Alright. Usually I would start off with a huge paragraph that tells you guys why I haven't updated in so long and blah, blah, blah. Well, all you need to know is that I had exams, then I had a fever which dragged on for days, and then my stupid internet refused to work. Trust me, I almost pulled out my hair in frustration. And I NEVER pull out my hair. :O

Anyway, on with the story.
A big thank you to all those who have followed this story or/and added it to their favourites. Thanks a lot, guys! :D
Right, the story. xD

Chapter 5: Choosing Day

I stare at the Candor men in the front of the bus, wondering what it would be like to smoke.

The faint, hard scent of cigarettes reaches my nose, and I scowl. Not worth losing lungs over.

The Abnegation don't smoke.
"It's a vanity." They'll say. "Vanity is never the path of the Abnegation."

I roll my eyes at the thought, wondering if I'd be saying that one day, if I picked Abnegation.
God, I'd sound like a grandma!

Smirking, I look out as our destination arrives.

Like Rose Hathaway could ever be mistaken for a grandma.

The Hub looms over me as I walk towards it.

It's the tallest building in the city.
So tall, that part of it disappears into the clouds.

I clutch Eddie's arm to steady myself as we climb the stairs. Ugh, I hate stairs.
And then, my father gives our spot in the crowded elevator to a group of Amity, leaving us to take the stairs.
Again.
Twenty flights of stairs.

My family and I wordlessly walk up the stairs, setting an example for other Abnegation, and soon the stairs are a mass of grey moving up uniformly.
After a dozen flights, I am exhausted, and my sore legs are begging me to sit down. Eddie notices this, and loops an arm around my waist, silently giving me support.
I smile at him gratefully, continuing the painful climb.

The Choosing Ceremony is held in a large room, arranged in concentric circles.

On the edges stand the sixteen-year-olds of every faction. We are not called members yet, we have to pass initiation for that.
We arrange ourselves in alphabetical order, according to our last names.
Even though I went by Hathaway, my family name was Mazur, so I was stuck in between Eddie and Julia Lazar, a tiny Amity with the longest lashes I had ever seen, and who seemed to find Eddie extremely interesting.
Or, if you interpreted the staring in a different way, extremely disturbing.

Rows of chairs for the families make up the next circle. Even the chairs are divided into five sections, one for each faction.
Most people from every action attend, and the crowd in the hall is huge.
The responsibility of conducting the ceremony rotates from faction to faction each year, and ironically enough, it is Abnegation's turn this year.
Alexander will give the opening address, and call the names in reverse alphabetical order.
I sigh in relief. Eddie will get to choose before me.

The last circle contains five huge metal bowls, each containing a symbol of each faction.
Grey stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, burning coals for Dauntless, earth for Amity and glass for Candor.

I envision myself walking up to the bowls, choosing my faction.
Abnegation. Dauntless. Erudite.

My parents come up to us before the ceremony.
Father gives us proud smiles, kisses my forehead and clasps Eddie's shoulder.
"I'll see you soon." He says, the smile unwavering.

Wow, does he have a lot of faith.

My mother smiles at Eddie, fondly patting his head, and turns to me. She bends down, her mouth in level with my ear.
"No matter what, Rose, I'll always love you."

And with those confusing words, she's gone, pulling my father with her.

My eyes widen of their own accord as I realise it. She knows.
She knows I'm leaving them.

Eddie grips my hand tightly, and gives me a strained smile. I don't pull back, needing the support.

Alexander walks to a podium set up between Erudite and Dauntless, and taps on the mic softly, catching everybody's attention.
"Welcome," he gives a short smile. "Welcome to the Choosing Ceremony. Welcome to the day we honor the democratic philosophy of our ancestors, which tells us that every man has the right to choose his own way in this world."

Own way? There is nothing to choose and call our own when the choices are predetermined. I resist the urge to snap back, focusing instead, on the lights and their blue glow.

"Our dependents are now sixteen. They stand on the precipice of adulthood, and it is now up to them to decide what kind of people they will be." Alexander gives a solemn pause, and eyes us all silently. "Decades ago our ancestors realised that it was not political ideology, religious belief, race or nationalism that is to blame for a warring world. Rather, they determined that it was the fault of human personality- of humankind's inclination towards evil, in whatever form that is. They divided into factions that sought to eradicate those qualities they believed responsible for the world's disarray."

I look at the bowls in the center of the room.
What do I believe? What do I choose?

"Those who blamed aggression formed Amity."
The Amity exchange smiles. They are dressed comfortably in red and yellow, and always seem kind, loving, free.
But I am not part of them.
I cannot choose them.
"Those who blamed ignorance became the Erudite."
I stared at all the cool, calculating Erudite, and almost immediately, I knew I didn't want to join that faction.
"Those who blamed duplicity created Candor."
I have never liked Candor. I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at those smug bastards.
"Those who blamed selfishness made Abnegation."
I do blame selfishness. I really do.
"And those who blamed cowardice were the Dauntless."

But I am not selfless enough, I realise. Sixteen years of trying, and I'm not enough.
I don't fit in.

"Working together, these five factions have lived in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of Society. Abnegation has fulfilled our selfless leaders in government, Candor has provided us with trustworthy and sound leaders in law, Erudite has supplied us with intelligent teachers and researchers, Amity has given us understanding counselors and caretakers, and Dauntless provide us protection from threats both within and without. But the reach of each faction is not limited to these areas. We give one another far more than can be adequately summarized. In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life."

I'm suddenly reminded of the motto ingrained in us: Faction before blood.
More than family, our factions are where we belong.
They are what matter.

At that very moment, Alexander adds, "Apart from them, we would not survive."

A heavy, deafening silence follows.
It is heavy with our worst fear- being Factionless.

Alexander continues, "Therefore this day marks a happy occasion- the day on which we receive our new initiates, who will work with us towards a better society and a better world."

The room bursts into a round of methodized applause.

I stand stiff, (hey, that's a pun!) knowing that I won't shake that way.
Alexander is reading names, and suddenly I'm worried, because everything is muffled. How will I know if he calls my name?
One by one, sixteen-year-olds step out of line and walk to the middle of the room. The first girl to choose decides on Candor, the same faction from which she came. Her blood falls on the glass and she stands behind their seats alone.

The room is constantly moving.
A new person choosing, a new knife, a new choice.

"Lee Szelsky." Alexander says.
Lee Szelsky of the Dauntless is the first person to stumble on his way to the bowls. He regains his balance, turns red, and quickly walks to the middle of the room. Alexander hands him the knife, and Lee looks between the Dauntless and Candor bowls. He takes a deep breath, slashes his palm, and holds out his hand.
The blood drips onto glass.

He is the first faction transfer, and a low murmur goes through the Dauntless. He is a traitor to them now.

"Eddie Mazur."
Eddie's hand tightens around mine, and then lets go. He walks towards the bowls, looking back at me one last time. I watch him take the knife from Alexander, and his hands are sure as he cuts through his palm. The blood pools on it, and for a moment, Eddie is still.
Then he breathes deeply, holding his hand out.
Blood drips into the Erudite bowl, turning the reddish water a darker shade.

Mutters fill the room, slowly turning into outraged cries. No one can believe that Eddie, whom everyone thought was born for Abnegation, chose Erudite!
I close my eyes, and I see it now, the stack of books on his table, his hands shaking after the Aptitude test, his words to me. Faction before Family.
The Abnegation glare at the Erudite, who are wearing smug smiles, and the whispers become louder, turning into shouts.

"Quiet." Alexander says.
"QUIET!"
The room goes silent.

"Rose Mazur."

I manage to push myself forward, a ringing in my ears. The ringing grows louder as I stand in front of the bowls.
Alexander hands me the knife, and I look into his eyes. A soft chocolate brown, a warm colour, and take it.
I look back at Eddie, standing behind the Erudite. If Eddie wasn't right for Abnegation, then how do I stand a chance? But I have no choice.
My jaw clenches, and I run the knife along my palm, relaxing at the pain.

Dauntless fire and Abnegation stones are both towards my left, one behind and one in front of my shoulder.
I close my eyes. Deep breath.

My hand shoots out, lingering between the two bowls.
I gasp, as my hand shifts.

Blood sizzles onto the coals.

I am selfish.

I am brave.

And there's another chapter! I'll try to update tomorrow, but please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! :)