My eyes scan the room warily.
I'm not very surprised, a mixed dorm full of bunks, mixed showers to go with it. To be honest, none of it was too surprising. Dauntless-born trained separately from transfers, since they've already had prior training. The pit, a large communal room with multiple purposes, food, announcements, shops surrounding. The chasm, a symbol in attempt to limit the recklessness of the faction's members.
I had paid minimal attention to the introduction Four, the transfer instructor and the man who helped us off the net, gave us. It seemed he was just as fed up as I was at having to deal with the irritating traits from old factions; the naïve questions from the single abnegation boy, the indirect and irrelevant ones from erudite, and worst of all in my opinion, the constant comments of candor.
As said earlier though, luckily Four shared my opinion, and they quickly shut up after a few light threats. After he left us with direct instructions to choose a bunk, change, and head to burn our old clothing, I streamlined to the bunk in the far left corner, furthest from the door, top bunk. My sleeping habits are not something I like to share, and I would prefer to keep the other initiates from irritating me to no end.
After taking a sports bra, leggings, and a loose sleeveless vest a size too large from the pile of black clothing I changed into them in the corner, ignoring the jeers from the other initiates. There were eight double bunks, but 11 transfers, and luckily most of the unused bunks were around me, giving me just enough cover to feel safe changing. The two bunks surrounding my corner were unoccupied other than a bottom bunk whom Lily, the other amity transfer had taken, but she now sat facing the other transfers quietly.
I seemed to lead the way to the fire and tossed my ruined clothes in non-committedly, standing by Four who was waiting. He eyed me quietly, pausing on my cast as I looked at the wall. Once everyone had finished, he started leading us to the pit silently, the chatter behind. I noted quietly that Lily had made her way up to the front next to me, and walked by my side.
"Um… Avery?" I turn my head in acknowledgment, her light hair less bright in the dimly lit corridors. "Um, hi, I just wanted to say. We had a joint project in art for that sculpture a few years back."
I mentally scratched the back of my head, not letting my confusion show. Damn I don't bother to remember stuff like that. Was it that tree sculpture?
"Sure. The tree?" I reply hopefully. A smile spreads across her face as she nods.
"Yeah. It doesn't matter if you don't remember me, we never exactly spoke that much. I used to be called Lilianna." Lily says and I nod. "How long did you know you were going to Dauntless? Everyone back ho- in amity kind of knew you were going to transfer, but most people thought erudite."
I choose to ignore her slip up and shrug lightly.
"I'm not sure. I never really minded too much where I went, as long as it wasn't there." I answer.
"Oh. I heard that you got run over by a car, did you break your arm?" She asks and I almost roll my eyes.
"Yes."
"Why did you walk back? I know you did it often enough, but why not take the trucks back?" She continued.
"For some peace." I answer ironically, and she seems to look away slightly embarrassed. I sigh. "And I stayed after school reasonably often, so the most tucks were gone and it would have taken less time to walk home than to wait for the next truck."
"I see. Did you stay for extra work? The library?" She continues and I shake my head.
"Various, nothing specific." I reply, and she stops talking. Damn it I should at least be polite, at least she isn't hammering on like those idiots behind me. "Why are you here?" I ask almost grudgingly.
"I want to fight, I want to protect people." She says, light in her eyes. "You were there when we were younger, some of the others used to beat up some other kids, and I hated it. It's wrong to bully people like that, so I want to be able to protect people from it."
"A model answer." I comment. She wouldn't get through this initiation thinking like that though. It sounds liked she joined to stop violence, not use it. The corridor opens up into the pit, now lined with long tables and benches, one wall lined with food. Four stalks in and the initiates follow, eyes on us. As I take a burger, chips and salad I can see that the transfers are already separating into groups. The first jumper, Jay, an erudite sits with an erudite girl with the name Beth, and a Candor called Sam. The candor waves a hand to Lily, who in turn tugs on my arm and drags me to sit down. Jay had chosen to sit next to Four, Beth beside him. Lily sits next to Ben, opposite Jay, which leaves me opposite Four. How brilliant. I sit down and start dipping chips into plenty of vinegar.
"Lily, and Avery isn't it?" Jay asks, a welcoming smile. His mid-brown hair still glued up with gel, lighter complexion and blue eyes all smile up at us.
"Yep, that's us. You're Jay? And Beth and Ben." Lily says, I think more for my benefit. Beth looks similar to Jay, long brown hair pale skin, but brown eyes, and an obviously short stature. Ben seems average height along with Jay, longer black hair around his face.
"So what's two amity doing in Dauntless? Talk about a major change, how are you enjoying the meat?" Jay asks as I take an easy bite of my burger. Meanwhile Lily is slightly more wary, cutting it into small pieces with her knife.
"It's great." I say, a smirk on my face as I take another bite.
"…Yeah… a little, unusual. But amity never fit well with me, I had a little too much of a temper." Lily says timidly and I raise my eyebrows. Temper? Temper in amity means normal. "Though I think amity fit even less on Avery."
I carry on eating as their eyes turn to me, not saying more.
"Well? Why didn't you like amity?" Ben asks.
"It sucked." I reply, growling slightly as he laughs.
"Candor was far too honest, I mean what's the fun of pranking someone if you have to own up to it?" Ben explains and there are a few laughs.
"Well we had to spend all our time studying, how about that for fun." Beth counters.
"You shouldn't be talking about your old factions. You don't belong to them anymore." Four interrupts and tension rises on the table as we continue eating. Soon enough, I hear heavy footsteps clawing towards us from behind me, and it seems tension of the whole faction as risen slightly.
The footsteps stop.
"Four. Max wants to speak to you. Again." A masculine voice sounds, clearly irritated.
"Tell him the answers no, Eric." Four replies, barely glancing up from his food. Jay, Beth, Ben and Lily are all looking up to the man behind me but I keep my eyes forward, not really in a mood to see whatever's making their eyes widen.
"Well tell him yourself, I'm not your lapdog. These some new transfers?" He drawls, and Four actually looks up. "Whose first jumper?"
"Jay. Then there's Beth, Ben, Lily and Avery." Eric finally walks round to the head of the table and I do look up, to see the tall blond man from the roof. His startling blue eyes stare at Jay, move to Beth, Ben, Lily, then meet my golden flecked eyes. After a moment, he looks to my arm. Drat.
"Let's hope they last. You're going to have to be barred from combat till that's healed amity." I clench my jaw, cursing myself once again for getting run over.
"Understandably sir." I answer, adding the honorific as I'm sure I'd be reprimanded if I didn't. I meet his eyes as he stares at me, and I try, I really do try, not to notice how handsome he is. But screw it the mind thinks what it wants to.
"Talk to Max, Four." He barks once more, before walking off out of the pit.
"Who was he?" Lily asks timidly, obviously slightly shaken by the stern man's gaze.
"Eric, one of your leaders." Four replies.
"Leader? But he's so young!" Ben comments.
"Age doesn't matter much here, people die before long." Four says, and it seems to rattle the others. It makes sense, they are the ones fighting the factionless, going out on patrols outside the walls. I mean they use guns, that's enough reason to die young.
"Plus, Eric's overseeing initiation this year, so you've been warned. Training starts at seven, don't be late." Four orders before picking up his plate and leaving.
The chatter on the table continues, as we finish eating, but just before I'm about to stand to leave, Max stands. He makes a short informal speech, at a guess how the Dauntless like it, welcoming the initiates to Dauntless. And before I know it, I'm being rushed from all sides, and lifted into the air with the rest of the initiates. Lily is still near me, and I can't help a grin escape my face as I'm passed over the Dauntless. I'm finally out.
It's late, or should I say early as I lie in my top bunk in the dorm. It was the first night, and though there had obviously been some trouble sleeping for some as they began to feel homesick. If initiation was anything like I could imagine, they'd be crying themselves to sleep soon. Lily had seemed to take a liking to walking with me, perhaps because I was the only she knew, and I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would've. It was tolerable.
There isn't a clock in the dorm, so I'll have to make it a priority to get myself a watch soon. I guess for now I'll have to wander the halls until I find one. As I slide down from my bunk silently, slipping on the black trainers we'd been provided with, and leave the dorm in search of a clock. I would say I like my privacy, quite a lot, which is why I tend to give ambiguous answers to any personal questions. So, I think I'll be showering in the early mornings, when everyone else is asleep. I managed to catch some conversation at dinner, that none of them were morning people, so I can take advantage of that. I wander through the corridors, taking the route to the pit I'd committed to memory, and reached it in 6 minutes. My eyes flitted around, it was deserted, other than the couple of unconscious men lying asleep from what must have been a long night. I move along the wall and here clatters from a door just away from the main area, and look through the window in the door to see the cooks starting to make breakfast. It must be early then, after four?
I stand correct as I catch sight of a clock, 4:57. It's a good time to have a shower then. I turn to see another way out of the pit, and decide to attempt to find another way back to the dorm. It would be handy to know my way around as soon as possible. However as I take a left turn which if my bearings are correct will take me down the main corridor to the dorm, I am met by steely blue eyes.
"What are you doing out of bed, initiate?" His cool voice causes hairs to stand on end, and I answer him calmly.
"Trying to find a clock." I reply honestly. "And heading back to the dorm." I finally manage to pull my eyes away from his, and notice his muscled form glistening slightly with sweat as he wear dark trousers and a loose tank. He must have been running.
"What, you couldn't sleep?" He goads, a smirk on his lips. I shake my head in disagreement.
"No sir, I was just awake." His eyebrows furrow before he lets a hand slip through his blonde hair.
"Carry on. Dorms are that way." He mutters, pointing behind him before running past me. I let my eyes follow him as he gets further away, before deeming it safe to continue on my way back. Honestly, Eric seems like a tough leader. Quite suitable for Dauntless I may say. He didn't seem irritated by my comments, I'd have thought leadership would reprimand me for being out at night. Rather, he seemed intrigued when I told him I was just awake.
I make it back to the dorm and shower in the lukewarm water, using the soap provided to scrub myself clean. I put on the same clothes I was given the day before, and estimate it's around half five. What should I do now? I was already bored out of my mind from lying awake. Maybe I should go for a run, I mean since I'll be kept out of combative work for at least the next week, and who knows what other work, I should at least try to get fitter.
I let my trainer clad feet wander through the halls, barely anybody out, and those who are pay no mind. I try to keep in the more public areas, climbing up a few floors and stairs to give me some height climb. I pass what I guess to be the infirmary and glance at the clock. It's 6:37, and I should head to the pit to eat.
6:50 am
"Avery! Where were you?" Lily asks, as I sit down next to her.
"I was already awake." I shrug.
"Well I'd try and steer clear of Four for a while, he definitely noticed you weren't there." Beth says, with slight sorry in her eyes. I look up in question.
"It was horrible. Such a horrible noise." Jay says his face in his hands.
"I'm guessing that's how he woke you guys up. We should eat and get to the training room, I don't think they tolerate tardiness here." I say.
"Yep, that nice clash of the pipe." Ben replies. "We need to find our way there as well, it could take hours."
"3 minutes." I correct, taking the last bite out of my breakfast muffin. I stand with a smile and walk out the way I came, straight for the training room.
6:57 Four arrives.
6:58
6:59 I decide to leave my hiding spot behind the wall.
7:00
"It seems we have one early riser. How many extra laps should they do for each minute they're late?" A voice stalks in from behind me and Eric walks to Four with a malicious smile on his face. Four shrugs.
"A couple will do." Four replies. The atmosphere is tense between the two, their conversation from yesterday evidence. "Speaking of which, where were you this morning Avery, I woke everyone up at quarter to."
"I was already up, I tried to find my way around so I didn't get lost." An easy lie forms on my lips, as it was partly true. I tend to lie on instinct, and this was one. I don't think it would be a good thing if Four knew I'd been out of bed since four thirty, and gone on an hour long run around the compound. Anyway, he nods, satisfied enough, and Eric meets my eyes, mirth dancing in his as Jay, Beth, Ben and Lily walk in 4 minutes late.
"How did you get here? We must've taken at least three wrong turns…" Jay says and I shrug.
"Play by memory." I say shortly and he grumbles about it wasn't his fault he had a short-term memory. I chuckle. The rest of the initiates who had grouped up, 3 Candors, 2 erudite and the abnegation boy came in at 7 minutes past.
"Fourteen." Eric's voice grounds out as they puddle together.
"Excuse me?" One of the Erudite's with blond hair asks stupidly.
"Fourteen extra laps of the compound. 2 for every minutes you were late. The other's, you have eight extra, on top of the 30 you already have to do. Keep up." Four fills in as he starts right away, and the group sticks together for the first lap of the run Four starts us on. It takes 3 minutes on the first lap, so assuming we get continually slower, it should take around 2 and a half hours for thirty laps. All the initiates are close together, but I stay beside Jay and Ben at the front for the time being.
"So is there anything interesting about you Avery?" Jay asks as we jog along.
"Not really." I answer.
"Come on, I can already see some. Your eyes are awesome, all that gold!" Ben says and I deadpan. Sure my eyes were pretty, based a warm brown with golden flecks throughout, but I wouldn't call that interesting. I sigh.
"Let's skip the pleasantries please. My favourite colour is teal, my birthday is in November, I prefer cold weather, I like crime and action books. Anything else?" I say. They both chuckle.
"Not really one for small talk. I'm more of a red kinda person myself." Jay says.
"Though…. Um…" I stutter lightly as I look behind. "Someone mind telling me who the other people's names were, I think I missed them."
Jay lets out a loud laugh. "You can remember the way around this massive place but not names?"
"They weren't important at the time." I mutter.
"Well the Candor boys are Tom, he's the blonde one, Mickey's the one in the middle with ginger hair, and Kasper with the dark hair, aka arseholes one two and three." Ben tells me frowning slightly. "You wouldn't find a meaner trio of bullies anywhere.
"I think the stiff's name is Zander, the two erudite are Isobel and Lottie. I didn't really know them, but Beth didn't really have nice words to say." Jay fills in as we pass the third lap. Both Jay and Ben are reasonably fit, and we keep up with Four. I look back and Isobel, Lottie, Mickey and Tom are falling behind a little, Beth, Kasper and Zander are reasonably close to us. I look around and manage to catch Lily's light hair at the back.
"Did you know Lily before you came here?" Ben asks, and I shake my head.
"Well… apparently we did some art sculpture a few years back…" I start to say before scratching the back of my neck. Jay laughs again.
"You really have a selective memory." Jay says. I shrug. I look back once more and see Lily barely passing the last corner before we turn the next. We're barely a third of the way through and she's falling far behind. The group continues separating out. I was still running quite comfortably, my muscles completely warmed up from this morning, especially with the food break. Jay was next to me, his long legs working in his favour, but he wasn't talking anymore and looked quite short of breath. Ben had fallen a few metres behind. No matter. It wasn't my job to be slow on purpose.
I carry on behind Four whose also jogging easily in a relaxed manner. It gets to 23 laps and he looks back, an easy frown on his face. There was a fair margin between myself and Jay now, Ben, Kasper and Zander all behind him, Beth the last one in view as we pass a corner. Four looks to me.
"You still comfortable?" He asks lightly and I nod. Sure, I could feel my breath starting to tire and sweat forming on my skin, but nothing was burning like it did in the fields.
"I'm sure you remember the route by now, see if you can lap us." Four challenges, but with the look in his eyes I can tell he could do it in seconds. With the pump of my arms I speed up to take the next turn in front of him. I don't race of, but try to keep at a continuous pace, faster than before. The route was long, but by how long it took for me to reach Lily, she was about half a lap behind Four, and I slowed to her pace to give my muscles a rest.
"How are you here?" Lily asks, her breath hitching, sweat covering her. I know it would be a little too mean to say Four wasn't far off, since she'd assume the rest of the group were close to lapping her as well.
"Four told me to go ahead. I like to run, I've been running home through factionless when I've missed the trucks of I have the energy." I explain, which was true. "It's not much longer."
I'm sure the words came out solidly, but she easily realises my heart wasn't in it.
"Please, you're lapping me for goodness sake." She says sadly. I try to make it up.
"I'm serious, and you're doing well. When most people get tired, they just slow to a stop, some of the erudite did that, before carrying on. You've stayed running at this pace the whole time, it means you'll get to a really great stamina." I try to give a kind smile, and I hope it works. She smiles and lets out a small laugh.
"Thanks… for trying to make me feel better. I know it isn't really your style." Lily says, panting. "You should go ahead, your slowing down for me, go." I nod before taking a deep breath to speed up to my past speed. It doesn't take me long to catch up to the two erudite girls Isobel and Lottie who stuck together, and a little later two of the Erudite boys more heavy in stature Mickey and Tom, who give me dirty looks as I push my legs past them with 4 laps left. Perhaps I can make it back to Four in time? It might as well be a goal.
I really power through as best I can, though I don't have the energy to speed up I make sure I don't slow down. I pay no mind to Zander the abnegation, though give a slight smile to Beth, and ignore the glares I feel on my back from Kasper. With just under two laps left I reach Ben. By now we look just as tired out as each other, and I offer him an (what I hope is) encouraging smile before keeping my faster pace. I round the corner and fix my eyes on the back of Jay's head, and try to imagine reeling him in on a fishing hook as I close the distance metre by metre. A good few metres in front of him is Four, who catches my eyes once as he glances back.
We've just passed the halfway mark, and I know I can't make it. But I can still speed up. I push myself to accelerate, and I have to pass Jay without a single look as we reach the last straight, worried that I will lose concentration. I'm sure Four noticed I'd decided to do another lap, as sure enough the distance between him and myself increases, and I really feel the burn in my legs as I reach the last straight 3 metres behind him. I pull myself alongside him, still a little behind, and just as we reach the training room, he sprints the last few metres.
I groan as I through myself into the room, collapsing on the floor and putting my head back, willing air back into my lungs.
"Keep going. You have eight more laps, I will be counting." Four's voice is slightly blurry as my ears ring, and I hear the pattering of feet. A couple of minutes must have passed by the time I open my eyes, and Four's looking down at me.
"Next time, make sure you lap all of us. Before you have to do an extra lap." His face is stern, but there's something else in his eyes I can't distinguish.
"If he asked you to lap them, why did you stick with this one a couple of laps?" A gruff voice sounds and I sit up. Lily passes through the training room right then, and barely ten seconds afterwards, Jay is dragging himself with a brief smile at me. And at the back of the training room is Eric.
He looks at me, awaiting an answer, and I try to think of one I don't have. With a last look at him, I answer.
"I'm not sure." I say honestly, standing up and attempting to stretch the ache out of my legs. He slowly walks closer, an intimidating look on his face.
"And why'd you say that?" He growls, now towering over me, Four still near. I hesitate.
"Because I didn't think you'd appreciate a lie."
With the same look I'd faced that morning, he turned and headed to a square fighting mat.
"Stretch for half an hour. You may even need more after this morning." He beckons Four towards him, who grudgingly walks in as they take up a fighting stance. I did as he said with the strong suspicion it was a command.
Next chapter! Not the best ending I know, but I couldn't find any time to end it better than this, even though it's over my usual chapter length. It's still mostly setting the scene of Dauntless initiation, but it's going to get much more interesting soon! Enjoy!