CHAPTER 23

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 nine initiates standing in front of me. I pass the guns out as I am speaking. Trying not to let my emotions over Tris get the better of me. I need to focus on getting through training then I can worry about everything else.

"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 improve your rank."

"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?"

Seriously this kid is going to get on my nerves. 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. Better than the Amity kid last year.

"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. I don't like the look, he is dangerous and he is going to have to be watched closely. He is the type of person we don't want here in Dauntless.

"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."

"Your ranking serves two purposes. The first is that it determines the order in which you will select a job after initiation. There are only a few desirable positions available. The second purpose is that only the top ten initiates will be made members. Anyone out of the top ten will be given the opportunity to work in the Dauntless retirement village. If this is the case and you want to stay in Dauntless then you will have to go through a special training programme we have devised."

"What do we do if we don't want to work in the retirement village?" asks Peter.

"You become factionless," I say. Sam and Bob wanted anyone out of the top ten to instantly become factionless. But we need staff for the retirement home. So Lauren and I devised a program that gives them the opportunity to become members and it gives us the staff we need. I don't think Peter would appreciate cleaning toilets but he will still probably find it better than living factionless.

"Work hard, it will be a lot harder to make it in the second time round. You can concede fights but it will lower your scores dramatically. Fights will be chosen by putting everyone's name into a hat. This isn't going to be easy but trust me it is worth it"

TRIS POV

I can't seem to take my eyes of Four. I know he is extremely good looking and so that makes him easy to look at but it is something else. I don't know why but I am drawn to him. He feels familiar but I don't know why. I haven't met him before yesterday, it's not like any one from Dauntless would be seen near someone from Abnegation.

Zeke told Christina and me that he was Dauntless-born, some of the pranks they had got up to seem almost unbelievable to me. If I hadn't seen the Snakes and Ladders board I would never have imagined such a game. I just can't shake this feeling. As I'm watching him I feel there is so much more to him than Zeke let on. I think there is more to him than even Zeke knows.

I am awoken from my thoughts with the sound of gun fire. I didn't realise it would be this loud. I need to focus on training; I need a top ten ranking.

ZEKE POV

Four slams his tray down at our table in the dining hall. "Bro, what's your problem?" I ask. He has been acting weird ever since yesterday.

"Transfers already getting to you Four?" asks Shauna.

"Tris, Christina," I call to Tris and Christina who have just entered the dining hall. I should introduce them to Uriah, Marlene and Lynn who are also sitting at our table.

"What are we babysitting initiates at meal times now too?" Four says. Man he is foul today. He can be standoff-ish at times and isn't always the best around others but this has gone to a whole new level.

"What? They are nice. I thought it would be nice to introduce them to some Dauntless-borns," I say. Four just glares at me. Wait this is more than that. The flash that was in his eyes just then, is he jealous?

"Hey," says Tris.

"Sit, let me introduce you. Tris, Christina this is my brother Uriah, Marlene and Lynn they are also going through initiation this year. Guys this is Tris and Christina," I say.

"Do you mind if some others join us?" asks Christina.

"The more the merrier," I say.

Christina calls two guys over to the table. Their names are Will and Al. Now I know Four is jealous. The way he is looking at Al only confirms it. There is a spare spot next to me so I decide to give Four a break from his bad mood.

"Tris come sit here, there's a spare seat next to me," I say. Shauna gives me a look that says you better have a good explanation why you are asking a pretty girl sit next to you. So I try to nod my head towards Four. A smile comes across her face. Thank goodness she realised what I was doing.

"So how are you finding Dauntless Tris?" Shauna asks.

"It's good. I like it here, it is so different from where I am from but I never did fit in there anyway," says Tris.

I can see Four trying to act like he doesn't care but he is hanging off every word she says. It's funny really. I've never seen him like this. As we are all chatting and laughing he is actually engaging in conversation with her and the others at the table. He never does that. He usually makes a complete fool of himself around women. I made him go on this date with me once. He didn't even last five minutes before she had hit him with her hand bag and walked off. Not long after that Shauna and I had got together so I didn't hassle him about any more dates. He has always had girls throwing themselves at him, even when we were just kids. He just never took any notice. But now it seems he has. I will have to get Shauna onto this, help him out a bit. I am going to have to find a way so that the transfers can be a part of our annual Dauntless-born initiates dare game this year.

"Zekey," yells Charlie as she comes and sits on Fours' lap.

"Charlie." I give her a high five over the table.

"What are you doing here?" Four asks.

"Where's my hug?" I ask Charlie holding my arms open wide.

Charlie jumps off Four and comes and gives me a hug. I sit her between me and Tris.

"Hi I'm Charlie," she says to Tris.

"Hi I'm Tris."

"You're really pretty Tris. Don't you think she is pretty Four?"

Four has turned bright red and I can't help but laugh. Only Charlie could get away with something like this with Four.

"Come on, I think it's time to take you back to mum and dad," Four says. Can't blame him really, Charlie has embarrassed him enough for one day. He picks her up and they start to walk away from the table.

"Bye," Charlie says with a wave.

"She is really pretty Four," I hear Charlie telling Four as they walk away. I wish I could hear the rest of their conversation but they are too far away.

"Who was that?" Tris asks.

"That is Fours' little sister Charlie," I say.

Tris just nods. She is still blushing from the comments Charlie made.