Author's Note: There's no place like home…*click click click* this is only funny because I'm from Kansas… But in all seriousness, it's great to be home especially since it snowed in Chicago while I was there -.- I never wanna see snow ever again. But never mind that now! Here's a new chapter. Also, forgot to mention this in this last chapter, but SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read Divergent yet, stop what you're doing and go read Divergent.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own Teen Titans or Divergent
Chapter 2
I walked home in silence after the factionless man took the dried apples and left me alone. I sit on the front porch while I wait for Komila to come home from school. I'm sure her test went just fine. My sister is one of the most selfless people I've ever met. She puts her hands on her hips, I know she's about to scold me. Great, I hate it when my sister scolds me.
"Korina, where have you been? Your tester told me you got sick."
"Yeah, the liquid they gave us didn't settle right in my stomach."
"Uh-huh, that's what she told me, now will you tell me what really happened?"
"That's what really happened. There's nothing else for me to tell you. Now come on, we have to get the table set for dinner."
My sister narrows my eyes at me but doesn't ask any more questions and we head inside to set the table. Everything works like clockwork in our house. Our mother comes home and cooks. The table is set and the food is ready right when our father walks in the door. We sit down and join hands; thanking X'hal for the gifts we are given. X'hal is the goddess our family has worshipped for generations. Not every Abnegation family is religious, but we are the only ones who praise X'hal.
Same. Uniform. Comforting. Too bad this isn't the life for me.
My father takes my mother's hand as we eat in silence. They've spent our whole lives telling me and Komila about how powerful physical contact is. I've been wary of it my whole life. I watch my parents with strange fascination.
"Tell me what's wrong, dear."
My father sighs.
"I had a difficult day at work. Or, rather, Bruce had a difficult day at work. I shouldn't lay claim to it."
Bruce Wayne is our faction's representative. My father is a city councilman. It was decided long ago that the city should be run by Abnegation along with representatives from each faction because our faction is seen as incorruptible.
"Was it because of those reports Roxanne Mandrake* keeps releasing?"
Roxanne Mandrake is the Erudite representative, selected based only on her IQ.
"Yes, this one was questioning Bruce's character."
My father seems angry. My sister and I aren't supposed to speak during dinner unless we are spoken to, but I can't help myself.
"What did it say?"
"Korina."
My sister scolds me and I cringe internally. My father sighs.
"It said Bruce's cruelty is the reason his son transferred to Dauntless."
We all look at my father in shock. Bruce is the most kind, selfless man any of us have ever met. His "son" actually isn't related to him at all. His name was Richard Grayson, and his parents were killed when he was very young. None of us know how it happened or how Richard escaped his parents' fate, but when Bruce saw Richard had no other family, he adopted Richard. No one adopts anymore, it was an act of great selflessness on Bruce's part. But when Richard turned 16, he chose to leave Abnegation and join the Dauntless. I only ever met him once I don't remember anything about him. He avoided coming to dinner with Bruce or going to community events. Probably because he was sick of people looking at him with pity. My mother finally speaks after we got over the shock.
"Bruce? Cruel? That's impossible. How can the Erudite spout such lies?"
"I don't know. They're just a bunch of spiteful, self-righteous…" He shakes his head. "Nothing can be done for it."
Dinner ends without much more conversation. We clean up and wash dishes silently. Komila and I head up to our rooms, but she stops me in the hallway.
"Korina… Tomorrow… We have to think of our family. But, we also have to think of ourselves."
I raise an eyebrow at my sister. Why is she telling me this?
"The tests don't have to change our decisions."
My sister gives me a grim sort of smile.
"Don't they though?"
THE NEXT DAY
My family and I were walking to the roof of the Hub for the Choosing ceremony. The Hub is the tallest building in the city. My father gave up our spots on the elevator for a cluster of Amity so we end up taking the stairs. Several other members of Abnegation follow suit and I'm soon surrounded by a mob of gray. We have to climb 20 flights of stairs to reach the top and I soon start lagging behind. I turn to my left and I see a boy my age with curly blond hair and big green eyes. Jericho Wilson, another boy Bruce adopted after an accident with his father that left Jericho mute and with a scar on his throat. Jericho smiles and waves and I wave back. He will be the last to choose his faction today while my sister will be the first.
It seems like ages before we reach the top of the building and arrange ourselves in three circles. In one circle is the crowd of parents and siblings, organized by faction. In another circle the initiates stand in alphabetical order. In the final circle stand five huge bowls, each filled with a substance that represents each faction. Gray stones for Abnegation. Water for Erudite. Soil for Amity. Glass for Candor. Lit coals for Dauntless. When our name is called, Bruce will hand us each our own knife. We will slice our palms and sprinkle our blood into the bowl for the faction we have chosen.
My blood on the gray stones. My blood sizzling on the coals. It will be a great act of selflessness should I choose Abnegation and a great act of bravery should I choose Dauntless. Bruce begins talking about the history of the factions and our society while I think about the decision I have to make. Before I know it, Bruce is calling my sister's name.
"Komila Anders."
My sister lets go of my hand and goes to claim her knife from Bruce. From here, it almost looks like she's sweating. She steps into the circle and very noticeably gulps. She slices her palm and lets her blood drip into the bowl of water, dying it a bloody pink. The whole crowd gasps. My sister, born to help others, a faction transfer? And to Erudite, of all the factions? I watch in shock as she goes to stand behind the crowd of people dressed in Erudite blue.
I have no choice now. I must be the child who stays. I cannot leave my parents alone.
"Korina Anders."
I walk up to get my knife and stand in the circle of bowls. Abnegation and Dauntless are both on my left, one in front, one behind me.
I have to do this, for my family.
I take a deep breath and slice my palm. My blood starts to flow from the wound. I gasp and shoot my arm back, closing my eyes as my blood sizzles on the coals.
I am selfish. I am brave. I am Dauntless.
I stand behind the black clothed section of the crowd and the rest of the ceremony flies by in a blur. As I leave with the Dauntless, I take a look back at the Abnegation section, to see my parents one last time. I immediately regret it. My father's eyes could be burning a hole in my head he looks so angry. My mother on the other hand, is smiling. I don't know what to make of that.
The crowd of Dauntless heads to the stairs and I quickly figure out why. Soon, they are all running jumping and screaming down the stairwell. No, not they, WE. I run with them with a smile on my face. We make it outside and stand by the tracks. I realize we are going to jump on the train. The Dauntless do it all the time, nearly daily, I've seen it my whole life. The train comes by and I run and jump as fast as I can. I manage to get my hands in the doorway and a girl from Candor pulls me in.
"You okay?" I nod and the girl extends her hand. She is very pale and has dark hair and dark eyes. "I'm Rachel."
I take her hand tentatively. I haven't shaken hands in a long time. In Abnegation we bow our heads, a sign of respect.
"I'm Korina."
The wind picks up and I crouch down. The rest of the ride passes without much talking, mostly due to the wind. When the other Dauntless members stand up, the initiates follow suit.
"We have to jump to a building? From here?"
"Yeah, Toni**, that's what we signed up for."
"Shut up Xavier."
I turn and see two Candor kids arguing. A tall, red-haired dark eyed boy and a short, pale dark haired girl. I don't see how the conversation ends because Rachel takes my hand.
"I can't do it without someone shoving me." I nod. "On three?"
"One… Two… Three!"
Rachel and I jump out of the train and land safely on the roof. An older man stands on the edge as if it were a sidewalk. He has a deeply lined face and an eye patch covering his left eye.
"Hello initiates. My name is Slade, and I am one of the Dauntless leaders. Below me is the member entrance to dauntless headquarters. Our initiates have the honor of jumping first."
He steps down and the crowd parts to let the initiates through. I look at the other initiates and find I am the only one from Abnegation. Then I register a stinging sensation in my elbow. I roll up my sleeve to check.
"Ooh, how scandalous! Look at the Stiff, flashing some skin!"
I hear snickers and look up to see Xavier grinning proudly. I narrow my eyes, roll down my sleeve and step up to the ledge. This is a scare tactic; I know I will land safely. The wind blows wildly, shaking my hair out of its bun and snapping the fabric of my shirt. I tentatively unbutton my shirt revealing the grey t-shirt I'm wearing underneath. It is the tightest piece of clothing I own and no one has ever seen me in it. I ball up my overshirt and throw it at Xavier, hitting him square in the chest. Then I jump off the ledge.
I land safely in a net at the bottom of a hole. I roll out of it and nearly land on my face on the hardwood floor, were it not for a strong set of arms catching me. I look up to face my savior and am met by a stunning pair of blue eyes. The man holding me sets me down and I see the rest of him. Tall, muscular, messy black hair and a few scars on his skin. I hear a voice call behind him.
"Whoa! Who'd of thought a Stiff would be the first to jump?"
"There's a reason she left them Selina."
His voice is deep the sound rumbles in my chest. He turns back to me.
"What's your name?"
"Uh…"
Korina doesn't fit me anymore.
"Think carefully, you only get to choose once."
I see a hint of smile on his face and I look at my surroundings and declare proudly.
"Kori. My name is Kori."
The girl behind the man who caught me smiles.
"Kori. You heard the lady, Robin. Make the announcement."
Robin nods and turns to face the crowd.
"First jumper: Kori!"
The crowd cheers and I know I am where I belong.
*Roxanne Mandrake= Madame Rouge
**Toni= Argent. I know she's not a villain but I was running out of girls and she doesn't have much plot development anyway.
Yep! I had to put Jericho in here! Mostly because in choir, we sang a song called Battle of Jericho by Moses Hogan (If you've ever been in choir, there's a 70% chance you've sung a Moses Hogan piece) He won't have much of a presence though! Next time, on Dauntless Titans: Stuff! Until then, R&R! -Starprincess