting off my father who was speaking. "I'm sorry," I say. Brighton looks intrigued at my interruption but my parents look slightly more concerned. "I have to go."

"Why?" my father asks. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I reply. "I'm sorry." I leave before they can ask anything else. It's the first time that I leave one of our dinners early with no explanation.


My apartment was a secure place that I could be myself. As I step into it, it doesn't feel like it used to. The knowledge that Eric knows where I live taints it. The idea that he could show up at any moment leaves me uneasy. I look out the windows and lock the door. The unease fades but doesn't disappear.

I sit down at my desk and grab a piece of paper. The effort of handwriting might calm my mind. I need a plan, some way to get his attention off of me. His persistence has been unwavering so far, but it needs to stop. I have to find another way to deal with him. He's proven that he's not above using scare tactics at my expense for his own amusement, but I don't know though if that's what he's after. If it's only for fun. I jot down notes on the paper before pausing. He knew about the proposal...but why does he care? Why does he want me to refuse it? There's a part of me that's half tempted to say yes to Riley just to spite Eric, but then I'd be stuck with Riley. It's a no-win situation.

Suddenly, I'm determined. I will not get stuck between Riley and Eric, not when my life is already on the line. I need to find his source of information and the easiest way to do that will be to find out who knew Riley was going to propose. The second course of action would be to find out exactly what Eric wants. The sooner I know, the faster I can find a way to end his interest. The initiations are over tomorrow. I don't have a lot of time.

[tbc]