Chapter 2

Newbies

Dinner was for once a quiet affair. What with one older sibling and three younger ones the house was rarely quiet. I used to have 3 older siblings.

My oldest brother Casden joined Erudite three years ago. Then my third oldest sibling William just disappeared. We were born in the same year. 10 months apart. He was born in January me in November. We would be choosing together if he were still here.

Currently at the table is my older sister, Isabella, me, the twins that are two years younger than me Charlotte and Amelia. Then last but not least the last Lamb of the family. Jayden who turned four last month.

I was surprised to find out that my parents were pregnant… again. But they married the second they passed initiation and had Casden.

"So what will you be wearing tomorrow dear?" my mom asks. I look over towards where she is sitting next to our father. I wished I looked more like my mother. Out of all my siblings only Will and I look like my father. The rest of my siblings all resemble my mother. Her dark chocolate brown hair. Bronzed skin and dark eyes. Her soft and curvy features are breathtakingly beautiful.

Unfortunately I got my father's redish hair. Invisible eyebrows and a shit ton of freckles. A jawline to kill and as flat as a board. A very unattractive board at that.

I sigh. And answer her "No I haven't thought about it. Why?"

My mother looks at me exasperated. "Come on Anya. You don't want to make the same mistake as Issy do you? You have to snatch a good husband on the first day of initiation. Unless you and Sky have something going on and there's nothing to be worried about. Hmm?"

I look at her trying to figure out if she was serious. She is. Dead serious. "Mom why would make you think I have any interest in being with Sky… and what do you mean same mistake as Issy?"

My dad laughs. Only shaking his head at my mother. Telling her to not bother me anymore.

"I think you should head to bed young lady tomorrow will be a long day." My dad says smiling at me. My stomach flutters. Will he be ok with me leaving.

I've always been a daddy's girl. He took it quite hard when Casden left. He completely shut down for a while when Will disappeared. I don't know how he'll react to me leaving.

My mom I'm not worried about. She just moves on with a smile and a chitter, I think it's a coping mechanism but if it works what can you do. My siblings all have their own world and lives. I'm just their sister. In fact I'm sure they'll be happy if I leave. This is only a 3 bedroom house. We moved to a smaller house after Will disappeared. Other families need the space more than we do. So now the twins could have their own room if Jayden took my place in Issy's room.

Nodding I say my goodnights to everyone and head to my room. A clear difference can be seen between my half and my sister's half.

Mine is neat, organized and minimalistic. Issy's side is wild, unmade and clustered. Apparently she doesn't have the time to clean. She does have time for sexcapades in cornfields though. Which honestly sounds disgusting and horrifying all at once. I mean spiders and dirt in certain places and just no.

I quickly wash up tying my hair up in a knot above my head and getting under the covers. Closing my eyes as tight as they would go. I know I'm not staying in Amity. No way am I punishing myself like that. I'm much too selfish to stay in Amity for other people.

I'm definitely going to Dauntless. I have been obsessed with them ever since Will's disappearance and even my aptitude test says I'll fit there. What other reasons do l need for going.

I eventually drift off to sleep.

I'm awoken the next morning by a flurry of rushed words hair and clothes hitting me in the face. "Time to wake up now. Anya. Remember what I told you last night. We don't want you ending up back home with us after initiation. You should get married as soon as possible. But first we have to get you presentable first!"

I'm still a bit unfocussed as a cup of orange juice is thrust into my hands for me to drink while Charlotte gets to putting my hair in a loose Dutch braid, braiding in a few clusters of baby breaths. My mom throws a long red dress at me. The ends are embroidered with yellow and white delicate looking flowers.

When done I blanch at my reflection. I look ready for a wedding. If only the dress was white… my mother wasn't kidding was she?

Huffing I push them away from me and out the door, mumbling excuses for wanting a moment alone.

The moment I'm alone I undress and put on a shorter red dress. A knee length A cut dress made with practicality in mind. Pretty as well but much more practical. Under the dress I'm wearing red shorts. Can't expect to jump from trains and such without flashing some poor soul.

I also pluck most of the flowers from my hair. I'm trying to not look like I'm from Amity. But everything about me screams Amity. From my clothes to my hair to my endless insecurity.

Putting on a pair of off white flats I make my way downstairs where my parents and older sister is waiting for me. No one under 18 is allowed in the hub during the choosing ceremony so my younger siblings aren't allowed to come with.

My mom looks disappointed at my change of clothes but stays quiet after my father shot her a stern look. My father can really be strict sometimes. I once asked him if he was a transfer. He simply looked me in the eyes glanced at my mother, stood up and walked away.

I took that as a yes. I don't know from what faction he transferred though but I would love to know.

Before I knew it we were all seated on a bus making our way towards the city. I was seated between my father and Issy. He looks down at me and smiles. He whispers for only me to hear "I support your decision Anya, no matter what it may be. You know I love you very much." He looks at me with a true smile filled with real kindness from the heart.

My father's words kept echoing in my mind as we made our way into the hub, as we took our seats and as one after the other name was called. Since they were going from the bottom up my name was the fifth to be called right after Wilson.

"Willow Anya-Marie"

I get up on shaky legs and make my way to the front of the room. Accepting the blade handed to me I quickly cut my palm and let my blood sizzle over the hot coals representing Dauntless.

I don't look back to see their faces as I walk towards the sea of black applauding my decision to choose their faction.

After sitting for a while in silence before I sneak a peak at my parents. My mom is sitting quietly looking at the current person up front whose turn it is to choose. My sister though is sitting with her head down. I can make out the slight tremble in her shoulders that shows she's crying.

I'm shocked by my father's reaction as our eyes meet. He's smirking at me. A glint in his deep green eyes. He winks at me and turns his head back towards the stage where an Erudite boy has chosen to come to Dauntless as well.

We're already at 'C' there's not many kids left to choose. The next thing I know 'Albert' gets called to choose and once the closing speech is given the Dauntless start pushing through the doors. I don't even have the time to look back before I'm taken by the arms and dragged along the crowd.

We're spilling through the Hub's doors like a black mass. They all scatter but the hands attached to my arms keep dragging me towards the train tracks.

This is it I've made my choice. I feel my adrenaline rush as I reach the top of the platform. I can feel the platform rattling from the oncoming train.

It slows down a bit for the bend before it reaches our platform. Once past the platform it'll start to gain speed again. I see the other members start runny. I'm running along the platform just behind a candor boy and a Erudite girl. The train rushes past much faster than I realized it would.

I see the other two transfers jump in. Another transfer passes me and jumps in too. I look behind me and see like 20 transfers behind me.

I pick up my pace once I'm parallel to the open door I fling myself up and in. I land harshly on my side and crash into the Erudite boy that over took me earlier.

He just grunts and pushes me off of him. Smartly we both move over towards the corner by the door to allow the other transfers a chance to fling themselves inside.

We're standing shoulders together (actually my shoulder against his bicep but whatever) when I see the platform disappear. Unfortunately the candor girl that was still chasing the opened door didn't. We were too high up and at an awkward angle to see her body meet the pavement below.

I frown. Luckily the guy behind her stopped in time. Already two initiates lost. My eyes focus to everyone in the cart. There are 15 of us.

Out of the 15 transfers there is 6 from Erudite, 5 from Candor, 3 from Amity and 1 from Abnegation.

I recognize the other two former Amity. They are standing close to each other as if friends, but they look like total opposites. The scrawny one is Cain. He reminds me of a rat. Not to sound mean but he looks like the type of person that'll chop you up into itty bitty pieces because it looked like fun.

Berthold looks like he eats an ox and a half for breakfast every morning. To be honest I don't know how he manages to wipe his ass with biceps like those. There's no way he can even scratch his own ears.

To be honest I barely remember any of these kids. I know I went to school with them but then again we are almost 150 dependants on average a year.

I sit and look them over. A few faces look familiar. But no names come to mind to match the faces. Some look promising and others seem more shocked by their own choice of faction than they should.

The train ride was over quickly as someone yells out that they're jumping again. Shocked I look to see and yip. This is Dauntless alright. Jumping from a moving train over a 7 story drop on to a rooftop.

I get up and notice the Erudite boy that was sitting next to me get up as well standing next to me he runs and jump. I'm close to follow. I barely miss falling on top of another girl. I come to a rolling stop, my hands and knees throbbing. I look up I jumped quite the distance. Unfortunately the cry of despair tells me someone didn't.

I get up with a grimace. Maybe wearing a knee length dress wasn't such a good idea. Should've worn long pants. Now too late though.

My attention is caught by a dark skinned man standing on the edge of the roof.

"Welcome initiates."

TBC