Chapter two
*** Thank you all for your wonderful feedback. This is my first fanfict so I'm very excited about all of the Reponses that I've received. A special thanks to LO.. you are wise and I am thankful. ** Now to the good part.
Normally after the evening meal Shanna, Zeke, and I hang out at the pit near the chasm. On our way out of the dining hall, I remember I need to run back to my apartment. I have an outline of the training schedule that will start once the new initiates are here. I have to drop it off to Max and Erik so they can approve it.
"Hey guys, I'll catch up to you in like 15, I need to run back to my apartment." I say to them.
"Don't blame me if the beer is gone by the time you get there." Zeke says jokingly.
I run back to my apartment and grab the outline and head over to the office of where Max and Erik are. When I walk up, the door is slightly open and I can hear voices speaking.
"So there was a problem with one of the aptitude test?" Erik says.
"Yes there was, apparently it was one of the Abnegation, her test results had to be reported manually." A female voice says that I can't quite make out who she is.
"Well I know what I'm looking for." Erik responds sullenly.
I wait a few more minutes trying to see if I can hear anything else. I think they must be talking about trying to identify any Divergents. (These are people that don't fit into any one faction. Only people who are Divergent or are close to any Divergents know they exists.) That's always the first sign, something going wrong with the aptitude test. I'll have to be on my guard. I can't let them know about me.
I knock on the door pushing it open, "Hey Erik I have that outline you wanted!" I call into the room, this way they know I'm here and can't accuse me of listening in on something I should be.
"I see you finally show up. Let me see what you've come up with." Erik says.
"This will work." He says reading my outline. "I forgot to tell you one thing. I know you wanted to have final say over this but it's not going to happen. I'll be looking in on all of the initiates from time to time. "He informs me.
"No, that is not what I agreed to. " I remind him.
"Yes I know but I need to make sure they are what we want here, you and your bleeding heart will just let anyone pass through, and I can't have that." Erik says joyfully.
After over hearing Erik and whoever that woman was, I can't just back out now, so I have no other choice but to go along with this stupid crap.
"Fine." I say. With that I turn and leave the room heading for the beer that awaits me.
As I walk into the pit I see Shanna and Zeke near the chasm, they are looking out over the chasm with their backs towards me.
"Did you see the latest report from Erudite?" Zeke asks Shanna.
"Nope, what is Jeanine going on about now?" She asks.
I stop in my tracks to hear the latest crap that she is spreading.
Jeanine Matthews is the Erudite representative. They value knowledge above all else, and they thought ignorance was what caused the world's disarray. They pick their representative based on IQ. When the factions were first formed, it was decided that Abnegation would be our political leaders; it was thought at that time that selflessness of Abnegation wouldn't lead to corruption. Other factions are growing restless with no say in how our society is governed. Erudite feels they should run the government.
"She is saying that Marcus abused four and that's why he chose Dauntless instead of being a Stiff" Zeke informs Shanna.
"Has anyone told Four?" Shanna asks.
"I don't know I haven't yet." Zeke says.
At hearing this, my heart starts pounding in my ears so loud that I can't hear the river anymore. My mouth has gone dry and my throat feels like it's about to close up. I can feel the sweat pooling at the small of my back.
I can't stay here, I can't let them know just how true her report is, who would actually believe that a stiff would be filled with so much hate that he would abuse his only son.
I turn to leave without saying anything to my friends. Instead of heading to my apartment, I head to the gym to work out my anger on a punching bag. I hit again and again until my knuckles are bright red and I'm gasping for breath. I hate this, it has been two years since I've seen him, he shouldn't affect me like this.
After bruising my knuckles I head off to bed. I know that tomorrow is going to be busy. The transfers have no idea what they are in for.
When I wake in the morning I have breakfast and head off to the control room. I won't be needed until after the choosing ceremony. I'll be part of the welcoming committee for those that survive the first test and make it here alive.
When I enter the control room I feel like I'm home. Around the city there are many cameras, the camera feeds are sent back to the control room where I work. What is being recorded is displayed on a row of monitors.
I watch the monitor that has initiates enter the building where the ceremony is held. My eyes are drawn to those in Gray, the standard clothing for Abnegation; there are four this year, two girls and two boys. If I'm not mistaken one boy and one girl are the Priors their father works with mine. I've never met them, I wasn't allowed. Marcus kept me hidden and wouldn't have wanted everyone to know what he did to me. I bet he is livid with that "rumor" getting out. I wonder how many people will actually believe it.
The ceremony must be over. I notice the Dauntless heading for the train tracks on the monitors. I call Jeff to come relive me in the control room. Once he arrives I leave the control to get our welcoming party together and head for the net. Most of Dauntless initiation is going to be overcoming fears or working through them.
Their first test is getting on and off the train and if they can't do that, they don't belong here.
The second, however, is jumping off a building into the darkness where they have no idea what awaits them. Of course there is net that will catch them but they don't know that. They have to take the plunge, they have to learn to trust their new faction. If they can't … Good bye and good riddance.
Lauren and I wait on the platform for the first jumper. I wonder who it will be. I didn't stick around to see who our initiates are; I was just looking to see when they were left.
I hear the sound of the train and we all know it won't be long. All of sudden we hear a swoosh. I can't believe it, there was no screaming? Huh? I thought for sure the first jumper would scream.
I reach my hand out to help the girl who jumped first. She grabs a hold of my hand and then stumbles as she reaches the platform; I steady her just so she won't fall. She has shoulder length blond hair and is wearing a gray t-shirt. I can't believe it, another Abnegation transfer. That's almost unheard of, it was a scandal when I did it, I wonder what it will be like now. I bet this is the girl Erik and the mystery woman were talking about last night. I'll have to keep my eye on her. She's pretty so that won't be too hard of a job. Wait did I just think that? I have to stay focused, she can't afford for me to find her attractive.
"A Stiff, the first to jump, Unheard of! Lauren says with a smirk.
"There's a reason she left them Lauren," I say.
"What's your name?" I ask her.
"Um…" She starts sounding like she is unsure of what the answer should be. I wonder if she's trying to leave her old self behind.
"Think about it, you don't get to pick again," I say smiling. She really is quite pretty.
"Tris," she says with a confidence in her voice that doesn't match her face.
"Tris," Lauren repeats, "Make the announcement Four," she says to me.
"First jumper—Tris!" I shout.
Everyone cheers. Another person comes tumbling into the net. We hear her screams before she lands. Everyone cheers again. I lean forward and set my hand on Tris's back.
"Welcome to Dauntless." I say.