I wake with a painful jolt. A groan leaves my lips as fire spreads along my skin. My hands fly to my shoulders and I immediately flinch, my fingers run along my new cut, the skin is irritated and red. It's just scabbing over. Sitting up my eyes find the floor. I got undressed at least. My feet swing over the side of the bed and I bite my lip, pain sparking through my back, my shoulders ache. If I charge through it, my body will hurt less, so I rise to my feet and grab a towel, walking quickly to the shower. I waste no time under the warm water, as it is already soothing the pain. Once I'm out I glance at the mirror, reaching over and wiping the condensation that built up, I notice the dark circles under my eyes, today is the day I can be free of this place.
I get dressed gingerly, wearing a light yellow tank top, and a dark red flannel over it. Maroon cargo pants and a pair of boots. I twist my dark hair up into a bun atop my head with several winces. I walk out the room rolling up the cuffs of my flannel to my elbow, just to the bottom of the cut. I listen to the pound on the wooden floor that my boots make, it make's me sound strong. That people should be afraid of what's coming. I walk briskly past my fathers office door, seeing that it's still nailed shut. No one is up yet, so I begin to make breakfast, I settle for fruit salad and pancakes. The smell fills my nose and the sound of eggs and bacon sizzling is in my ears. It's when I reach up in the cupboard for the syrup that I'm woken from my trance. Arms wrap around my waist and hot breath is on my neck. I freeze up, who is it? It can't be my father, I would have heard the door, Angel isn't tall enough to do this. Samantha doesn't have arms like this. I flatten my feet, as I hear "Good morning," The voice is milky, but gruff. Alex.
I turn quickly in his arms so my chest is to his, I immediately see the light bruise on his cheek. My hands fly to his face, "Oh my God, do you need Ice?" He chuckles and smiles, taking my wrists with both hands lightly, "No, I'm fine, really," I frown. He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth. I feel myself blush as he leads the kisses down across my jaw. I turn my head slightly and he stops with a smile, "Sorry, I got carried away," He backs away and sits at the table. I turn and continue cooking, getting a plate and asking "Do you want some? Are you hungry?"
"Sure, if it's no hassle," As quickly as he asks the plate is filled. I watch as he eats the eggs and bacon like no tomorrow, the way he sits at the table is like he lives here. Tossing the blueberries in the pancake batter and fruit salad my mind ponders how he can be so comfortable, like he has no quarrels. Like he's not worried about the choosing ceremony and I didn't slap him the other day, like my father won't be a rabid animal if he see's Alex here. I'm slicing up almonds when Angela's voice is near me, "Good morning, what are you both doing?" Alex sets his fork down and grins "She was making some lovely breakfast before we go off to the choosing ceremony," Angel looks uneasy as he holds out the fork to her, "Would you like to try some?"
"No thank you, I'd like my own plate please," She says looking at me. I nod and add in the fresh whipped cream to the fruit and mix it while she helps make the pancakes for herself. I smile and make our plates, piling on blueberry pancakes, apple wood smoked bacon, fresh eggs, and hand picked hand made fruit salad. She grins at me and hugs me as a thank you. Before she rushes off to the table and eats like she never has before. I walk over and give her eating utensils, then sit down and begin eating myself. Ryan comes to mind and how his presence is required, I can't hold my ground on my own, I need Alex's help, I can't risk Angel getting hurt. How do I tell him? "Angel?"
"Yes Aislin?"
"Who are you walking with to the ceremony?"
"Samantha, she said she needed help watching Logan," I nod,
"Would you like to go and meet up with her after you're done eating?"
"Yeah, okay," She gives me a small smile, "What about papa?"
"I will bring him with us, I'm walking with Alex," She nods and stands up, her ponytail swaying. I take this chance to really look at my sister. The last time I will get to see her, I doubt my father will let her come during visitation. I pay attention to the orange flower dress she wears and how her green eyes are a dark vibrant color. She giggles and waves goodbye to us. After the door shuts slowly, my eyes find Alex, who is already looking at me. "It is required," I begin, "To have all family members present at the choosing ceremony, if they are not occupied with work,"
"My parents leave early, so what are you asking?"
"My father, requires some convincing," I say lightly,
"Your shoulder is still raw, I felt it," He says to me, "He did that?" I nod, and Alex is on his feet faster than a heartbeat. The next thing I know I'm racing to get him while he starts kicking the door down. It is ripped off it's hinges and it plummets to the floor with one final kick. My father, sits up against the desk with empty bottles around him, some broken, some cracked. I notice how he still has a bottle in his hand. Alex is the first to move, he grabs Ryan by the shirt and shakes him, yelling at him to wake up. Soon enough he does, swinging the bottle at Alex's head I might add. Although he is attacking Alex, the first thing Ryan see's is me. Standing in the doorway, wide eyed like a deer in headlights. Right then before I can even move my father has me knocked down on the floor, my scream is loud enough to wake the neighbors. His hand is around my neck and my feet are kicking. Alex struggles to pull him off of me while in a blind rage. My vision starts to blacken and I see spots, it's getting harder and harder to breathe and my heart is ramming in my chest a million miles per minute. Suddenly Ryans body goes limp. He is pulled off of me and air is immediately returned to my lungs. My eyes find the syringe in Alex's hand, and it's only then do I understand his fullest intentions.
An hour later, the three of us arrive at the hub. A tall black building near the heart of Chicago. My father is well dressed in a fine red iron pressed button down shirt, and clean, hole-less jeans. His shoes are as nice and clean as they get in Amity. His blonde hair is washed and parted to the right, covering his eyebrow. His face is not unkind. But it is unshaved. We sit down five seats to the right in the third row section of Amity, where my sister waits with Samantha. Throughout the speech that Marcus, the most respected government member from Abnegation, gives I keep sending sidelong glances at my father, who's posture is straight and rigid. I know he never forgets a night of drinking. Making all of his threats to me about Angela are not to be taken lightly.
Marcus begins listing off names after explaining what each bowl represents. The bowl for Amity, is filled with rich soil. The bowl for Abnegation is filled with smooth grey stones. The bowl for Candor is filled with large and small shards of glass. The bowl for Erudite, holds clear purified water. And the faction that I know I belong to, Dauntless, the bowl is stained and burnt, due to the burning coals and embers inside it. Their heat unforgiving and yet it can save the lives of many. My eyes look at the leaders of each faction and I can tell who they are and where they belong. There is a man stiff shouldered and of Asian descent, he is wearing black suit pants and a white dress shirt, he is in a fine suit composed of the shades black and white. He is the leader of Candor, Jack Kang. The thin woman next to him with blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail wears blue, she is Jeanie Mathews, they wear blue because the color is supposed to be a neurological stimulant, to calm your brain. Ryan used to say 'A calm mind, is a clear mind, open to perception,'. Jeanie is the head scientist and leader of Erudite.
Candor, Erudite, and Amity all share a strong pact to support the rest of the communities. The representative of Amity is Johanna Reyes, I say representative because Amity is big on voting and making important decisions as a whole rather than giving the responsibility to one person. We don't believe in giving one person the power of all the people, much like Abnegation. Abnegation is like Amity, although they are the only ones who hold places in the council of Government. It is in everyone's best interest to help others instead of help themselves. One person is not capable of doing so. Although, Marcus Eaton is here, as always giving the ceremony speeches. He is a short older man whose hair is now greying, but his eyes are black and soulless.
Last, is a bulky dark skinned man, sitting tall with his foot tapping. His shoulders are squared and I'm almost surprised to see him wearing a suit. All black. He glares at the crowd with deep amber eyes, his hands are calloused and meaty, they have scabs over the knuckles and he does not seem like he wants to be here at all. I know who he is, the leader of Dauntless, Max. Dauntless doesn't hold a pact with any faction, but they are the protectors and the enforcers of the five Factions. In return for food and medicine they offer security.
A name is called and I'm torn from my observations. "Alex Bringinher," I look at the thin yet strong boy next to me as he stands. I watch as he says his pardons to those he passes, and as he walks down to that stage, he makes eye contact with Jeanie and I already know what he's going to do. The knife glides easily over the palm of his hand, he takes to steps to the Erudite bowl and lets his blood taint the pure water. The members of Erudite nod, clap, cheer a few times, but most are exchanging murmurs about him. Sizing him up for intellect.
A few hours or so pass by and my name is called, "Aislin Teriga," My sisters hand finds mine before I stand, I lean over and she whispers, "Go, I'll be okay," and she gives me a small smile nodding and saying "I'll see you soon," as she lets me go. Marcus's eyes are on me as I slip past my father, who glares at me down to the very pit of my soul. I know the unspoken threat. My steps are uneven towards the stage. Marcus smiles a polite smile and offers me the knife. I glance at Max for a moment thinking he alone will give me reassurance, but the leader sighed impatiently at me and leaned his face into his hand. My first instinct is to be appalled and to act disrespectfully back, but here, I will compose myself. I will show him what I am capable of during initiation. I sure as hell won't be boring, let alone a disappointment.
The knife is cold in my hands, I skim my finger along the edge of the blade. Then I slide it along the palm of my hand, just enough to bleed. I look at my father, the man I had to drug and dress like a child who can't do anything for themselves. He's staring right at me daring me to disobey him. And just like that, the heat from the coals is enough to burn my skin, yet I bring my hand down closer to the flame, my blood sizzling against the coals. Amity erupt in soft murmurs some even smile at me. Most however nod, and look at my father in a strange way. Marcus points to Dauntless after announcing my choice.
I glance over to the crowd of young men and women clad in black, most have piercings or tattoos. Some are glaring at me, others are looking at me like I'm a fine entré of food, the rest are grinning and I'm guessing placing bets. Another name is called, and I'm sure I've heard it before, "Adrian Tenest," She was the same girl from testing. Strange though, she should have been first. She stands from the Erudite section with all the confidence in the world, it's false though, her eyes dart too fast. She's good at hiding things, but not from people who know what to look for. She sways her hips as she walks down the steps from her family, she wears a baby blue crop top, blue wedges, and blue short shorts. Her hair is in a dark ponytail that falls to the center of her back. Her skin is still creamy white, and her body still curvy as a model would be. She looks like her mom. But her older brother looks like their dad.
Her decision is swift as she holds her hand out over the coals. Many of the boys from Dauntless wolf whistle and howl at her, cat calling her as she turns from her old Faction to walk over here. She is engulfed by boys the second she's over here. My feet take me to the back of the crowd where I find a place to sit, because everyone else is standing due to excitement. Apparently Dauntless can't sit still. I lean back and watch the beauty of disorganization. My back touches something soft however, and I visibly flinch, hissing in between my teeth. A hand finds my shoulder, and I resist the urge to cry out as their hand presses into deep lashes and cuts. "You're bleeding," he says. Then his hand wraps around my upper arm and he makes me stand. "Let's go," he says behind me,
"But what about the ceremony?"
"It doesn't end for a few more hours, we won't be gone that long," He is still behind me and I haven't seen his face, I see a bathroom up ahead and now it's clear that he's leading me to it. When we get inside with the door closed behind us he let's me go. I turn around and I'm greeted with tan skin and auburn hair, his eyes are a deep amber color, almost red. His face is fine and chiseled and he's taller than me, his muscles are evident under his black shirt. "Your names Aislin right?" I nod, "I'm Jamie, my friends call me James, I always carry wrap with me, and I noticed you started bleeding through your clothes, so…" He trails off, now I get it. "Yeah, can you help me?"
"Yes, I can, but you have to take off… Uhm…" I thought all Dauntless boys were never nervous or fearless. I guess I was wrong. I turn and peel off my clothes with a few hisses. He doesn't hesitate to wet a towel and start wiping off the blood from my back. I look to my left and see just how much was leaking out. I'm glad Jamie saw before anyone else. I attempt to make conversation while he cleans my wounds and starts to wrap me up, "You're from Dauntless?"
"Yes," Well that was significant.
"You have any family?"
"Two older sisters and one little brother,"
"Did your sisters stay in the same faction?"
"One of them did, her name is Lauren,"
"Where did the other go?"
"She transferred to Candor," He says quietly, "Her name is Sophia,"
"Oh," Is all I say. He's done and he helps me wash out the blood from my clothing, and wringing it to dry it out. Soon My clothes are back on and the wrappings haven't come undone, we are walking back when he asks me "Can you run?"
"Yes," I answer after a moment, why would he ask me that? Jamie leads me to a group of his friends, there is a girl with blue streaks in her black hair which falls to her shoulders and her lipstick is purple, she smiles and holds out her hand to me, "I'm Cassandra, but you can call me Cass," I manage a smile at her, her skin is vampire white but she has a nose piercing along with several in her ears. Her eyes are bright blue like Samantha's. Jamie smiles and introduces me to a boy, with messy black hair and darker skin than Jamie, who gives me a friendly smile, "Aziel, it's a pleasure miss..?"
"Aislin," I say, he smiles even more at me.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance miss Aislin," I nod and smile sitting next to Cassandra. The Ceremony ends some time later and Jamie tells me to get ready. Little did I know we were about to run down several flights of stairs. And by several, I mean about 80 flights of stairs. I'm short of breath when we burst through the Hub doors. Jogging out of the building I feel the familiar burn in my lungs and the taste of salt in my mouth. Cass is right next to me with her hands on her lips and a smile on her face when she says "Don't stop now, it's not over," I'm about to ask what she means but a train horn interrupts me. And now I know, because most Dauntless have started jogging along the tracks, just as I have started sprinting towards the train.
My boots pounding with my heart, my breathing quick as I push my body to go faster. I hear Cassandra yell "Jump into the cart!" and so I do, I slam my body to the left and I slide against metal. I hear a few laughs and chuckles as I get to my feet. Cass is next to me with a grin on her face, I look out the car and see Adrian struggling to run, she's limping and I know she's twisted her ankle, I feel my eyes go wide as I feel the train speed up. "Run!" I scream at her. One hand gripping the bar and most of my body outside the train, the other hand is reaching for her, "C'mon you've got to run faster!" I see now that she's crying, "Adrian grab my hand!"
"I can't!" She screams at me, I reach out further, only thing inside the car now are my toes, I will fall if I let go. "Adrian you're so close you can do it!" She screams and her fingers touch mine, I scream for Cass and she holds me steady while I grab Adrians hand. We are both pulled into the car by Jamie and Cass, just as the Train goes too fast for anyone to run by, lifting higher and higher on to a rail above the buildings. My new friends are both panting and looking at me. Adrian is holding on to me for as if for dear life. Her ankles are bruised, and I've pulled us against the wall of the car next to the door, my body closest to the gaping hole. I watch as we pass all of the Abnegation buildings and Candor facilities through the Faction, you can just see Erudite headquarters from here. Adrian has stopped sobbing into my shirt and looks up at me with puffy bloodshot eyes. "Thank you," she whispers.