Chapter Two
The bus ride to school was quiet and lonely. Being a social pariah doesn't earn you many friends, especially in Erudite. Callidus walked briskly off the bus her hands gripping onto the strap of her bag. Her face stung when the cold, morning air drifted against it as she jumped onto the bus. All she could think about was her Mother's hand colliding with her face when she refused to comply with her demands. School passed in a blur, comments and strange looks being thrown Callidus' way because of how she looked. People are used to seeing her defying the Erudite norm. Last lesson; Faction History, Callidus could feel people's stares penetrating her sides and back. Taking deep breaths she kept her head down and got on with her work.
Tomorrow is the Aptitude test, those were the words running through her head all day. The words that got her through the day, through the sniggers and stares and whispers. When she got home her Mother was cooking dinner and her father sat at the table on his laptop.
"Hello." Callidus mumbled quietly. Michael, her father, looked up and smiled.
"Callidus my dear how was your day?"
She walked over to him and said, "Good, thank you. Yourself?" Before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Good thank you." His eyes drifted over her face.
"Callidus Marie Winters have you got into another fight?" He questioned standing up looking at the faint bruise and scratches on her face that his wife had caused. Mary stopped cooking and glared at her daughter, warning her not to tell Michael what happened.
"No a girl hit me but I walked away. I didn't retaliate." Callidus said with a small smile. Michael's face softened.
"Well done." She nodded and excused herself before walking back up to her room. Callidus collapsed on her bed, I can't wait to get out of this hell hole, she thought. Her eyes slowly closed as her exhaustion took over her.
"Hello?" A voice called from downstairs. It sounded like Xavier's; her brother, her eyes snapped open. Callidus sat up as she heard his feet thundering up the stairs. Do I tell him? She wondered, they used to be so close but after he left home he changed.
"Calli." He whispered walking into the room.
"Yes?" She replied smoothing down her hair. Xavier flashed Callidus the brilliant smile that he charmed their parents with.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yes thanks you?" He nodded and sat down next to her his eyes glancing over her room.
"I'm good thank you Dad told me about today." Xavier said his eyes finally landing on her face. Callidus let out a long sigh and rested her head on her brother's shoulder.
"I lied."
"What do you mean did you retaliate?" She shook her head and ran her hands over her arms; attempting to calm her nervousness.
"I didn't get the bruise and scratches from a fight. They're from... Well they're from-um- Mom." Callidus stuttered. Xavier rested his hands on her shoulders and made him face her.
"What do you mean Mom did it?"
"She hit me this morning because I didn't want to wear these clothes." She whispered looking at her hands.
"Don't make things up. It's not funny Calli." Xavier replied gripping her shoulder tighter. Tears started to brim in Callidus' eyes.
"I'm not! Look at the cuts they're nail marks, Mom's nail marks!" She whispered anger lacing her voice. Xavier's jaw clenched as he looked at her cheek, at the nail marks.
"I know you and Mom don't get along but this is ridiculous! Anyone could have made those marks. Stop lying Calli." He growled standing up and storming out of the room.
Once Callidus' door shut and Xavier's footsteps stopped echoing up into her room, Callidus grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. I know I shouldn't have told him! Why did I think he'd believe me? Her mind screamed as she pounded her mattress.
"Dinner's ready!" Xavier called up the stairs. Callidus let out a long sigh and attempted to control the anger bubbling and pulsing through her veins. Once she managed to calm herself down Callidus straightened her hair, dried her eyes and walked downstairs. Everyone was sat around the table; Michael, Mary, Xavier and his wife Cecilia. Four heads snapped towards Callidus as her feet hit the polished wooden floor. She flashed a false smile; the cut on her lip stretching slightly. She sat in her seat opposite her brother and Cecilia before digging into her food; chicken in orange sauce with potatoes. Cecilia is beautiful; her long, loosely curled, black hair, pale unblemished skin, sparkling, light green eyes and deep red lips.
"Hello Callidus lovely to see you again" She said politely. Calli responded with a perfect smile and nodded in response.
After dinner Callidus excused herself as all the adults were talking about politics and factions; she couldn't handle it. Rushing upstairs she collapsed on her bed once more before taking off her glasses and flopping her arm over her face. As Callidus chewed on her bottom lip she thought about the Aptitude test tomorrow. What if I don't get the result I want? What if I don't get Dauntless? Shaking her head, she sat up in her bed and took the pins out of her hair. Her flaming red hair tumbled down her shoulders once more, deciding on taking a bath she jumped out of bed and ambled into her bathroom. Callidus started to run the bath and sat on the edge. Steam started to fill the room, dampening Callidus' hair and skin as she took off her clothes.
Sinking into the bath she let out a long pleasurable sigh as the water enveloped her. Tilting her head back Callidus lathered her body with apple soap. Once Callidus had finished washing she stayed in the bath for a bit just to relax and think over things. The Aptitude Test, chewing her bottom lip Callidus wracked her brain trying to remember snippets of information that her Mother and Father had said about it. Her only recollection is that it's very real. Being in Erudite and having parents that are high up in the Government meant that Callidus knew quite a bit about the simulation and how it worked. As much as she hated being an Erudite that didn't stop her from being clever, although she wouldn't say she wasn't clever more that she was curious.
As the water started to cool Callidus decided it was time to get out and go to bed. After drying herself and changing into her pyjamas, Callidus curled into her bed dreaming dreams of another life.
Callidus woke up on her own accord for the first time in a while. Deciding that she didn't want a repeat of yesterday Callidus changed into a blue jumper dress that had a white shirt collar and cuff details and black flats. Callidus walked into her bathroom and looked over her injuries. Her lip was almost healed, all the bruises were close to fading and the scratches were barely noticeable now. Pulling a brush through her hair she winced as it caught the knots. Callidus' eyebrows furrowed as she looked over her hair, she hated having it down, pulling it to the side she plaited it and let it fall over her shoulder. Sighing, Callidus put on her glasses and walked out of her room, down the stairs. Footsteps could be heard from the kitchen, judging by the sound they were Mary's, the sound of formal shoes-heels- hitting the wooden floor.
"Good morning Mother." She said politely and walked over to the table and grabbed an apple. Mary turned and smiled at her, running her hands down her ocean blue dress.
"Good morning." She said and smiled. Callidus returned the smile and took a bite of the bright green apple.
"Are you nervous about today?" Her mother asked as she finished putting away the dishes from her's and Michael's breakfast.
"A little." Callidus said after swallowing a chunk of apple. Callidus thought about the dream she had last night; the Aptitude test. She thought about how her mind had thought up what seemed the worst case scenario, the test was a simulation that put you under very real life threatening situations that were excruciatingly painful.
"Were you?" She asked her Mother cautiously.
Mary looked at her thoughtfully, "No. I knew that I belonged in Erudite, I grew up here and I belonged so I had no worry that the test would tell me just that." Callidus nodded her head and carried on eating the apple.
"You're up early." Mary continued.
"I'm going to walk to school today, maybe it'll calm my nerves." Mary nodded. Callidus stood up and swung her black, leather satchel over her shoulder.
"See you this evening." She muttered as she strode towards the door.
"Would you like picking up after the test?" Mary called.
Callidus turned back to her Mother, "No I think I'll walk, to you know clear my head." Mary nodded and Callidus rushed out of the house, glad to get out of the suffocating atmosphere. She gripped onto the leather strap of her bag and walked briskly through city. Her bright eyes looked around the skyline taking in the distorted beauty of the city that surrounded her. Crumpled ruins showed in the distance and glass and metal reflected the light into her eyes as she looked at the pristine buildings close to her. The sound of the train pumping along the tracks above her head filled her eardrums as she neared school.
Callidus looked up at the metal sculpture in front of her as some other students started to arrive. A few Amity walked past her giggling to each other. Their happiness was contagious and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Again she walked forward and made her way through the crowded corridors, soon enough she stopped in front of her Science class. The whole lesson she couldn't focus, her fingers were drumming on the table, she snapped her fingernails against each other and re-did her hair six times, much to the annoyance of the Abnegation next to her.
"Right class now it is time to make your way to the cafeteria to wait for your Aptitude test." Her teacher said and they all shuffled around not uttering a word; too nervous to say anything. The class made their way into the cafeteria where they all separated into faction groups at tables. A flood of blue sat at a table in the middle of the room. Calli's eyes flickered around the room and she focussed on a table that wasn't so full of Erudite. She walked over keeping her head down and sat at the edge of the table. Looking down at her lap Callidus played with her fingers and kept her eyes fixed on her lap. Having the last name Winters is a pain at this particular time because it's in alphabetical order so she's one of the last. In her peripheral vision Callidus saw a boy with slicked back, black hair and blue eyes sit opposite her. Her eyes flickered up to him and she smiled, he smiled back and continued to stare at her.
"I'm Callidus." she said breaking the silence between them. He smirked and ran a hand through his hair, "I know who you are, everyone knows who you are." Callidus looked speechless and blinked repeatedly.
"And I'm Raymond by the way. But call me Ray."
"Nice to meet you Raymond but please call me Ray, what do you mean that everyone knows who I am?"
"Well you are the only Erudite that gets into fights frequently and your family are in the government so there's that." He said confidently. Callidus sighed and ran a hand through her hair and her eyebrows furrowed at the mention of her family.
"Touchy subject, family?"
"Something like that." She mumbled and undid her braid and shake out her hair. Calli's eyes flickered over his face and she chewed her bottom lip.
"Are you worried about the test?" He shook his head and sat back confidently.
"I know where I belong, how about you?"
"No, I am not worried. I won't be staying here any longer than necessary." Callidus said quickly before realising what she said. His eyes widened and eyebrows raised, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully and surveyed her with his eyes.
"Dauntless." He said simply not breaking his stare with a knowing look in his eyes. Callidus narrowed her eyes, "What gave it away?"
"Your face and your reputation." Ray replied with a chuckle. She sighed , ruffled her hair and rested her head on her hand.
"I should've guessed." Ray drummed his fingers on the table and looked around the room.
"Strange isn't it?" He said, his tone of voice making it sound as though he was speaking to himself. "What is?" Calli asked.
"That everyone seems so close now but after the Choosing Ceremony they may never speak to each other again."
"Faction before blood always, right?" Calli mumbled resting her hands under her chin as she looked at Ray.
A chuckled left his mouth and he looked up at her, "That's the way of the world we live in."
"Indeed it is." She breathed and ran a hand through her hair. Callidus sat back and surveyed Ray carefully, "You're the same, the same as me."
"What?"
"Dauntless." She mumbled and pulled her hair up into a high ponytail.
Ray chuckled and rubbed his chin, "And how did you figure that out?" He asked leaning forward and rested his arms on the table.
"The way you looked when you said I was Dauntless, you smirked in a knowing way, and being a social pariah does have its perks." Callidus said smirking as she leaned forward staring at him. Ray motioned for her to carry on.
"I've seen you around, you watch the Dauntless a lot." A small blush crept its way up Ray's neck, "Didn't think anyone played that much attention to me."
"I pay attention to everyone." He chuckled and sat back looking at Callidus thoughtfully before smiling brightly.
"Well Callidus I sure do hope we end up in the same place, I wouldn't mind getting to know you better." Callidus blushed looked down playing with her nails.
"The feeling's mutual." The two smiled at each other and both decided that in that moment they'd both made a good friend, something neither had before. Suddenly, a list of names was read off through a booming speaker.
"Well I guess this is me." Ray said pushing himself up. Callidus gave him a small smile and looked up at him, "See you around Ray." She said smiling. He nodded and walked off with the other people going to the Aptitude test.
Callidus sat still, waiting impatiently tapping her foot on the floor, what if I don't get dauntless? She sat waiting, for what seemed like an age, the number of people around her slowly decreasing. Her nervousness increased dramatically as she waited for her name to be called. The edges of her nails had slowly become rougher and jagged; biting her nails is a bad habit.
"Callidus Winters." A stern voice announced as well as a few other names. Her hands rested flat on the table and she pushed herself up, she followed the nine others as they lined up. Once the door opened she was lead into a room with mirrors for walls, in the centre was a chair, next to it was an Abnegation lady and a table.
"Please sit." She said in a calm voice. Callidus sat in the chair as the lady attached electrodes to her head and hands her a small glass.
"Drink." Tipping the glass, the liquid poured into Calli's mouth and she swallowed. Relaxing she felt her eyelids flutter close and her consciousness slip away.
"Choose." Jeanine's voice echoed through the room as Callidus woke up, now in the simulation. Her blue eyes flickered around the room and landed on two tables, one had some cheese and one had a knife. She reached forward and grabbed the knife, suddenly a deep growling noise comes from behind her. Turning quickly she is faced with a dog, baring its teeth as drool dripped from them, it charged. Callidus glanced down at the knife and made a quick decision, kneeling down she waited as the dog lunged at her she plunged the knife into it.
There was a noise of panting and whimpering and she felt a paw tapping at her leg. The knife was gone and the dog was now a puppy, keening for her attention. A small smile spread across her face and she rubbed the puppy underneath his chin. Footsteps sounded behind her, snapping her head around she saw a little girl wearing a blue sundress. Out of the blue the growling started again, Callidus looked between the dog and the girl, the dog started running as did the girl. Callidus ran her feet pounded against the floor, she neared the dog as it snapped at the girl, with one jump the dog was knocked over and Callidus sank through the floor with it.
Opening her eyes Calli was on a bus. In front of her stood a man with a newspaper, whose hands were badly scarred from burns, on the front there was a picture of a man seemingly normal looking but familiar.
"Do you know him? He's responsible for this." Callidus jumped and looked up at the man, the newspaper still covering his face, the overwhelming sense of doom flooded Calli.
"No." The newspaper is moved and his face is revealed: covered in scars similar to those on his hands.
"He did this to me. You must know him, you're lying!" The man got angry and grabbed Calli's shoulder shaking it violently. Still overwhelmed with dread, she shoved the man hard and he stumbled backwards. Adrenaline pumped through her and Calli saw the doors of the bus open, she lunged forward out into the air.
Taking a deep breath Callidus jumped up and looked around, her heartbeat thumping against her chest and her breath shallow and quick. Turning she faced the women who removed the electrodes from her face then glanced at the screen. When she faced Callidus she said one word.
"Dauntless."