Caleb's POV
"I'll tell you later. Come on, we have an entrance exam to face." I say.
"Tell me Caleb, I won't tell anyone else." Tristan replies with the insistence of a schoolgirl and a Candor lawyer rolled into one.
"Would you like to share with us the matter you were discussing, Mr. Prior and Mr. Dominic?" Alev says with a reprimanding glare. I am surprised he went the trouble to memorise the name of every initiate.
"Initiates, it is lunch time now. You are free to go and have your lunch."
We enter the cafeteria. The initiate tables resemble a funeral service. The conversation is subdued to what you would see in the Chapel in the Abnegation sector. Everyone employs their own methods while dealing with the aftermath of their first simulation. The methods applied here always involve irritable silence in one way or another. There is a second type of people, I'll-pick-you-up-when-the-world-lets-you-down kind who tries to make everyone else happy but there is an acute absence of that sort. Not that I was the oblivious, happy Amity guy. I'm happy that everyone else has left me alone for once.
Anahita is staring at a fixed point in the distance and Tristan has his head down on the table, uninterested in the food. I know that I would spend time scavenging for food if I don't eat now. I go to the counter and grab a plate.
I put a plain boiled egg and some bread and butter on my plate. I dump some tomato-flavoured oatmeal on it too. It looks rather breakfast-y but I don't care. Damn snobby people and their silly 'etiquette' rules. The moment something contains an egg, it is breakfast exclusivity.
I go to my table and stare at the food I chose. It is a typical Abnegation breakfast, except the oatmeal would be plain. My day began with this very same plate of food but the egg was given only once or twice a week, whenever mom felt generous. Maybe my subconscious wanted something familiar. The only time I see mom is in the simulations and that too is conjured by my brain. I know the image would gradually get distorted, noses elongated, ears getting pointy, eyes more severe, whatever my imagination deems worthy. The final stage would be the image fading until it is no longer there.
I shake the frightening thought out of my head. How could it be that the people who have the most influence on our lives fade away? It all depends on the brain and its untrustworthy memory that betrays you the moment when you try to visualise the face of a person you know and love dearly.
I eat the food and its similar taste is bittersweet. It reminds me of a long talk with my mom or chucking some of the oatmeal at Beatrice behind mom's back. I cannot speak with the homely taste flooding my mouth. It makes me smile in this grim atmosphere but I suppress it, I wouldn't want people thinking of me as crazy or sadistic.
Lunch ends in silent misery. Tristan and Anahita are too sad to talk to me or anyone else.
"Initiates, please stand in a line. Erudite born initiates, please lead the transfers to Examination Room 1."
We get into a line. Erudite appears so obsessive-compulsive. Everything is in neat little rows, daring anyone to nudge them out of place. He leads us out of the corridor we are in into another one. We pass the main hall and the comm desk. I see so many things I didn't notice before like the wood panelled floors and the huge ten-by-fifteen metre portrait of Jeanine Matthews, her condescending eyes polluting any civil conversation in the hall. We go into the opposite side of the main hall. Alev leads us into the corridor of this side. There are three rooms on this side, each having a chrome label which reads 'Examination Room 1' 'Examination Room 2' and 'Examination Room 3'.
"Initiates, you are requested to enter 'Examination Room 1' and take a seat in there." Alev says.
We enter the test room. It is huge, probably equal to the cafe in size. The room has white walls, blue benches arranged in neat rows and a huge whiteboard which possibly doubles up as a projector screen. It also has two exits/entrances, one leading to the main hall and the other leading to another huge room like this. The benches are standard school single-seater ones, painted blue. I take a seat and Anahita sits on the bench beside me. Tristan sits on the bench in front of me. He gives me a look which clearly says, 'You won't get away with this.' I mirror his look and he turns forward.
"Could you tell me what this top-secret business of yours is?" Anahita says.
"I'll tell you later, Anahita. We have a test to face right now."
"One more word and you are in deep trouble, Mr. Prior and Miss Carrin." Alev says. It's so unfortunate that I get caught whenever I try to undertake a sneaky venture.
"You will get three hours to complete thirty questions each of math and science. Reading time is an extra ten minutes. Math has three sections, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry with ten questions each. Science has three sections, Physics, Chemistry and Biology with ten questions each."
"You are provided with necessary stationery. I expect this case to be with you whenever you are attending a class."
He distributes a sheet of paper and the question paper to each desk. I see that a geometry box with stationery is already kept on the desk. He comes to my place and gives me the question paper.
"I dare you to try any illegal business in this examination." Alev says.
"I'll be careful, sir." I shoot a half-thought reply.
He gives me a question paper and a couple of blank answer sheets. I think the warning was reserved especially for me. I need to put a filter on my mouth, rather Tristan and Anahita need to. I look at the math section first. Better to tackle the difficult part first. I can handle the geometry part easily. I look at the Arithmetic part; most of the problems are from Middle levels and the first year of Upper levels. The Algebra part is from Upper Levels. I can do Algebra fairly well. Math is somewhat difficult and easy; they wouldn't want half of the students to fail on the first test.
Alev finishes distributing the papers. He looks around for a bit and announces with a booming voice,
"Your reading time begins now, initiates." His voice reverberates around the room.
There is a large clock in the room. The time is shown as 1.00 pm. Reading time will be ten minutes, so the exam will commence at 1.10 pm. It will end at 4.10 pm.
I read the Science half. Physics mostly comprises of numerical problems and very less theoretical questions. Chemistry has a couple of experiments in it and mostly theoretical questions. I read on to my favourite subject, Biology. It has five questions on plant biology and five questions on animal biology. Both are on the cellular level, so I guess it is Upper Levels Biology.
"Your reading time is up, answer the questions right now." Alev says, scaring the crap out of everyone who was attentively reading the paper. Probably was his intention to start the day with a little scare.
I take the pen in my hand and start on the answer sheet. There are codes in the margin of every page, perhaps for some computer to scan. I fill in my name and other details. It also asks for faction of origin. Huh, another way to make it known to the world that I am a Stiff.
I take a deep breath, concentrate myself and start writing the answers, beginning with Arithmetic. I solve the ones which are doable and leave some space for a couple. I finish those questions in forty five minutes. I really need to solve the paper fast if I hope to have some time left for revising it and solving the ones I left.
I start with Algebra. The first question is a pair of simple linear equations in two variables. I know that if the beginning of a section is easy, then you are going to spend the rest of the time scratching your head for the questions that follow. A really evil trick on the teacher's part. The easy questions are just to give an ego boost to the student.
I look at the questions that follow, I was right. They are difficult as Daedalus's labyrinth in Greek mythology. Not that I know where Greece is or who this Daedalus guy was. Enough getting distracted, I solve four questions out of that section. I leave space for five. Another thirty minutes down the proverbial drain. I am running behind schedule.
I start with the geometry part. The first question is 'prove the Pythagoras theorem and write the five postulates of Euclid'. I construct a right angled triangle and solve the problem. I can't remember the last Euclidean postulate. After a while it comes to me and I write that down. The examiner is going to have a really hard time deciphering my handwriting. I finish the geometry section in half an hour.
Maths done, I move on to the Science section. Physics is hard but I do the numerical problems with ease. I didn't have to leave questions out for the second round. The theoretical part is imprinted in my brain. It was a simple matter of extracting the information. I get it done in twenty minutes.
Chemistry is a piece of cake. I draw a few diagrams and write the experiments that follow. The provided chemical reactions required very less effort. I finished the Chemistry part in fifteen minutes.
I move onto my favourite part, Biology. I have everything committed to memory. I write the questions in my own words and make four diagrams. There was an experiment in it too, 'prove that the stems of a plant show capillary action'. It is something easier than a piece of cake. I guess it is Abnegation rice pudding. I finish the Bio part in fifteen minutes.
I go to the second round. I solve the couple of arithmetic questions I left space for. I dread looking at the Algebra section. I solve two questions and leave three. Those three are not going to be solved by me. Let those stupid marks go.
I lay my head down on the table and think about those questions. I have half an hour left but I cannot come up with anything, any algebraic identity or a hint to help. I give up on those questions and decide to look around.
Tristan sits in front of me and is writing frantically. He is possibly stuck on the Algebra section like me. Anahita sits there with her head down. I look around for the beautiful girl whose name I do not know. She must be sitting behind me. I cannot turn back as it would guarantee a warning from Alev.
I look to the person I despise, Xander. He is talking and signalling to someone, probably his hand-in-glove. I think whether to warn Alev or not. It wouldn't be publicly, I don't want Xander to become more hostile towards me than he already is. I imagine how I would get him caught by informing Alev inconspicuously. A brilliant idea strikes my mind.
I note Alev's position. He stands behind me right now. My plan is to catch his eye and look towards Xander.
Alev comes to the front now. I look at him. He is stoic and pretends not to look at me. I hold his gaze and point at Xander. Xander is busy talking to his minion.
"What do you suppose you are doing there, Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Flintoff?"
Xander gets a heart attack. I love seeing his expression in moments like these. His face is an ideal example of a guilty person. His hands tremble slightly in dread and shock. He realises the consequences now.
"Both of you will be taken to Miss Aster's office right now. Your report will be sent to Miss Jeanine's office from there." Alev says.
Xander gets up from his place but his usual acidic tongue has vanished. He didn't even try to defend himself.
"I was just asking for a pencil, wasn't I, Xander?" His crony defends himself and Xander.
"Yes, Alev, I was just giving him a pen. Rick is right."
That seems more like Xander. So his friend's name is Rick.
"You were provided with stationery and it became such a long conversation while giving him a pen?" Alev voices his doubts.
"Your punishment may be increased for telling a lie." Alev says. I think he really doesn't like liars.
"Initiates, you may continue writing your examination. An extra ten minutes will be provided."
Their defences have been blown out of the sky. They launch into the usual ramble of 'sorry and I would not do it again'. They are taken into Aster's office. The room is left unsupervised for a couple of minutes but nobody dares to open his or her mouth.
I finished writing my exam now and gave up on those three problems. I put my head down on the table and try to sleep for a while.
I am woken up by a hand on my arm. The hand belongs to Alev.
"Done sleeping, initiate?" He makes it known to the whole room.
I hand the paper to him with a sheepish expression. I wipe my eyes and pack the stationery into the case. Tristan hands Alev his paper and looks at me.
"How did the exam go?"
I am so relieved he asked me a different question.
"It went well; I left out three problems in the Algebra section."
Anahita decides to join the conversation now.
"How did your exam go, Anahita?" Tristan and I say this line at the exact same time.
"It went really well, I am surprised I was able to solve the math section, although I left out three problems."
"Which three did you both leave?" Tristan asks.
"I left out number 5, 8 and 9 in the algebra section." I say.
"I left out the same ones. What about you, Tristan?"
"I solved those three questions but I know that they are wrong."
"Initiates, you can get out of the hall now. You are free to do whatever you like but tomorrow you have a test on English, Government and Computer science." Alev says.
We get out of the hall. I grab my case. I try to evade Tristan's interrogation by turning to the direction of the library.
"Where are you going, Mister?"
"I was just off to the library to study."
"Please tell me about this top secret business." Anahita says.
"I wasn't able to sleep so I went outside for a stroll." I lie. Thank goodness I don't have any Candor friends. Tristan seems to accept this explanation.
"What about you? Why were you awake?" I say.
"Same as you, Caleb, I couldn't sleep and I had gone to take a drink of water."
"Both of you gave such an uninteresting explanation. At least you could have told me that you were overhearing spies while on a mission as a secret agent." Anahita tells us.
"Don't let your imagination run away with you. This is Erudite, where people accept hard facts, not imagination." I say in the manner I would scold Beatrice.
She was partly true. I had gone to overhear someone after all. I wonder why I got so defensive.
"I need to go to the library right now."
I excuse myself from the pair. I go to the dorm and keep the case in the glass cabinet.
I wander outside the main building and find something else I didn't notice earlier. Beneath the large portrait of Jeanine Matthews lies a fairly large plague which reads 'knowledge leads to prosperity'. Huh, prosperity. They keep all the prosperity to themselves.
I go into the park outside. The park is barren with weird metal sculptures and concrete benches.
There are two rusted metal sculptures there. One looks like an abstract mammoth and the other one is really weird. It is shaped like an enormous lima bean. Lima beans of all things. Couldn't they make something better?
I see a lot of little children jumping around on the mammoth and a few on the concrete benches. The mammoth is shaped as such that it simply compels children to play on it. There are a lot of them behind the thick legs and even more beneath the belly. A few brave souls try to climb the forelegs but they are smooth and do not offer any friction.
People sit on the concrete benches. Most of them are absorbed in their tablet computers but I spy a few book readers among them. Some couples are openly holding hands and a few teenagers are kissing. Gross. I turn away from them as if I wasn't a member of the vast teenage group myself. My inner Abnegation is showing now. Abnegation gives the impression of a little city within the city. Everything was so different. We weren't allowed to hold hands until after marriage.
The whole place is a poor excuse for a park. At least they could have planted some grass here. I take a walk around the whole complex. There are four apartment buildings with seven stories in each building. They are on each side of the main building. I go to the back of the main building. There is an automobile manufacturing unit, an automobile research and testing lab and a miscellaneous manufacturing unit, possibly where all the electronic equipment, lab equipment et cetera is made.
Large white signboards announce the names and purposes of the three buildings. I would like to go into the automobile unit someday to learn a thing or two. The cars made there are sleek, solar-powered models. They are usually given to high officials, preferably Erudite ones.
I should stop getting distracted. My aim was to go to the library and look where I ended up.
I turn in the opposite direction and walk towards the main building. The now familiar area is filled with people, even more than there usually are. It may be for a special cause or something.
I enter the library and go to the government section and grab two thick books on government. One is an old edition, possibly from fifty years ago and the other one is new edition, not older than a year or so. I am trying to find out the differences between the factions in this time span. I take those two books into my arms and take those to a table. I read a few pages on each faction. I read the Abnegation section in both the books. Book one is hold a neutral view on this faction while book two has a different stand concerning the Abnegation. Book two is something you could call masked propaganda. The information is not false although the author takes those principles and compares them to others. This should never be done in unbiased media. The factions coexist together and bring peace in this manner. One faction should not strive to prove itself superior. I look at the author's name. It is our dear Jeanine Matthews.
Similarly, Erudite is shown in an overly positive light. The author compares it again to other factions. It makes Erudite seem like utopia and brushes off the shortcomings of this faction. I wonder what Jeanine aims to do by publishing material like this. The other factions are pretty much the same but the second book provides more information on each one.
The first book has a section on the factionless too. Although they are not a faction, their place in the social ladder is mentioned in this book. The factionless live in the factionless sector of the city. Their main source of income is fabric weaving. This book also says that the factionless children are turned over to the government so they could have a fair chance in life. Most of them end up in Abnegation. I didn't know that. I guess I was wrong when I thought that they remained factionless. It would be so heartbreaking for the parents of these children. They would have to live without their children until death. Even if they got a chance to meet their child, the kid wouldn't recognise them.
The new book doesn't have a section on the factionless. I decide that I would study from the old book. I finish studying the first chapter of each faction and find that two hours have passed.
I go to the computer section and grab a book on information technology. I run through it quickly. I know most of the stuff already. I decide to take a break for a while.
I look around and see that the beautiful girl is sitting opposite to me. Now is the perfect opportunity to ask her name. I need to come up with a suitable excuse for doing so.
"May I take this book which is kept beside you?" I say, pointing to a green coloured book which says, 'Julius Caesar' by Shakespeare.
"Oh yeah, sure" She says. Her voice is lovely, low and high and beautiful at the same time.
"May I ask your name?" She asks me.
"I am Caleb Prior, and you are?"
"I am Rhiannon White, nice to meet you."
"It is nice to meet you as well." I say.
Rhiannon. I glance into her hazel eyes for a second. I wonder what it would be like to be her friend.
That is how I give an examination. I was shaken awake by a teacher once. The name of the mysterious girl is finally revealed! Thanks to MastaGamerita for the bit about the factionless. Guess the reference in this chapter. The last one was a song 'Wake Me Up' by Avicii. As you would have guessed from my Daedalus mention, I am a huge Percy Jackson fan.
Reviews of all kinds are appreciated,
TheVibrantNight