Hey everyone! I am so so sorry for leaving you hanging. It was never my intention. University, personal life, and lack of motivation attacked me all at once and I couldn't even post a completed and edited chapter. I know excuses don't help, but I swear I am trying very hard. I will complete this book if it's the last thing I do. I do have the entire book outlined and maybe a part of the sequel too? Posting this at midnight during my mid-term exams. Wish me luck and thank you so much for your patience :)
Initiation chapters will be a lil boring but they revolve around the changing relations and have many details for the future stuff. After Eric's initiation, the fun will begin.
Thank you sooooo much Firelord65 for being the ever amazing beta. Thanks, Fecko XO
-o0o-ERIC-o0o-
"Timings of your initiation volunteer work vary from task to task. This week, we will be preparing the bags to donate to the Factionless. Your schedule for this week should be like this.
"Be at the great hall at eight AM sharp, we will have breakfast together. At exactly quarter to nine, we will leave for the volunteer building where most of our work regarding the factionless is held. We will learn and prepare bags filled with basic needs for them until two PM, which is when we will have a small lunch break, lasting around ten to fifteen minutes." Tobias recites.
"We will resume our task and work until five PM, after which we will clear our workspace. We will then proceed to the Great hall where you will learn how to prepare one Abnegation recipe each day. We don't have many, so you will be able to cook our meals after the one-week mark.
"After eating and helping with kitchen and hall cleanup, you will be free to go to bed or explore the sector at around eight PM. We don't expect you to do anything until eight AM unless it's important. Any questions?" Beatrice continues.
We all nod which I personally think wasn't convincing enough as Tobias raises an eyebrow at us.
"Let's go, initiates!" Tobias barks with Beatrice looking over at us. I swear I saw a small smile on her face when our eyes met. Fuck! lack of sleep is making me delusional.
We follow them to where I guess the volunteer building is, I couldn't be bothered to memorize the map of Abnegation in a day. I have to spend my whole life here now, so I have lots of time. Unfortunately.
It takes us about ten minutes to reach our destination. I know because I was checking my watch every few minutes. The volunteer building looks a little on the old side, but the inside is spacious, twice the size of the great hall. The light bulbs are off due to the daylight filling the room as it streams in through the two big-sized cutouts. I wouldn't call them windows due to the fact there is no glass and the wall is cut in what seems like a very Abnegation way. Can they seriously not afford any tools?
We all are scanning our surroundings when a voice cuts through the silence.
"We will be dividing into two groups for the sake of convenience and time. Abnegation borns, you are with Tobias and all transfers will volunteer under me," Beatrice speaks up.
We all divide and follow our respective trainers, which in my case happens to be the beautif- Beatrice. What the fuck is my sleep-deprived brain thinking?
"Today we will be sorting things only. You all may have heard that Abnegation is the only faction that helps the Factionless. That isn't completely true." Gasps sound from around me which I seem to find a tad dramatic.
"Other factions provide donations, which we sort and provide the Factionless with. Used, unwanted, and broken things are mostly included. We fix them up and make them usable for the Factionless," Beatrice tells us. I gotta admit, I had no idea the factions did that. I mean now that I think of it, everything makes sense. Factionless wear clothing and use things provided by different factions which is also the most common way of identifying them.
"We will sort everything today as I said before. Let's start with the clothes. We will start sorting through sizes first and later we will sort them into smaller piles until everything is completely sorted. Then we will move onto the canned food and we will decide what to do afterward." We all nod our heads at Beatrice's supposedly memorized speech and get to work.
"It's an Abnegation tradition to hold hands and say grace together before we pass food along until everyone is served. Then we begin eating." We join our hands and Beatrice says grace which we repeat after her and pass food towards the person on our right. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tobias observing us with a look of -what I assume to be- approval.
After everyone has placed an acceptable amount of chicken breast, peas, and bread -which we learned to prepare today- on their plates, we finally begin eating.
The food tastes bland and flavorless and under normal circumstances, I wouldn't even imagine eating it. But, I know this isn't normal and I have pledged my allegiance to the selfless faction, which includes flavorless food. Unless I want to die of starvation, I will eat what I am supposed to eat to acquire energy, not satisfaction.
The day didn't pass by a blur, as I was wishing it did. It looked like the universe is punishing me for some sin I don't even remember doing, by prolonging the first day of initiation.
We sorted clothes and footwear according to factions, then gender and age. It seemed to take forever but in reality, only three and half hours had passed. We then sorted the food in stacks of canned fruits, vegetables, beef jerky, soup, and bottles of water. That took around an hour tops.
We had an early lunch break which consisted of sitting on the concrete floor with a bottle of water and the same disgusting sandwiches we ate after choosing.
After an awkward lunch which was full of uncomfortable silence, we started sorting again. We sort clothes, hygiene products, and literally everything under the sun at this point. How the hell do some of these people do this boring chore every day for the rest of their lives? I would probably die of boredom if I were to do this forever.
The day ended with the same thing, learning to cook a flavorless Abnegation meal and eating together after which I attempt to sleep on that thing they call a mattress and fail. That's not the worst thing though, which happens to be no coffee!
Out of the corner of my eye, I have noticed a certain female checking me out. I mean I know I am fairly attractive but I never expected Beatrice to stare at me. Abnegation born Beatrice. Tobias Eaton's fiancee Beatrice. Beautiful, blond Beatrice. Okay, what did Abnegation do to me? I never think of anyone that way, about girls that way. Ever. It's not like the tough guy I am used to being. But, no matter whatever reason she looks at me for, I am not complaining at all.
Day three. I seem to be getting used to life in Abnegation. I even slept two hours.
The day passed with us preparing lots of winter starter bags and Abnegation cooking then dinner and bed. Nothing eventful ever happens here other than the Candor transfers being smartasses which happens very rarely and that surprises me. How are they not mouthing off all the time like they always used to do?
The last time that happened was when a Candor made a comment about Beatrice being a tease. She replied not so nicely by flipping him off, and that shut him up. Very Abnegation of her indeed.
On the fourth day, we worked on preparing summer starter bags.
I felt the familiar feeling of being watched, and I couldn't suppress an involuntary smile. I never made her feel that I knew, but this time I have a strong urge to stare back, which I do.
At first, Beatrice keeps checking me out and her eyes linger on my abs and biceps for a little longer. I smirk just to see how she will react.
She trails her eyes towards my face and I see her eyes widen. I don't want to embarrass her or make her feel like her interest isn't reciprocated, so I give her my most genuine smile. It seems to work as her shoulders relax and she lets out a breath. And then she gives me a bright smile and I swoon. Swoon? What the Fuck! I am turning soft. Shit! Shit! Shit!
I feel something on my shoulder and turn around to find the object of my affection smirking at me.
"Abnegation don't swear," she whispers in my ear and I involuntarily shiver. Her voice, gods. I would love to know how she sounds when she is being herself and not acting all Abnegation… No Eric, she's Abnegation, she'll never act that way. That's not how I should think of anyone let alone a girl I hardly know. I owe them my respect.
"Did I say that out loud?" I ask with an innocence I know I don't have. She just smirks and walks away.
I still can't find it in myself to care that staring is rude, especially staring at her ass is perverted if I see it under Abnegation standards. But, I am not as Abnegation so I have to admit, she has a pretty nice butt. I must be imagining, but I swear I saw her walk with a sway of her ass. Shit! She must know I was staring.
The fifth day is boring and we make normal weekly bags which just contain a few cans of food and, in rare cases, Abnegation baked bread.
Then we do the regular job of cooking. Sometimes, I don't want to eat, but Abnegation teachings say refusing is selfish because we are being ungrateful for the things we are blessed with. So, instead of protesting, I suck it up and eat.
On the sixth day, weekly bags again.
On the seventh day -the last day of making goody bags- Beatrice being her usual fun self, decided to spice things up. She announced a contest in which we will prepare all Abnegation recipes we learned. We have to do this together to learn teamwork and selflessness. All the dishes will be taste-tested by Marcus Eaton, Andrew and Natalie Prior, and Tobias, as coordinated by Beatrice.
I still have no idea how she managed to do this, but she is trying to make this fun for us and I think she is doing this to ease us in our new faction. I appreciate her kindness and spirit for whatever she is risking to cheer us up.
After the cooking contest, we get to look forward to some more bland food - which I bet is going to be what we just made ourselves - and then back to more bags. Whoever has the most bags with the right stuff will gain a higher score in the final rankings. Again we will be judged by Marcus, Tobias, Mr, and Mrs. Prior. This isn't my definition of fun but I have to get used to not even have this. I better try to live in the moment because we only live once.
The contest idea was a success in my perspective. We all had fun. Even the Abnegation borns seemed to enjoy themselves. Everyone was having a good time, everyone except our dear respected leader. Marcus Eaton.
He would glare at Beatrice and give Tobias creepy looks which I wouldn't want to be aimed at me. That wasn't the end of it; he frowned at the Priors and gave me looks which I couldn't decipher. But, if I try to, I would say they looked like pure curiosity.
At least I can forget everything and sleep since I have been getting used to the solid steel mattresses we will have to use for the rest of our lives.
Today is the second to last day of the second week of initiation. All we had been doing the entire week was learning to recognize the Factionless, including how to read people's expressions and body language to recognize what they might need.
I will be the first to admit that this isn't as easy as it sounds. Factionless aren't exactly the most open people. With their secretive natures combined with their vendetta against the factions, it sounds close to impossible to judge what they need.
So these last two days of this week, we will learn how to approach them and look helpful not like a threat. We are using what we learned the last five days to figure out the best way to approach them. It wasn't easy and I still don't have a grip on all that needs to be done, but I am getting there slowly and steadily. Today we will finally approach the Factionless unlike what we were doing previously.
Whoever said Abnegation initiation was a piece of cake is the biggest liar to walk the face of the earth.
Tobias and Beatrice lead us towards the area which has the most Factionless population. We call it the Factionless Hub.
We all split up into groups of three and since people had begun reforming their friendships, Abnegation-style, they grouped together and I was left out. Beatrice must have seen this, and she walks towards me with a smile.
"Seems like you and I are stuck together," she says softly, her tone contradicting her words.
"I guess it's for the better, huh?" I replied to her. What I really wanted to do was raise my fist in the air in triumph. I don't understand where these weird urges come from.
"Let's go, Mr. Coulter," she says, her voice still low, almost husky to me. And then she just starts walking away, completely unaware, leaving me dazed. What just happened?
I jog and catch up with her. With the cockiest smirk I can muster, I say, "You can call me Eric, sweetheart." I throw in a wink for good measure which cracks her up.
"Come on, Flirt boy, we got some work to do." She smirks and I want to facepalm. Shit, she noticed. Am I that obvious?
So, we make rounds. She gives some other initiates pointers and I listen intently. This information will come in handy for me, too.
"You see that little girl? We all will stand back and you will approach her one by one. Your goal is to make her feel at ease and give her what she needs. This is part of initiation so take it seriously," Beatrice instructs and we all nod.
One by one, the initiates take turns with varying degrees of success. Abnegation-borns were able to hold a conversation but no one was able to find out what she needed.
When it's my turn, my nerves are all over the place. With my tall stature, tattoos, and piercings she will no doubt associate me with danger. I approach her cautiously and she looks wary. Must've noticed the number of people trying to talk to her.
I take slow and calculated steps, looking into her eyes as I try to convey that I am no threat. She keeps her eyes focused on mine, silently daring me to screw up. I don't.
"Hi there, I am Eric. What's your name?" I say with my most friendly smile. She looks at me silently.
"I don't want to cause you any trouble. You see, I and my friends are learning how to help the Factionless, which is why we were trying to talk to you. But, we can't do this ourselves so we need your help. Will you help us so we can help you?" I say softly while crouching near her.
She looks at me for a few seconds, blinks and a smile spreads across her face. She nods at me and I crack a genuine smile.
"I am Merry."
"Well Merry, that's a lovely name for a lovely girl." At this, she smiles wider and I know I am doing something right.
"Is there any way I can help you? Do you need anything?" I speak surprisingly softly.
"I want to have new shoes as all faction kids have. Mine are worn out." At this, she lifts her feet near my face and I see what she means. Her shoes have holes in the soles and the sides are barely covering her feet.
I take off my bag and carefully take out a pair of shoes that will fit her and a can of jerky. The shoes I picked are good as new and by the looks of it, worn much less.
I take off her shoes and put on the new pair. I then proceed to tie the laces and give her the can of jerky with a steel spoon, since disposables are expensive for Abnegation. With a smile and pat on her head, I get up.
"If you need anything, let the Abnegation help you as you let me. They are good people and I am one of them, too," I tell her and she nods her head with a big smile.
"Thank you, Eric." I hear her soft voice say and I can't help but feel that I did something good and maybe joining this faction was the right choice after all.
And bringing her that small happiness makes me happier than knowing that I successfully did what none of the other initiates could.