INITIATION BEGINS

FOUR POV

"The first thing you will learn today is how to shoot a gun. The second thing is how to win a fight," I say to the ten initiates standing in front of me. I pass the guns out as I am speaking. "Thankfully, if you are here, you already know how to get on and off a moving train, so I don't need to teach you that."

"Initiation is divided into three stages. We will measure your progress and rank you according to your performance in each stage. The stages are not weighed equally in determining your final rank, so it is possible, though difficult, to drastically improve your rank over time."

"We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear. Therefore each stage of initiation is intended to prepare you in a different way. The first stage is primarily physical; the second, primarily emotional; the third, primarily mental."

"But what . . ." Peter yawns through his words. "What does firing a gun have to do with . . . bravery?"

I flip the gun that is in my hand and I press it to Peter's forehead, and I clip the bullet into place. Peter freezes. Good I have his attention.

"Wake up," I snap. "You are holding a loaded gun you idiot. Act like it."

I lower the gun and I see Peter's eyes harden. This is someone I know I'm not going to like anytime soon. He reminds me of Eric but unlike Eric I don't think he has an excuse for his behaviour.

"And to answer your question . . . you are less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you're prepared to defend yourself."

"This is also information you may need later in stage one. So, watch me," I say.

SUZY POV

I am standing here in the training room waiting for Four to hand me a gun. I watch as Tris is handed hers and I can see she doesn't look comfortable with it in her hands. If she is feeling uncomfortable how am I going to feel? The gun is placed in my hands and I can now understand why she feels uncomfortable. It is cold and metallic, it reminds me that if I am not careful I could end up cold from a bullet. Dead cold. I understand why we need to know how to use a gun but it still goes against everything I have ever been taught.

I need to start thinking differently. As I watch Four aim and fire his weapon with pin point accuracy it makes me realise that only two years ago he was standing right where I am today. We were given the same teachings raised in the same faction. He has been able to assimilate to his new surroundings and from what I can see he has done it well. I need to remember that and try as hard as possible to fit in.

We all pick a target and start shooting. To say it was difficult is an understatement. I watch as Tris is failing miserably to hit her target. I have at least hit my target. Nowhere near where I wanted it to but still I will take anything at the moment.

By the time we are ready to break for lunch both Tris and I have hit the middle of the target and we are smiling as we leave the room. "How much do your arms ache?" I ask.

"They are so sore and my fingers feel stiff," Tris says. "But it was really exciting to finally hit the middle of that damn target."

I nod my head and laugh a little. "I think we made the right choice Tris," I say, linking my arm with hers as we head into the dining hall.

"I agree Suzy," Tris says. I can see the light in her eyes. Tris was made for Dauntless, I only hope that I can do enough to stay, I'm not sure I am strong enough for initiation or Dauntless. The only thing I am sure of is that I'm glad I chose to follow Tris and not her brother. At least here I have a chance for a new life. I shudder when I think of what it would be like to be in Erudite right now.

"So Four?" I ask. We haven't had any time just the two of to talk since Tris left the dormitory with Four last night. It feels so strange calling him Four. Tris and I have both shortened our name but to change his name to a number just baffles me.

Tris looks around to see if anyone is near us before she speaks. "Just like we have Suzy he changed his name. No one here knows his real name and he would like to keep it that way."

I nod to show her I understand what she is saying. It makes me wonder if the reports that Erudite have been saying are true. I'm sure Tris knows the truth but I would never ask her or Four such a personal question. Everyone deserves their secrets, even me.

We are just about to reach the dining hall when we are stopped by Eric. "Ladies," he says. I can't help but smile when I see him. I know everyone thinks of him as some scary Dauntless leader but I feel there is more to him. There is something hidden, I can see it in his eyes. "So how was training this morning? I'm sure neither of you ever thought you would be holding a gun," he says.

Tris just stares at him, I can't read her expression properly but I can see that she is being very cautious around him. "It was fun," I say.

"Good to hear, well I won't keep you. You will both need to keep your strength up with what you will be doing this afternoon," he says as he walks past us and into the dining hall.

"He seems nice," I say.

"I'm not sure Suzy. There is something about him that worries me," Tris says.

"I think there is more to him than he lets us see. But I don't think you should be worried Tris," I say.

"You like him," Tris says.

I turn bright red as I start to blush. We never talked to anyone about our feelings in Abnegation. I am feeling really embarrassed that Tris has worked this out so quickly. After the embarrassment of Caleb leaving me I didn't think I would want to care for anyone else for a long time.

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone. Just be careful Suzy I don't want to see you hurt again. I don't think Dauntless boys are going to be anything like Abnegation boys." Look how well it turned out for me with an Abnegation boy I think to myself. Maybe a Dauntless boy is exactly what I need.

I nod my head as we walk into the dining table and we go and sit with Christina, Will and Al. It is strange to have friends like this. At home I had Tris and Caleb plus my brother Robert but we weren't allowed to be friends like we are here. It is so nice to be able to sit at a table and talk and laugh with people. I am loving the interaction even if I am only sitting and listening, I'm not really sure of how to talk to so many people at once, it still intimidates me a little.

After lunch Four leads us to a new room. The room is extremely large with a wood floor that reminds me of what history this room probably has. The stories it could tell of past initiates and their battles to become Dauntless. That we are just a small dot in the history of this place and that within weeks our sweat will be spilled into the wood and ingrained forever as part of that history. It makes me feel like I need to do well, that I don't want the room to remember me as a failure.

We walk over to where there are large black punching bags hanging from the ceiling. We all line up behind them and Four stands in the middle where we can all see him.

"As I said this morning," says Four, "next you will learn to fight. The purpose of this is to prepare you to act; to prepare your body to respond to threats and challenges-which you will need, if you intend to survive life as a Dauntless."

"We will go over technique today, and tomorrow you will start to fight each other," Four says. "So I recommend that you pay attention. Those who don't learn fast will get hurt."

The thought of fighting someone terrifies me. I don't know how I am going to survive here. I enjoyed shooting the guns and I wasn't half bad at it. But the thought of having to go up against some of the boys in this class makes me think I could be dead before the end of stage one.

Four starts to demonstrate different punches and kicks. I have to concentrate really hard to make sure I am going to remember all that he is teaching us. We each stand before a punching bag and start to practice what he has shown us.

Four wanders through the initiates pointing out flaws in their techniques and giving them pointers to help them improve. When he gets to Tris you can see that he is like a moth to a flame. It wouldn't matter what she is doing he is going to touch that flame and I can see him burning alive. I have to suppress a giggle, to me they are so cute to watch. I don't think they even understand the chemistry they have.

I can see him giving her some advice and then he touches his hand to her stomach, she looks as though she has stopped breathing from his touch. Christina who is on the other side of Tris looks like her eyes are going to bug out of her head. She doesn't know their history and I don't think Tris will be sharing that information with anyone to soon, so to Christina he is an instructor and I know she is completely scared to death of him. She almost looks horrified at what is going on.

Just as Four goes to move over towards me the training room doors open and Eric and Max walk in. Four walks towards the two men and they all begin to chat. Four and Max go to walk out of the room leaving us with Eric. Just as he reaches the door Four calls to Eric, "I was just about to help Suzy with her punches, maybe you could start by helping her."

I try to keep calm but at the same time I am trying to punch the punching bag. Really not easy to look calm while you are punching a bag and for the first time in my life be sweating all over the place. Eric walks over and I can feel him staring at me. I know I am blushing but I am hoping he will just think that my face is red from the exhaustion.

He steps closer to me and he says, "you would be better off using your knees and elbows. You can put more power behind it." The exact same words that I heard Four say to Tris only a few minutes ago. "Here let me show you," he says.

I stop punching the bag and Eric moves closer and starts to hit then kick the bag. "You have a go," he says. I start to try to so the exact moves that Eric has shown me. I don't have the confidence that he has, I can tell that he works out a lot just by how big he is. After I have thrown a few punches and tried to knee the bag he comes and stands directly behind me.

I can feel the heat of his body and it excites and scares me all at once. "I know where you are from it isn't customary to be touched so don't freak out. I am going to show you how to move properly so try to concentrate," he says.

I can only nod my head. Eric moves so that my back is touching his chest and he puts his arm over mine and starts to move are bodies toward the punching bag. I understand now why he said try and concentrate. It isn't easy trying to concentrate with him pushed up against my body. I know I shouldn't be enjoying this, that I should be completely horrified but I'm not. I like the closeness of Eric. He goes through all the moves that both he and Four have shown us and then he moves away to let me do it.

Once he is satisfied that I have grasped the moves he moves down the row giving advice to others but never getting as close to them as he did to me. When he reaches Peter he is standing watching him when Peter says, "Aren't you going to help me like you did the stiff?"

"I didn't know you wanted me to be that close to you Peter?" he says.

"Well why should she get special treatment and not the rest of us?" Peter says.

"You want special treatment do you Peter?" Eric says. I can see that Eric is not happy with the taunting from Peter. Most people have stopped punching their bags to watch the interaction between the two. You would think getting a loaded gun pointed at your head would be enough to shut Peter up for the day but it doesn't seem to have had any effect on him. I can't believe the arrogance of him.

Peter nods his head to Eric. It happens in an instant, Peter is standing talking with Eric and then Eric's fist has connected with Peters' jaw and he is now lying unconscious on the floor. "Get this piece of trash to the infirmary," Eric says. "I think you have all learned enough for today so go on get out."

Drew and Molly start to drag Peter our of the room and everyone starts to file out behind them. I walk up to Eric who hasn't moved since he hit Peter. His hands are still clenched into fists so I walk up to him, I touch his arm and I say, "Are you okay?"

I see his fist unclench and he turns and gives me a small smile. "I shouldn't have done that," he says.

"Four had to put a loaded gun to Peters' head this morning, so he hasn't learnt to keep his mouth shut even after that," I say.

Eric starts to laugh. "Well I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds him annoying," he says.

I have to laugh too. I don't think there is anyone in our initiation class that doesn't find Peter annoying. I still have my hand on Eric's arm, he moves his other hand and places it on my hand.

"Suzy the fights are going to be extremely tough. You are going to need to fight hard, I know coming from Abnegation you are going to want to help others but for the next few weeks you are going to have channel to that energy into helping yourself. You need to get through initiation so that you can help others otherwise you will be factionless. Do you understand?"

"I do and I will try," I say.

"Good, I'd really like to see you become a member," he says. With that he walks out of the room leaving me standing there. I don't really understand what has just happened but I do know that I am going to do everything I can to become a Dauntless member.