Four - Initiation
"A message from who?" Is all I can bring myself to ask. It could be Tris, what if she's gone into hiding in Abnegation?
"Marcus." She is stood as steady as the stone enclosing us. If it weren't for her rapid breaths from the jump, I would have assumed she wasn't real. My heart rapidly deflates from hearing his name.
Suddenly I remember Lauren is stood beside me, looking just as bewildered as me, but also eager for information. This grates me.
"Later," I say to the girl, under my breathe. "What's your name?"
"Rose."
"Rose," Lauren repeats, giving me a sideways glance. "Make the announcement, Four."
I look over my shoulder and shout, "First jumper - Rose!"
The members that had been lurking in the shadows materialise, cheering and pumping their fists.
"Welcome to Dauntless," I say, in the least welcoming voice.
After all the initiates have made the jump and are back on solid ground, Lauren and I lead them down a narrow tunnel. The walls are made of stone and the ceilings are sloped, making me feel as if I am descending into the earth. It's not the greatest of places to live for someone with claustrophobia. The tunnel is lit at long intervals, so in the dark space between each dim lamp, there is no way to tell where you are. You only have to keep going.
"This is where we divide," Lauren says. "The Dauntless-born initiates are with me. I assume you don't need a tour of the place." She's steals a look at me, but I can't decipher her expression.
She beckons the Dauntless-born initiates to follow her. They break away from the group and disappear into the shadows. Every year, most of the initiates are from Dauntless, so there is only seven people remaining. Three are from Erudite, three from Candor, and only one Abnegation. This is now the third year that an Abnegation has transferred to Dauntless. Me, Tris and now Rose.
It's time to address the group.
"My name is Four, most of the time I am Head of Intelligence, but for the next few weeks I am your instructor," I say.
Unlike last year, when Christina couldn't keep her mouth shut, nobody speaks. There is an eerie silence, so I continue, "We're about to go into the Pit, which you will someday learn to love."
When nobody talks, I turn and walk towards the shadow at the end of the tunnel. They follow me in complete silence.
This is what it should be like, them scared of me. I'm not their friend, I am their training instructor. Besides one exception, Tris.
We arrive at the pit, an underground cavern so huge I can't see the other end of it from where I stand, at the bottom. Uneven rock walls rise several stories above my head. Built into the stone walls are places for food, clothing, supplies and leisure activities. Narrow paths and steps carved from rock connect them. Occasionally, members have fallen off the edge.
A slant of orange light stretches across one of the roof walls. Forming the roof of the Pit are panes of glass and above them, a building that lets in the sunlight.
Blue lanterns dangle at random intervals above the stone paths. They grow brighter as the sunlight dies.
There are swarms of people everywhere, all dressed in black, all with varying tattoos and piercings. There are children running down the narrow path, each with different coloured hair. A few groups have started to play fight, horsing around but hitting each other as if it were a real fight. The only difference between them is whether laughter is involved.
"Follow me," I say, "I'll show you the chasm."
I lead them to the right side of the pit, which is enveloped in darkness. As I approach the railing, I can hear the roar of water crashing against rocks.
The floor drops off at a sharp angle, and several stories below is is a river. Gushing water strikes the wall beneath me and sprays upwards. To my left, the water is calm. But to my right, it is so violent it's frothing white.
I start my prepared speech about the chasm by shouting, "The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy! A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again. You've been warned."
I take the time while they gape in awe to take a greater look at the initiates. From Erudite, there are three boys. All of average height and build, each have the stance of a know it all. It will soon get knocked out of them one way or another. There is only one boy from Candor, he's lanky and thin, but seems quick on his feet. One of the girls can't be any taller than five foot, with short blonde hair and a pale complexion. The other is completely opposite.
Then there is Rose, who doesn't seemed awed at all by the chasm. If I were to guess, I would have said she has been here before. Every single person has at least some form of expression when they look over the ledge, but she doesn't.
I lead the group of initiates across the pit toward a gaping hole in the wall. The room beyond is the dining hall. It's noisy, full of people chatting, laughing, eating. When we emerge through the wall, the Dauntless stand. They applaud and stamp their feet. They welcome each new member.
Something catches my eye in the periphery of my vision, Rose beckons me to a corner table where we surely won't be heard. I'm not happy about the arrangement, I don't want anybody to think I'm giving her special treatment. It's what I was accused of last year. I haven't got a choice though, she has a message and I'm pretty sure one way or another she will tell me.
We sit down, an awkward silence between us. For a few moments I can hardly breathe, she looks that much like Tris. I clear my throat a couple of times, waiting for her to initiate conversation. When she doesn't, I say, "I don't want to hear the message. My Father's dead to me."
"Even if it's about Tris?" Her tone is so flat, she's so emotionless it's numbing.
"How do you know about Tris? What do you know?" I press.
"I know too much. I'm only here to pass on the message, then I'll be gone. He said 1293. That's all." She gets up to leave, walking out of the dining hall. People are already giving me dirty looks. I want to follow her, but something inside me stops me from moving. Something isn't right with her.
I get up from my seat, just in time to see her dangling from the railing to the chasm. I bolt full speed towards her and grab onto the first thing my hand touches. Luckily it was her wrist.
"I've got you. Don't worry, I've got you."
Authors Note: I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I can't wait to hear your thoughts!