A/N- I'm sorry I haven't uploaded in a while, working on three stories is a lot of work and my ideas get mixed up and all that good stuff. I had this chapter 50% written and then I decided I hate it so I ripped it out of my notebook. I hope you like Eric's POV in this chapter, if you do let me know and I'll do one every few chapters. Enjoy :)

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Eric's POV- Night before the choosing ceremony

Today was a long day. Tomorrow is the choosing ceremony and I have to oversee Four and the initiation process. I offered great ideas on how to improve Dauntless initiation, I didn't want to deal with the initiates though.

It's late, around two a.m. I have been very busy lately since Max offered me the leadership position. At first the work was just long hours of paperwork regarding the faction. Now I manage the fence rotations and factionless patrols.

I walk the stairs up to the roof; I should be able to catch the next train. I can't wait to see the look on the initiate's faces when they realize what they have to do to enter the compound. Initiation should be interesting this year. I personally would've preferred to work with the Dauntless born during stage one, since they know what they're doing.

I hear the train's horn in the distance when I reach the roof. I made it just in time. I start running along the edge and prepare myself for the jump. What I wasn't prepared for was another person on the train. Dauntless members know the curfew.

After I regain my balance I turn around, ready to lecture whoever was out of the compound this late but my mouth snaps shut. It's a girl. A girl wearing yellow.

"I think you're a little lost, Amity. What are you doing here?" I ask looking into her dark brown eyes.

She looks back out the door toward the city before responding. "Couldn't sleep, I needed to clear my head." I don't ask any more questions for now. She must be choosing tomorrow. Why else would someone her age not be able to sleep tonight?

We're kind of similar. I always ride the train when I need to clear my head. I look at the girl and smirk. It takes guts for someone other than a Dauntless member to ride the train. I wonder how she learned to get on and off.

She turns back towards me and catches me looking at her. She raises her eyebrows in question but I don't speak. Finally she breaks the silence. "Look, am I in trouble? Do I have to worry about a Dauntless member tattling on me?"

I smirk and look at the city. This girl's got an attitude. It's challenging, I like it. Especially because she doesn't know I'm not a Dauntless member. I'm a Dauntless leader.

"I think I can let this slide Amity. How often do you come out here?"

"Whenever I need to. Not a lot," she responds and I nod. Soon the entrance to Amity comes into view and when she starts to stand I offer her a hand. She hesitates but smiles and takes it.

"Thanks. And thanks for keeping my secret. I owe you one," she says before she jumps.

She lands perfectly on her feet and I smile.

I have a feeling I'll be seeing her again soon.

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Afternoon of the ceremony

I told Four that I would handle things up on the roof. I wanted to give the initiates a good scare before we start. Plus with the Stiff being afraid of heights, he wouldn't have wanted to be up there anyway.

The initiates should be here any second now. Dauntless always has the smallest amount of initiates every year which isn't surprising. Not everyone can live up to our standards.

Just then the train rounds the corner of the compound and several Dauntless born start jumping. Soon after, the first transfer jumps and sticks the landing. I'm not surprised when I see orange. The girl from the train turns around as a Dauntless born lands on her ass. She smirks and another girl walks up to her.

Two Amity's.

"Initiates, let's go!" I shout. Time to get started.

They all walk over to me and I smirk when I see the Amity girls eyes widen. "My name is Eric; I'm one of your leaders. Behind me is the member's entrance to our compound. If you don't have the courage to jump, you don't belong here. Transfers, you're up first."

"Wait, you want us to jump off a ledge?" asks a Nose. I don't think I stuttered.

"That's exactly what I want you to do, any volunteers?"

The initiates mumble amongst themselves until a Candor asks, "Is there a net at the bottom or something?"

"I guess you'll have to find out." Why are they so scared? It's not like we would kill all of the initiates on the first day. A smirk makes its way onto my face when the Amity starts walking to the ledge. She steps onto it and looks down, "Scared Amity?" I tease. "Though I can't say I'm surprised to see you here."

"Is that so?" she says, and then she turns to another initiate. "If she doesn't jump soon, throw her down," she finishes pointing at the other Amity.

"Do I need to push you? Let's go Amity," I demand. We don't have all day.

She smiles at me and says "No thanks, I'm good," before she steps off the ledge. She doesn't make a sound and the other initiates gather around the ledge to see if she's alright, even though it's dark down there.

"First Jumper, Bella!" I hear Four yell. So her name is Bella.

The initiate she told to throw the other Amity turns out to be Brent, Brandon's younger brother. Brandon was in my initiate class and one of the few people I became friends with.

Brent walks up behind the girl and picks her up. "Oh my God! Put me down!" she screeches and I have to stifle a laugh. Brent replies, "Sorry princess, I was given orders."

He drops her over the edge and her scream pierces the air causing everyone on the roof to laugh. Right after Brent hops over the ledge and the initiates line up to take their turn.

Initiation will be interesting this year.

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Tour of the compound

"We're about to go into the pit, which you will someday learn to love. It's the center of life here at Dauntless."

The initiates take in the Pit and the admiration is visible. I zone out as Four shows them the Chasm and he leaves while I take them to the dorm room.

"This is where you all will be sleeping. We only have a few rules for you so I advise you follow them. First, training starts at eight every morning. I don't want any of you to be late. Second, no one is allowed out of the compound without a full member, and lastly after each stage of initiation rankings and cuts will be announced so work hard and make us proud."

After that last part the room falls silent.

"Cuts? What does that mean?"

I smirk, "That means, if you can't live up to our standards you will be cut from the program and live factionless."

"What!? Why did no one tell us this-"shrieks the Amity.

"If we told you would it have affected your decision? If so you should get out now. It shouldn't matter that you might fail. Dauntless don't back down from fear. Dauntless never give up."

I walk to the door and stop with my hand on the handle.

"You chose us, now we have to choose you."

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Tattoo Shop

I walk around the shop looking at the new designs displayed as I wait for my appointment with Tori. We already discussed what I would be getting, and now I kind of want another piercing too.

Then I see something that I didn't expect so soon.

"Tattoos already? You sure are eager Amity."

I must've scared her because she jumps while turning around, bumping into me. My hands reach out instinctively to steady her.

"No, I'm just looking around," she says while glancing at my hands. I slowly remove them while responding. "Well when you do get one, think it through. It'll be on your body forever."

I look up and see the other Amity walking over here. Those two are inseparable.

"Make sure you get a lot of sleep initiate, you'll need it." Then I walk out of the shop and into Tori's office.

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Shooting

My meeting with Max and Jeanine just ended, and now I'm late for the first day of training. Not that I'm missing much.

"Each stage is graded more heavily than the last-" I hear Four say.

"Wait, what does that mean?" an initiate interrupts.

"It means that if stage one kicks your ass, you have a slight chance in moving up in the rankings," I say entering the training room.

"Nice of you to join us, Eric," snorts Four. That ass. He knew I had a meeting this morning.

"My meeting with Max ran late." Not that it matters to him.

"Okay well you want to demonstrate?"

I nod and grab a gun before facing the target. I begin shooting, demonstrating the correct stance and hitting the bulls eye each time. I've perfected my aim since my initiation.

Four tells the initiates to get started so I stop shooting. It should take them awhile to get even close to the center.

Four and I each walk down the line, evaluating how well they can do after the first demonstration. Most are doing as expected, so I watch the Amity. She hasn't fired yet. Must be nervous coming from a kind faction, but this is Dauntless. Guns are one of our most useful weapons of defense.

She gets over whatever was going through her head and begins shooting. The recoil throws her off at first, and that's expected. Her second shot barely hits the target and I realize her problem. I walk over and place my hands on her shoulders. She gasps and I tell her what's wrong.

"If you're wondering what your problem is, you're too tense. You're so stiff I could probably snap you in half right now."

She laughs and says, "You could probably do that anyway, your bicep is bigger than my head." I smirk and she blushes at what she just said.

"Just relax Amity, I'm sure it will help," I finish. I give her shoulders an assuring squeeze before walking over to Four.

"I need to go. I'll be back after lunch for fighting," I say. Then I walk out the door and head to the other training room.

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After lunch

"As I said this morning, next you will learn how to fight. The purpose of this is to prepare you to act-"

"Today you'll be learning technique and tomorrow you'll start fighting each other," I interrupt.

"All fights will be ranked. The higher the opponent you beat, the more points you earn. Higher ranking initiates that lose to lower ranking ones will be affected the most," concludes Four.

"Now we're going to show you some basic moves…" My voice trails off when I realize I don't have every initiate's attention.

"Or maybe the Amity's would like to explain," I yell. Every initiates turns there way and they stop talking.

"If I were you I'd pay attention. Those who don't will get hurt." I let Four demonstrate attack and defense moves. I look at Bella and she is lost in thought, barely paying Four any attention.

When the initiates start working on them themselves, the Amity is totally lost. She looks at her former Candor friend and copies his stance. I walk over to Devin and watch his punches. He's well built, the bag swings quite a bit when he hits it. I nod and watch Isobel, she's the largest girl in the transfer class and her hits are decent. It all depends on the opponent though. You can't judge a person's skill while they punch a bag.

"What's the matter Amity? Not much muscle built up from all the tree climbing?" snickers Devin. I send him a cold glare that shuts him right up. Its bad enough I have to deal with transfers, I'm not going to deal with their annoying banter.

From the corner of my eye I see Four approach Bella and take her to an unseen part of the room. I continue watching the initiates and offer help when it is absolutely necessary. Some of these kids are going to get seriously hurt.

Soon Bella is back at her bag wailing on it with her knees and elbows. Four must've told her to do that. He has some good tips, but it takes skill to win a fight, not just getting pissed off like how he won our fight.

I know better now.

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A/N- So I decided to end it there because Bella will deal with her brother next chapter. Once again I'm so sorry about the lack of updating. I hit a wave of writers block and I'm slowly coming out of it. Let me know how you liked the chapter :) And thanks to everyone who has left a review! Sorry about any misspellings and errors in this chapter.