***Sorry everyone, I've been away for a very long time but I just recently watched the Divergent movie and directly ran back to laptop after all these years to continue this story. As always, leave comments and reviews so I can gage on your thoughts and opinions ***
Lee POV
Ryan. When you think of a Dauntless member, an image of the perfect man comes into your vision. Tall-ish around six feet tall, chiseled, with muscles on his arms that could lift a car with ease, a jawline that just makes you feel imperfect, a smile that could make your worst day into the best, and the hair of a punk rocker but groomed. Ryan was that perfect image, and he was talking to me. Who wouldn't crush on him? All the girls were and there were definitely some guys that double looked back at him when he walked by them. I just stood there watching Andrew and Ryan walk away unable to move forward. Am I really having a crush on Ryan Greene? There is no way. I don't like him. I don't like boys. Ew. While debating in my head all these denials, I didn't realize I was just standing in the middle of the hallway just dazed in my thoughts with people walking around me looking like I was crazy. I felt a sharp jolt from my arm snapping me back into reality with Andrew pulling my arm while we began to walk towards the stairs.
"Lee, what are you doing? I don't know what you are thinking but we need to move it and you standing there like a statue won't help us."
He was right. We needed to get going. I didn't want my dad mad at me then he probably already is with his little sprint lecture. Then a rush of adrenaline started rushing through my veins knowing how mad he actually may be. Wherever we are going next, this cannot be good. Andrew finally let go of my arm about 20 yards away from the stairs. Why were we going upstairs? What was up there? Oh god, I hope we are not jumping again. All around me, Dauntless kids were running up the stairs in excitement, including Lily and Andrew. When I got to the top and opened the door, I saw why we were upstairs. Shit. It was target training. I suck at this so bad.
"Today, we will be doing target practice. Each of you will be assigned a gun and a target. You are required to hit the middle of your target ten times. When you have achieved this, let me know and you will be dismissed. Understood."
"YES SIR." Was roared all around me and I began to feel I made the wrong choice.
My dad was surrounded by his training associates all standing in front of a digital board with all of our names in it with numbers next to them. Was this our ranking system for everyone to, see? I thought they just tell us in private, but nope. Not Dauntless. A man came from behind my dad, and I could see a vein in his neck pop out and his fist began to clench when this man was around. I think his name was Eric or something but my dad and him definitely had a history or something, but my dad never broke eye contact with my group.
"Initiates. Behind me, you will see all your names in your ranking order. Those above the red line are safe and then those below the red line will become factionless and be asked to leave immediately. These rankings will be updated daily and be judged by your physical strength, skill set, attitude, and if we think you be a good fit into our society. As I said before, you chose us and now we choose you."
You could just feel the shift in group energy that morning. It was full of energy, and you could fill an ocean with how much adrenaline we all had but now, it was dead silent and no one looked at each other, just their feet. The board lit up with everyone's names on it and everyone gazes at it to try and find their name. Those who were above the red line got their smiles back by high-fiving those around them. Then there were those with their names under the red line who looked mortified at what was to become of them.
"What if your name is currently under the red line? What happens?" Someone yelled out from the group. I recognized his face. Todd. Todd Bowman. He was a slender type and not very social. He kept to himself the majority of the time but was a dauntless legacy so I can say I was neither surprised or shocked he came back, although I thought he would have gone the Amity route.
"You have until the end of the day to change our minds with your rankings. The deadline is eight p-m and at eight o one, we will be going through the dorms collecting those who fell under the red line to escort them to the factionless. Is that understood?"
My heart began to quicken the pace trying to locate my name. I looked for Kaylee and that name was not up there and then began searching for Lee. It wasn't in the top ten, fifteen or twenty. Oh no. Did I go under the red line? Impossible. My breathing began to increase as Andrew stared at me worriedly.
"Lee you, okay?"
No, no I am not okay. I cannot find my goddamn name.
"I can't find my name!" I said to him in a low whisper but loud enough to catch the attention of a couple of people around us.
"There! Lee, you are right there! You are above the line. You are number 28."
A wave of relief came over me but not enough to make me settle. Only 30 names were above the red line, and I was 3 away from being underneath. Not good. My attention became more focused on the task at hand. Stay above the line.
"Alright initiates. Let's get started with target practice." My dad called out to the group and started handing out numbers for target assignments.
I can do this. Can't I?
