After three days of Al haunting my sleep and my friends starting to worry I confided in Christina. Since she was my best friend and there the day things went down she reassured me I didn't kill Al. With Tobias staying up every night to make sure I slept he was starting to feel the effects as well.
"Four I am going to stay over Christinas tonight." I remarked
"No...you cant. What about your nightmares?" Tobias responded
"You need sleep. We have finals coming and a wedding to plan. I dont need my fiancee actually dieing from lack of sleep. Christina will stay up and will can stay with you so a) you can get sleep and b) if I do have a nightmare she can call."
Neither Christina or Will liked losing sleep but they knew it would help Tobias. Today we were showing the initiates the fence and hoping they finally understand why we train them as hard as we do. After lunch we all piled on the train and took that long journey to the fence.
"As Dauntless you fight to protect every life inside this fence without fail. We know its been quite out there for years but that can change at any moment. That is why we train you like we do...to teach you to never give up...and to also see who has what it takes. Today we are looking at a job all low ranking initiates end up in. It doesnt matter if your Dauntless born or a transfer. Esp since the day you jumped off the roof you all became Dauntess initiates. I dont care the reasons why the transfers left and I dont care the reasons why the Dauntless born came back. Before ANYONE says ANYTHING we lost a lot of good Dauntess born as well on choosing day Erudite,Abnegation, Candor, and Amity arent the only ones who lost people but again were all Dauntess now!" Four explained
All of us jumped and ran to the fence. Climbing the metal stairs I felt a sense of longing. Longing to be a fence guard and break free from the confines of Chicago. Were told there is no life beyond the fence but that cant be true there has to be something somewhere on this planet we call home.
"Whats out there?" Josh Asked
"Monsters..." Ashley chuckled
"Lets just say they built the fence for a reason." Four cut in as he turned and headed back down the stairs
Did he really believe that? If he did what did he mean by it? He said the same thing last year so did he always answer that question? Why did my heart long to find out? Why couldnt I just be happy in Dauntless? After all I had jobs i loved, great friends and the best fiancee I could ask for. Upon arriving back at Dauntless Max was waiting for us.
" Christina and uriah are already in my office. I need to speak to the four of you. Please follow me." He said
Once again we were in the elevator that headed to the Leaders offices and apartments. The only thing different was I was actually scared. Max couldnt know about our Divergence right...otherwise why would Christina be there. We stepped off the elevator and into the office where Four and I not only saw Christina and Uriah but Eric and Jeanine as well. I tried to keep calm as I knew they both could read every part of my face.
" Im sorry to keep these two a secret but I did want to keep the questions at a minimal." Said Max
" Your all probably wondering why your hear much less my presence here as well," started Jeanine, "first things first...Eric tells me you two are engaged. Well looks like a congratulation's is in order. Now down to business...as you all know Divergents threaten our way of life. Your faction is the only faction that can truly find them. True, Candor has the truth serum but some have been known to sneak by that. Max and Eric have aready given me permission to join tomorrow for the final exams but I didnt think it would be right without telling their instructors." Jeanine finished
All of us looked around the room and knew we were out numbered. I have never told Christina about me but I knew she had her suspicions. Four, Myself and Uriah of course all knew. Suddenly I found myself getting worried for Josh and Ashley. We all nodded in agreement and Jeanine smiled.
"Good. Thank you so much with your help in this matter." She said as she got up to leave with Max and Eric
"We..."
"Not here..." Four cut in before I could finish, "too many eyes and hears." He then finished in a softer tone then the first
Christina then started laughing and punched Uriah as she ran out of the door. Understanding what she was doing we all followed suite. Dauntless were carefree and fun we knew if the cameras saw us sitting and talking too long it would become suspicious. Four and I saw Ashley and Josh coming back from the mess hall and grabbed them dragging them behind us laughing to the tracks. All of us jumped on out of breath...it was about 2 pm now according to where the sun was in the sky. I wasnt fit for Erudite, though my test said otherwise, I just really loved Science.
"So whats..."
"Nope...Still not here..." Four again cut Josh off
We rode the train to the pier and jumped. Walking down the boardwalk all I could do was smile. The four of us joking and laughing. Tobias didnt like it but he knew the only "safe" place was the ferris wheel. We climbed to the platform and scrunched together.
"So...the big day approaches and you two are ready only Jeanine will be there. That means she knows something is up and you two need to be extra cautious. Shes actively looking for Divergents." Said four
" So how do they expect us o get around her? After all shes Erudite! Its not like we can use our charity skills!" Josh replied a tad flustered and nervous.
"Just get through it like a Dauntless would but make sure you do it fast." I remarked
"To slow and we die but if were too good we die anyway..." Ashley sighed
"Ash Im not going to let anything happen to you I promise." Smiled Josh
" How can you say that!? Your not allowed in there with me! Not even Four and B can protect me!" Ashley was about in tears
"You will be fine. I felt the same way. I awoke and saw Four and all he did was smile...Four and I will be there for you and Josh will be waiting back a the dorms." I explained
The ride back was a somber one. I didnt want to part ways with Four but I knew it was for the best. I hadnt had a sleepover with Christina since we both were forced to stay in the dorms. The boys had their gaming systems thanks to Erudite and Christina and I enjoyed TV from the past...at least we assumed it was from the past. I couldnt help but think back to the fence...We cant be alone can we?
- THE NEXT DAY-
We all assembled in the room high above the pit. A room one comes to know as "the fear landscape room". Matt was up first and I couldnt help but smile at his embarrassment. He got out in 20 min. Next was Bucky...it took him an hour. By lunch time the only ones left were Ashley, Josh, Jenn, and Mark. I was exhausted and Tobias headed back to his apartment to keep an eye on me for an hour as we took a break. Heading back to the room I found myself getting nervous. Josh was up first. His fears were being burned alive where he freed his hands by burning the rope that bound them; Abandonment where he thought of Ashley and all of his new friends ; pubic speaking where he thought of the audience naked; fighting where he let himself get beaten by a faceless foe; deciding his fate where he thought of the good times in dauntless; Drowning where he found a bowie and held on for dear life; finally spiders where he took that fear of flames and used it agains another fear. He was out in 15 min. Jenn had about 15 fears and took the longest with an hour and a half. Ashley was last and she knew she would have a challenge as everyone was getting tired. Ashleys first fear was being kidnapped while in the back of the van she found a bobbie pin and picked her way out; second was being in pain as she was tortured she said...I dont fear you...I pity your, for its you that will never know friendship or love which is when the scene changed to everyone she has ever known or loved disappearing to combat this she remembered Josh and all the joyous times they shared to which she found herself outside the fence and she started to bang on the door with bloody knuckles she realized no one was letting her inside she sighed turned around and took that first step into the unknown when she awoke back in Dauntless to the cheers of her new faction members and hear beating heart. Both Four and I smiled and headed out nodding to her as we walked by to the mess hall. Most of Dauntless were already drunk though they use every occasion to drink.
"Eight weeks ago 15 initiates decided to try and join our ranks. It gives me great pleasure to announce 10 of those hopefuls made it...and here are your final ranks." Max said as the board it up behind him.
1)Josh
2)Matt
3)Smith
4)Ashley
5)Bucky
6)Elle
7)Amora
8)Jenn
9)Mike
10)Mark
Mike, Mark, and Jenn all would be fence guards the rest would choose tomorrow morning. Ashley ran to Four and I and threw her arms around us. Josh shook our hands and we both laughed. The rest of the night was parties and fun. For the first time in weeks I slept dreamless again.