Chapter 3

Kazana has lived factionless her entire life, having been found by the rebels who strive to live without the faction system she becomes their new secret weapon. The plan is clear, choose dauntless, pass initiation, infiltrate the system, but what can she do when a certain leader sees through her façade? AU No War, One year after Tris' initiation.

Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent; nor do I own the Dauntless Faction, anyone else have daydreams about training to be a dauntless warrior? No? Just me…?

1 year prior the jump

The question gnawed at Kazana's mind with great ferocity and her internal battle lasted but a few moments before she finally gave in to curiosity. "Who did it?" She'd meant for it to come out like a gentle murmur but the words sounded abrupt and careless to her ears. The blonde haired boy seemed to be pulled from his reverie as she watched him with wide unyielding eyes.

He scowled. "What makes you think it was a who?" Edward brushed his thumb habitually over the strip of gauze that hid his eye from her view.

"I changed your bandages when you arrived, that's not the sort of wound one gets from a slight slip on the chasm," she retorted.

The nerves that had plagued her before at asking such a personal question were quelled as his face relaxed and he quirked an eyebrow up at her.

"I'm surprised you know of the chasm, having never even set foot in a school before," he watched with amusement as she bristled at the comment.

"If you must know, I had been excelling during my initiation and it seems somebody just couldn't handle that kind of competition, one moment I had been sleeping peacefully in the dorms of our compound and the next I was bleeding profusely, trying to pull out a butter knife that had been wedged in to my eye socket."

Cold hearted cruelty was nothing new to Kazana; people would resort to anything when they were desperate. She could not fathom however, the hatred and jealousy it must have taken to make such a sinister decision.

"Who would do something like that?"

Present

She felt weightless, it probably had something to do with the fact she was hurtling through the air towards a giant net. She suspected however, that it had more to do with the distance that was currently being put between her and the man standing on the roof above.

That would be the last surprise of the day, she assured herself as she landed on the great mesh net below. Cain and Edward had told her every detail of what she was to expect in the months to come, they had described the dangerous transport with which the dauntless made their way across the city, the jump that she must embark upon to reach the net where she was to be pulled off by their transfer instructor Four.

"Name?" a bored voice asked her as she slid gracelessly off the net and on to the floor below, a couple of the dauntless borns coughed in an attempt to hide their laughs. "I'm…" Kazana stopped in her tracks as she stared at the young man before her, it wasn't Four. The leaders had been described to her in extensive detail; well all but one, she thought bitterly.

Where Four's eyes were blue, the ones that stared back at her were green, the boy didn't look much older than herself but he had managed to gain what little muscle he could on to a very lean frame.

"Is that a hard question?" Kazana noticed his tone was somewhat nasally.

"You can pick a new name but there's no going back, you stick with what you got."

A woman stood off to the side watching her impatiently, she had already written down the previous initiate names, most of which were unrecognizable to her other than Mia and Harry.

She turned to match the boy's stare with equal intensity.

"Kaz,"she announced, a small grin formed on her lips as she spoke the name that would complete her new identity.

He nodded and called to the woman writing names, "Last jumper, Kaz."

He turned back and sneered slightly as he gestured for her to join the others, "perhaps in Amity it was okay to keep everyone waiting whilst you prance around smelling the flowers, but things are different here in Dauntless, those who can't keep up get left behind."

Kaz cursed herself internally as she realized that she had fallen behind a little more than expected and in doing so she had drawn more attention to herself than desired.

"My name's Peter, and this here" he gestured to the woman by the board "is Lauren, I will be overseeing the training of the transfers whilst Lauren and Eric will take care of the Dauntless Borns." Sighing inwardly with relief, Kaz relished the fact Eric would not be a part of her own initiation process; she needed a clear head if the plan was to go smoothly.

The next hour seemed to pass in a blur as Peter led her and the fellow initiates through the compound, Kaz had to commend Cain on the mental map he had created for her.

Everything was just as he had described and navigating around alone would not be a problem. It did not go unnoticed by Kaz, the unwavering glare sent to her by the dauntless born whose trousers had so mysteriously fallen down.

A conflict she did not need, she just smiled sweetly in return and felt grateful the training was to be separate as she and the fellow transfers were led to their dorms.

Scandalized gasps could be heard from a number of the initiates as they realized the sleeping and bathroom area was unisex, Kazana had to fight a scoff at their displeasure, she'd never seen a room more welcoming, choosing one of the beds by the far wall on the right side of the dorms, she began to change out of her clothes as instructed.

The temptation to give in to her body's whims and curl up into the comfort of the mattress was incredibly strong. Kaz felt unease crawling in her stomach as she tried and failed to keep the black leggings from falling down her legs, the vest hung from her body like an ill-fitting dress and she started to panic as curious eyes followed her struggle.

A Candor girl who'd kept to herself since the ceremony made her way over to Kaz in her new clothes; her blond curls were pulled harshly from her head into a tight bun.

"Your clothes are falling off," she stated. Her face blank as she watched Kaz attempt to tuck her vest into her pants.

"Yes, I think she can see that Candor," Mia drawled sarcastically as she made her way to the two girls.

The Candor girl's face remained impassive as her eyes scanned Mia who was also clad in all black attire, a quick glance around confirmed that all transfers but Kaz had changed into their new clothes and were making their way out of the dorms and in to the dinner hall.

"The name's Lisa actually, that didn't come out the way I meant it to, my older sister transferred to Dauntless three years ago and could probably get you some clothes."

Lisa stood a couple inches taller than Kaz, her hazel eyes were flecked with green.

It was impressive really, that she could look so neutral, almost bored and yet offer such unwarranted kindness. Kaz had to maintain constant vigilance and keep those around her at an arm's length but she could not help think, as she followed the girl out of the dorms desperately hugging the clothes to her body, that this girl seemed like a friend worth keeping.

"Wait up would you!" Harry grumbled, attempting to tie his shoe lace and hop behind them at the same time. Mia simply snorted and dragged him along with them. Peter had instructed them to be in the dinner hall immediately after changing as their old clothes were to be burnt and the Dauntless leaders would be giving a speech.

Kaz couldn't eat dinner in her underwear however and had no choice but to make her way around the dining hall and deeper in to the compound, waving goodbye to Harry and Mia who kept a very Erudite viewpoint on punctuality.

Lisa didn't say a word as she led the way, the caves seemed to become narrower as they made their way up into a dimly lit area, a strange sound bounced off the walls and it took a few moments for Kaz to understand that it must be music.

Rail after rail of dark clothing lined the alcove, Lisa turned to her then,

"Wait here," she muttered before walking behind another wall and out of sight. On her return, she was joined by a girl with bubble-gum pink hair and a long chain that ran from her nose to her ear, her eyes which were an identical shade to Lisa's, had been lined with thick kohl eyeliner.

She bounded towards Kaz with a manner that was so opposing to Lisa's she had to question the relation.

"Has my sister made a friend already?" the girl squealed, she was about to open her mouth again when Lisa interrupted.

"Sophie, dinner started ten minutes ago and we don't have time for your squealing, do you have clothes that will fit her or not?"

Sophie looked Kaz up and down for a moment; a puzzled frown marred her delicate features.

"I believe we have some samples in the back, we never thought anyone in Dauntless would actually need them, even a ten year old w-" her words were cut off when Lisa elbowed Sophie sharply in the ribs, old habits die hard, Kaz thought amusedly as she watched the Ex-Candor sisters interact.

"So what do you think?" Sophie questioned, chewing her lip nervously in hope of a good response. Lisa had left to join the others after Kaz insisted that she not be late. Kaz knew she had no time to lose as the sound of clattering forks and laughter could be heard from the halls below, but for the first time in her life she was finding it hard to drag her eyes from the mirror.

Her raven black hair which she had struggled to keep in a messy ponytail a majority of the time, rippled in waves down to her lower back. Cain and Evelyn had requested that she cut it once she joint dauntless so as to avoid any injuries when training, or should any of her opponents see it as a weakness to be exploited. She believed that had to wait however as she gazed in wonder at its softness.

Meeting her almond shaped eyes in the mirror; she saw their darkness were a stark contrast against her pale white skin, they were onyx black. Standing there in clothes that felt like for the first time in her life, a second skin, she saw that where the pallor of her skin usually seemed sickly and transparent, it was like bone marble under the lights.

There was a hardness in her expression that she had fought to mask, to play the light hearted Amity girl everyone saw her to be.

"It's perfect, but I am afraid I intend to undergo some changes in my time here, is it possible to get some bigger sizes?"

She watched as Sophie bustled around fetching the necessary items and her stomach growled angrily, she had experienced earlier that day the sensation of true nourishment and she was desperate for more.

Checking that the halls were clear, Kaz sprinted full speed back to the dorms where she deposited the clothes. "Free of charge" Sophie had said as Kaz questioned the number of points, "Nobody else will want those clothes".

Her heart grew heavy as she made her way to the hall which was deadly silent; something she suspected was a unique occurrence. Creeping in through the arch, she knew the expanse of stairs that led to the tables below were very high and in her current situation, very conspicuous.

She leaned her head around the wall that hid her from view and gazed at the balcony opposite, three leaders stood there looking down to the people below.

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery," a woman's voice rang out, Tori, Kaz suspected as she saw the fierceness in her countenance; all eyes were on her as she spoke.

"In the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

The following words were lost to Kaz as her eyes drifted to a dark skinned man; his attention was not on the initiates but instead on Tori, a hint of resentment in his expression.

She directed her gaze finally to the man who stood furthest away from the two leaders; his steely eyes steadily scanned the hall below. Her hiding spot was secure as she watched on, but she could not help the discomfort that spread through her as he looked to the wall she was perched behind, she was certain his eyes lingered there for a few moments before moving on.

"WELCOME TO DAUNTLESS!" Tori roared, pulling Kaz from her worries as the words were echoed back to her, everyone's excited shouts bounced off the walls. She knew she had little time before the celebrations began and everyone would come flooding into the rest of the compound.

Darting through the halls and back to the dorms, Kaz's stomach hissed at her impatiently. Few initiates came back immediately, most of them wanted to take advantage of the chance to meet new people and explore, it was during this chaotic time that Kaz decided she would hunt for the kitchens, she didn't want to wait for breakfast and risk a weak start for her first day of training.

Passing Lisa on her way out she gave the girl a nod of appreciation and a warm smile before walking hastily down the stairs to the dining hall and through a small passageway that was sure to lead to the kitchens. Her suspicions were met with the smell of success, roasted meats and rich spices.

The ceiling was shallow but it was a spacious area with large stone fire ovens, utensils hung from above, ingredients were stored in jars that lined the walls. Kaz could not hide her surprise; she had expected something far more…industrial.

Platters of food covered every surface and Kaz felt herself unsure where to start, were initiates even allowed in the kitchens? She would have to make it quick and simple. Three burgers, five carrots and half a bread roll later Kaz decided that luck could only be on her side so long, she began to make her way out of the kitchens.

The candles that had lit the passageway to the dinner hall were now beginning to die away, but she was used to working in the dark. It came as a shock to her then, when a voice spoke from behind her.

"First night and she's already sneaking into places she shouldn't, do you have a death wish, Amity?" If she'd found Eric unnerving before, alone in the dark with him, armed with nothing but a carrot, made that experience seem leisurely.

Mumbling a few choice apologies and scurrying off in to the dark would have been the right thing to do, the Amity thing to do, but fatigue, hunger and stress did funny things to a person and she had kept quiet long enough that day.

"My name is Kaz and on the contrary, I have no wish to die just yet hence the late night trip," she punctuated the last remark with an exaggerated bite of her carrot, never taking her eyes off his.

A pierced eyebrow lifted on his shadowed face, the faint curl of his lips spoke of a slight amusement but it did not reach his acute gaze, she imagined he was trying to search her face for some sort of weakness but she just lifted her chin a little higher and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. She wouldn't let him intimidate her, she'd been made to feel like nothing her whole life, and he wouldn't make less of her.

"So it seems you do have a voice," what remnants of a smile that had graced his mouth were now gone. "Careful how you use it with me, Kaz. Don't forget, one wrong word and you'll be finding a new home with the factionless."

Eric's threat was spoken low, almost hushed but in the silence surrounding them now, she felt the words pull her from the foolish bravado she had been sporting.

"It-"

She cut herself off immediately, she had wanted to shrug nonchalantly and say it, wanted to watch his face morph into one of confusion as she uttered the words, "It could be worse."

Kazana was the first to break the stare as she glared down at the ground between them, there was not a great deal of it, she wondered if he was really that close or if her body was just more aware of him. She shouldn't have been surprised really; she had been trained to sense anything that could pose a serious threat to her.

Looking back up, she smiled sheepishly at him and twisted a lock of hair between her fingers. "You're absolutely right; please accept my apologies, Eric. I hope you will forgive me but I have a long training day ahead of me and it is essential that I get a full night's rest."

Had she been of any other faction, Eric would have had her out there and then on the grounds that she had mocked him but such nauseating displays were only to be expected from the Amity.

He stepped away then and free to go, Kaz made her way to move past him. Just as she began to get out of reach he grabbed her wrist, leaning in close to murmur "You can't hide behind walls forever Kaz." He dropped the wrist he was holding and took the carrot from her palm, taking a bite as he turned away and walked in the other direction.