A/N- Here's chapter two, I hope you like it. Let me know if you want longer chapters, I think I can make it work.
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I grab a white bandage from the table and press it to the cut on my hand while walking to my new faction. I go to sit with Nicole and several Dauntless born pat me on the back and others make smart comments about two Amity transfers this year. When I reach Nicole I raise my eyebrows at her.
"Known all along huh?" I mock with a smile. She smacks my arm playfully, "What about you? I'm surprised." I just shrug my shoulders and we listen as the rest of the names are called.
When Johanna concludes the ceremony all the Dauntless born break into a run outside. Nicole grabs my hand and we join the crowd. As we near the train tracks the horn blows in the distance. As it nears Nicole realizes it's not stopping.
"Oh my God, they expect us to jump on this thing moving? We haven't even been taught how yet!" shouts Nicole over the noise.
"Don't worry," I say. "It's not as bad as it looks." I start jogging with the Dauntless born and jump into the first car. The first thing I notice is I almost bumped into someone standing by the door. The second, I am the only transfer in the car. The boy I almost ran into speaks up.
"Whoa Amity, you got guts jumping into our car. My name's Brent." Before I can respond another girl in the car talks.
"Yeah she's either got guts or she's stupid." I turn back to Brent and smile," I can't exactly be considered Amity now that I'm here can I? My names Bella." I never liked my full name, it's too long. I always preferred Bell or Anna, as Marie calls me. Bella sounds better though, stronger.
Brent smiles and leans against the door. "Feisty, I like this one," he announces, then he leans in to whisper, "Don't mind Liss, she's just jealous that you're cute." Then he turns and faces the door, watching the city pass by.
After about a ten minute train ride we near the Dauntless compound. Everyone stands and starts to gather at the door. I've never jumped onto a roof from the train before. The girl named Liss walks over and bumps her shoulder into mine.
"Nervous transfer?" she hissed.
"Not at all," I respond without looking and her and I jump landing on my feet safely on the roof. I turn just in time to see Liss ungracefully jump from the train landing on her butt. Brent offers her a hand and she slaps it away and stands, brushing herself off.
"Initiates, let's go!" shouts a man at the other side of the roof. A hand snatches my wrist and I see Nicole fixing her windblown hair. "Thanks for waiting for me, it meant a lot," she says sarcastically.
We all walk to the man who called us and as we get closer my eyes widen. It's the man from the train. His eyes catch mine and he smirks.
"My name's Eric, I'm one of your leaders," he says.
I rode on a train with a Dauntless leader?! He is so young! And I sort of disrespected him!
"Behind me is the members' entrance to our compound. If you don't have the courage to jump off, you don't belong here. Transfers, you're up first."
"Wait, you want us to jump off a ledge?" asks a girl from Erudite. I believe her name is Katelynn.
Eric just looks at his nails and replies bordely, "That's exactly what I want you to do, any volunteers?"
Mumbles pass through the crowd until Jake, my friend from Candor who I hadn't realized was here speaks up. "Is there a net at the bottom or something?"
"I guess you'll have to find out," Eric answered. Of course there's a net, if we all died jumping off the roof Dauntless wouldn't have any new members. I start walking to the front.
Eric's smirk returns when I step onto the ledge. All that is below is darkness. "Scared Amity?" he taunts. "Though I can't say I'm surprised to see you here."
"Is that so?" I say before turning to Brent. "If she doesn't jump soon," I say pointing to Nicole, "Throw her down." He smiles and gives me a thumbs up. Nicole is terrified of heights.
"Do I need to push you? Let's go Amity," Eric demands.
I smile sweetly, "No thanks, I'm good," I say stepping off the ledge.
I fall for about seven seconds. My braid hits me in the face and the wind stings. It's an amazing feeling. When I reach the bottom I bounce a few times in a net. I laugh and suddenly someone pulls the edge and I roll to it. A man with dark blue eyes and short brown hair helps me down. He looks about Eric's age, and they both can't be much older than me.
"An Amity? Haven't had one in a few years," says a woman with dark hair.
"What's your name?" asks the man. "Bella," I say. The dark haired woman requests that he makes the announcement and he turns to shout, "First jumper, Bella!" Cheers and claps are heard and Four ushers me to wait for the other initiates.
Suddenly a loud scream pierces the air and I immediately know it's Nicole. The other Dauntless members snicker and Nicole starts pacing once she's on solid ground.
"Hey Nicole, you can kiss that fear of heights goodbye right?" I call out. She sees me and she yells, "I cannot believe you! Why would you tell him to do that?!" I laugh, "Because we both know you wouldn't have jumped willingly."
Four looks at us awkwardly before saying, "Second Jumper… Nicole." After that Brent hits the net and joins us. He says he won't apologize to Nicole because it was funny. Which it was, just not to her.
About twenty minutes later all the initiates are gathered and Eric lands in the net. Four offers him a hand but he doesn't take it.
"You may still need help getting off the net Four, doesn't mean I do." Four laughs and slaps him on the back before addressing us.
"My name is Four, I'm sure you all know Eric, and that's Lauren," he says pointing to the dark haired woman. "We'll be your instructors."
"Dauntless born, go with Lauren. You obviously don't need a tour of the compound," says Eric.
Four and Eric lead us down a narrow tunnel. The lighting is dim between intervals. The walls are made of stone and the ceiling slops at an awkward angle.
"Most of the time I work in the control room, but for the next few weeks I'll be training you," says Four. We stop in front of a set of double doors and Eric turns to the group. There were quite a few Dauntless born, only ten of us transfers remain.
"We're about to go into the Pit, which you will someday learn to love. It's the center of life here at Dauntless," says Eric before he pushes open the doors.
"Pit" is the best word for it. Rock walls rise several stories above our heads. It's so big I can't see the other end. In the walls are places for food, clothing, and the one that sticks out the most, the tattoo shop. Narrow paths and steps connect them. There are no railings to prevent people from falling.
"If you follow me," says Four, "I'll show you the chasm." He waves us forward. Four is the most normal looking Dauntless I've seen so far. He has no piercings, which I feel if he did it would ruin his attractiveness. I didn't think he had a tattoo until I saw the top of one peeking out from the collar of his shirt.
The chasm, as it turns out, is a very scary thing. The floor drops at a sharp angle, a river lies at the bottom. On the left, the water is calm. To my right, it is white from crashing against rock.
"The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy!" shouts Four. "A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again. You've been warned."
That line of bravery is to my right. There is one rail guarding the edge of the bridge we stand on, it's to my left.
Lastly Eric takes us to the dorms where we'll be sleeping. When we enter there are groans of protest about co-ed living arrangements. They increase when we're shown the bathroom. I zone out a bit as Eric discusses ground rules and I vaguely hear something about rankings. I come to my senses right as Eric is about to leave. His eyes lock with mine.
"You chose us, now we have to choose you," he says as he pushes the door open and exits the room.
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A/N- There's chapter two :) I hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you think! Chapter three will be up in a few days. And I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors, I do my best.