Chapter 3: Warnings

I watch as the rest of the 16-year olds choose their factions, holding my head high. Lucy looks at me when she stands up there, then jerks her hand sideways and watches her blood fall on the earth of Amity with an almost horrified fascination. I see the other factions leave, hear the Erudite's whispered comments about me as they pass but I work with another Abnegation girl, helping her to stack chairs. A quick glance around the room tells me everything-I am the only faction transfer. The Abnegation girl smiles cautiously at me. "Hello, Layla' she says. Well, I bet that everyone can remember my name now. 'Welcome to Abnegation.' A man, his dark eyes burning with an unusual anger, looks at me. 'Both my children transferred' he says bitterly. 'But, if you would like to stay with us, that's fine.' I smile gratefully at him, the man who was to become my adopted father. 'Thank you.' I say, looking around at the uniformity of these people. These people, who are now more important to my immediate survival than my parents ever were.

Dinner that night is plain- brown bread, chicken and peas. I haven't changed from my Erudite gear, even though the grey robes I am supposed to wear now sit in a pile on my bed. The USB that has everything I need to tell them feels like it is burning through my skin, begging me to yank it off and throw it far, far away. The man-my adopted father- observes me through the whole meal. I can feel his intense stare on me even though I avoid his eyes. 'Thankyou- the dinner was delicious.' The words drop out of my mouth instantly and now the woman- my mother- looks up. 'It's fine, dear.' Her voice is so gentle and kind. How could I possibly be this good? ''I expect you are feeling tired after today, so go get a good night's rest.' It sounds like a suggestion, but it is an order. I want to obey, but to do so would mean to hide the truth about the danger they-we- are in. 'There's something I have to show you.' I say, reaching for the USB around my neck. I keep my eyes away from theirs, trying how to say this best. In the end I decide to tell the truth. 'Yesterday… the aptitude test was a sort of simulation. I was interested in how it worked so I did some research. There is something called a simulation serum and I think that the Erudite are planning to control the Dauntless with it.' I uncurl my fist and show them the USB, the silver casing catching the light and reflecting it at odd angles. "The data… it's all on here. I downloaded it yesterday evening.' Finally, I force myself to look at them. The woman- my mother- I have to tell myself looks at me with determination in her eyes. She turns to her husband. 'Go get Marcus' she says and then turns back to me. 'let's go find out what Erudite are planning.'

We are standing in some kind of meeting hall, behind the single computer in the area. I can't see a book anywhere. Probably considered to be self indulgent or something. It's well past midnight again and my parents have been sitting with Marcus, reading the documents with increasingly worried looks on their faces. Finally, they sit back and watch each other. Marcus is the one who speaks first. 'This is all very serious, but there is one flaw in the Erudite's plans' he says, his voice sounding unnaturally loud in the confined space. 'How are they going to convince the Dauntless to take the serum? The Dauntless may not be the cleverest, but they wouldn't be that easy to fool.' I have to admit, I agree- No one trusts the Erudite wholeheartedly. The Dauntless would be suspicious of anything the Erudite gave them. Then my mother speaks. 'The Dauntless initiation is divided into three stages.' Her voice is so much softer than Marcus', I strain to hear her. 'The first, fighting skills. The second and third both involve simulations that put the initiates against their worst fears. The Erudite could easily get the initiates that way, but I don't see how the rest of the faction can be given the serum.' We will need to find out how this simulation serum is progressing. I believe if I visit Caleb on Visiting Day he can tell us all we need to know.' Of course! One of their real children transferred to Erudite. The other to Dauntless. We have spies in all the right places. I know that Marcus is thinking the same thing. 'Get some sleep' my father instructs me. 'We will work on a strategy once we have more information.' I exit the room feeling lighter than air. The Abnegation will not be slaughtered. Some of us will escape the Erudite.