Hey everyone! I am back with an update and I am sorry for the long absence. I hope you guys enjoyed Out of the darkness, into the light and had an amazing Christmas. My BBA semester 1 has started and I am really enjoying the learning process plus the amazing university :D
I hope this was worth the wait! Special thanks to drgaonmaster65 who amazingly beta'd this on Christmas for me :3
-o0o-ERIC-o0o-
I wake up, feeling light and content for the first time since my aptitude test. I still haven't decided what I will choose yet, but I decided to take Beatrice's advice to my heart and visit a very special girl.
She opens her door and smiles brightly at me as she gestures for me to come in. Her apartment is neat, with white sterile looking walls, a bedroom, guest room, bathroom and kitchen with a small living room. The Erudite value practicality and most apartments for one person are exactly like this one.
She looks smart as ever in her Erudite blue outfit and the smile reaches her eyes. I am pretty sure she knows I am taking her all in since there's a chance I wont see her again if I transfer to some other faction.
"Hey Eric," she says as she takes a seat on the sofa beside me. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Can't a person visit his favorite girl in the world?" I reply with mock hurt and she laughs lightly. Her laugh is refreshing.
"So?" she prompts.
"So?" I say back, wanting to prolong my visit with her.
"Have you decided?" she asks me, curiosity evident in her brown eyes as I contemplate my answer.
"What was it like for you? Were you nervous? Did you decide what you wanted to do or-" my verbal attack stops as I take in her expression. "What?" I ask.
"Eric? Is everything alright?"
"What are you insinuating?" I ask her.
"You are going to Dauntless right?" she asks nervously.
"I don't know?" I say.
"You can stay here in Erudite. I mean you would be closer to your family too."
"Cara?" I call out unsurely and I know she can read the inner turmoil I am going through currently. She had been there a year ago too.
"Do what you have to Eric." She pauses before asking, "What was your result?"
"I wasn't aware that we could share that particular piece of information with others," I retort, a little harshly. I know this may hurt her, but I can't bring myself to trust the faction which is pioneering in experimenting on my kind of people, which includes Cara too. I already told Beatrice in a spur of the moment decision. She seems like a genuinely sweet girl and talking to her made me feel lighter. I guess even if she reveals my secret, no one would believe her and I believe I won't see her anymore after I have chosen tomorrow so I guess I am clear.
"I just wanted to take some burden off your shoulders. Talk to someone, Eric. Don't let this eat you out. I am not meaning to come off as prying, but I am only trying to help."
"I love you," I say sincerely and she visibly relaxes. "And I already talked to someone about it," I whisper in hopes that she didn't hear the last part.
"I love you too." she says as she pulls me in for a tight hug, which I reciprocate.
"So, tell me about this person you spoke to. What is she like?" Cara says, clapping her hands excitedly as I feel my cheeks flush. This girl's life goal seems to be embarrassing me as much as possible. I don't even know why I am embarassed, it's not like I had sex or something. It was just a conversation.
"What makes you think it was a girl?" I counter, hoping she would get the hint and drop it, but she doesn't. She wouldn't be Cara if she did.
"You like her!" she exclaims as my cheeks turn redder. What the actual fuck is wrong with me?
"I might never see her again."
"Who was she?" Cara asks, still visibly excited at the prospect of me being alone with a girl who is practically a stranger, talking, which is so unlike me.
"Beatrice, Abnegation." I don't offer any more information since there is nothing to add.
But, it seems that Cara has different plans, as she begins interrogating me from what she looks like ranging to was she nice. I try to keep my answers short and don't miss an opportunity to add a smartass remark every once in a while.
I don't know how long I spent with her, but, if my stiff neck is an indication then it has been quite a while. I hug her and bid her goodbye since I want to spend time at home with my family too.
"Remember, Eric. Just follow your heart." she says as she kisses my cheek and I nod as I step out of her apartment. But, before she can close her door, I call out to her.
"Cara?" She hums to let me know she's listening. "I hope you can find a guy who can make you think something other than chemicals and formulas?" and I run away as fast as I can, snickering and getting annoyed looks from some Erudites as her words echo in the hallway,
"You'll pay for this, Coulter!"
I run down the hallways until I reach my apartment door. Unlocking the door, I walk in uncertainty as I look around and see the cushions on the floor while I put them in my bedroom and realize someone has been here. I can feel it. But who could it be?
I quietly walk in, ready to attack in case there's an intruder in my house and check the rooms. Mom and dad's room is untouched, so are the spare rooms, kitchen and bathrooms. Williams' room seems messier which alerts me since he's supposed to be in school. Only the eighteen year olds have the day off because we are choosing tomorrow.
I walk in my room without looking around and that was my mistake. Someone jumps on my back, wrapping their arms around my neck in a choke hold. The grip isn't strong and I am certain that I can escape and even attack when I realize the familiarity of the tactic and grin.
I pry the arms and legs wrapped around me and toss the body on the ground, successfully extracting a low grunt of pain. I turn around, looking at my handiwork adoringly when he shouts.
"Dude, couldn't you have thrown me on your bed?" William says, making me bark out a laugh.
"Nope," I replied cheekily and he jumps again only to be pushed on the ground by me.
"Dude, admit it! You can never beat me in a fight. I am trained worse than Dauntless themselves." I reply cockily. Upon hearing this, he attempts to jump at me again but I pin him to the ground effectively.
"I wanna go to Dauntless!" he yells frustrated, making me laugh again. "What?" He's clearly pissed now.
"Tell me, oh mighty Dauntless, what the hell are you doing at home? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" I add with a satisfied grin when I take in his scared expression.
"I, uh, I-" he stutters and I glare mockingly at him.
"Promise me you wont tell mom and dad?" William asks and I clear my throat.
"Mom! Dad! William missed school for no reason at all!" I yell loudly, enjoying his annoyed expression since I made a fool of him. Mom and Dad are obviously still not home.
"Ok. Ok just tell me!" I raise my hands in surrender and he smiles brightly. The little shit is well aware that I would do anything for him.
"I knew that you are choosing tomorrow so you are home to think about your choice today. But, I uh kinda know that you will be leaving Erudite and I don't know if I would see you again, so, I uh-" I cut him off.
"So you stayed home, without a reason, knowing full well that if someone finds out you are dead meat, just to spend time with me?" I ask and his answering nod is enough to melt my heart.
I hug him, not knowing when I will be able to do this again. He hugs back and I think I hear a sniffle but I am not sure.
And that day I spent hours hanging out with my little brother. We talked about everything and nothing, and I never felt closer to him than I felt in that moment.
Choosing Day
I wake up, feeling well rested and realize that I am choosing today. Still not having made a decision, I sigh, guessing that I will go with the flow and make my choice when the time comes. I don't think I care what I choose now, since Erudite has my family and Dauntless was my dream and that's all I have ever thought about.
I look at the digital clock and decide that there is enough time for a quick shower and breakfast before I have to leave for the hub, where the choosing ceremony is always held. Afterwards, I sit in the living room, waiting for my family to get ready so we can all leave together. Families always come to see their child choose as sometimes it may be the last time they see each other.
"Eric, sweetie, did you rest well?" Mom asks, stroking my cheek lovingly.
"Mornin' Mom and yes I slept well."
"Eric!" My annoying brother screams making me roll my eyes in mock frustration. He huffs and crosses his arms on his chest, causing me to stifle a laugh at his great acting skills.
"Everyone ready?" Dad asks and we all respond in affirmation.
"Let's go then," He says and we all head out.
We are joined by Cara who smiles at me in greeting as we all carpool together. Erudites have solar powered cars for transportation since they are all about technology and stuff.
As we reach the hub, Abnegation members open the main doors and bow their heads respectfully at us to which we nod back. Always selfless. They even let the other factions use the elevators and wait for the wild Dauntless to stampede up the stairs before climbing themselves.
When we reach our destination, which is an enormous hall with circular seats. The innermost circle holds five bowls representing the five factions, Clear water representing Erudite, sizzling coals for Dauntless, fragments of glass for those who choose Candor, grey stones for Abnegation, and dark soil for Amity.
The next few circles are where those who will choose today will sit, and the remaining circular seats are other faction residents which are mostly families and leadership. The faction leaders take turns in hosting the ceremony, and today Jeanine will host as an Erudite representative. A part of me wonders if she is somehow hosting because I will choose today.
We all take our seats, and I scan the hall for familiar faces in hopes of easing my growing anxiety. I recognize Max from Dauntless, my family - obviously - and a few others from Erudite, Candor leader Jack Kang and Amity representative, since they are equal in all decision making processes they call her their representative, Johanna Reyes.
When I look at the Abnegation seating area, I realize I recognize many of them. Their leader Marcus Eaton and his second in command, Andrew Prior who is sitting with Natalie and a boy who looks like Andrew. He must be his son. But they are not who surprise me. Beatrice is sitting between the Prior kid and another boy, her attention on the Prior boy. They seem to be whispering back and forth. At one point, he says something that makes her laugh and she covers her mouth due to Andrew's disapproving look. Why is she here? And sitting between two Abnegation boys and such close to the Abnegation second in command?
I focus my attention to the makeshift stage near the bowls where Jeanine stands, checking the microphone. Clearing her throat, she starts the same boring speech that's repeated in every choosing ceremony I guess, about our choices and their importance and a bunch of faction history. I zone out until I hear the first name being called. I am not worried about missing my name since we are always called in reverse alphabetical order to choose.
I look at my parents who are smiling adoringly at me. I wonder if they know I have no idea what I am choosing. I didn't realize I had been staring for quite some time when I hear Jeanine's crisp voice call out.
"Coulter, Eric."
I stand up and move towards the bowls not before looking at my family one last time. I am getting a strange feeling that I might not see them again.
My mom smiles reassuringly and my dad mouths 'We love you no matter what.' I nod and smile back at them.
On my way, my eyes meet Beatrice's and she smiles and waves a little. I hold back a laugh since she displayed her very un-Abnegation behavior in public. The boys sitting beside her both give her disapproving looks and her smile disappears. I guess I am not the only one who noticed.
I accept the knife from Jeanine. We all get a new knife for the ceremony. Where the hell do all these knives come from?
I stand in front of the bowls and look at Jeanine who smiles encouragingly. I shut her out of my mind to focus on my options. I am aware I am taking too long but I don't care much. This is a life changing choice after all, so no one tells me to hurry up.
I make a cut in my palm and wait for the blood to gather there. Dauntless or Erudite?
I close my eyes and my parents, Andrew and Beatrice appear in my mind. With a deep breath and a new found determination, I thrust my hand and let my blood drop in the chosen bowl.
A hush falls over the people and I hear murmuring and disapproving whispers. I open my eyes and look at Jeanine who seems to be frozen in shock with her mouth slightly open. She takes a few minutes to compose herself and utters my choice disbelievingly in the microphone.
"Abnegation."