I sat in a chair near the entrance of the Erudite headquarters, anxiously awaiting my parents' arrival. If they even showed up. If they didn't, I'd have to sneak into the Abnegation sector of the city to find them.
"Hey, Beatrice, don't just sit there looking so depressed," Christina remarked.
"Hello, I'm just waiting for my parents, assuming they ever show up," I replied with a hint of uncertainty.
Christina didn't waste a moment. She took my hand and led me toward her parents, urging, "Come on, there's no need to sit here alone. You can meet my parents. Even Roy's parents are here, and Will and Caleb are joining us." Before I could object, she pulled me towards her family.
"Just a heads-up, my parents can be a bit embarrassing and blunt. You know, typical Candor parents. Don't take everything they say too seriously, okay?" Christina warned with a playful grin.
I chuckled and responded, "Alright, I'll keep that in mind."
"Mom and Dad, meet Beatrice, my roommate," Christina introduced.
"Oh, you're back," a woman, presumably Christina's mother, said. Then, her gaze shifted to me. "You're the other Prior who transferred from Abnegation, aren't you? Haven't seen many Abnegation transfers to Erudite."
We engaged in conversation, which mainly consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Barbosa sharing amusing stories from Christina's childhood.
After about 15 minutes, Caleb pulled me aside. "What's going on?" I inquired, noticing a faint smile on his face.
"Our parents are here," he replied, pointing towards the entrance.
I turned to follow his gaze, spotting our parents. They stood out in their grey clothes in a sea of differently dressed individuals. I felt a surge of mixed emotions—happiness, excitement, and shock—all at once. Their eyes finally found us, and they made their way over.
"How's your initiation going, Caleb and Beatrice?" my mother greeted us.
"Great," Caleb responded, but bitterness laced his voice as he added, "Ms. Matthews seems to have grand plans for Beatrice."
"That's fantastic, Beatrice," my mother said, her expression mysterious. My father smiled, but there was a vacancy in his eyes that didn't go unnoticed.
They inquired about our daily routines, friends, and experiences, but there wasn't much to share. My father's impatience was evident, which only added to the tension in the air.
Finally, he spoke up.
"I'm here for some faction-related matters, Caleb. Can you fetch Cara for me, please?"
"Of course," Caleb replied, a hint of bitterness barely detectable in his tone.
Once Caleb left, my parents' expressions shifted to serious.
"Listen, we don't have much time," my mother began, her voice low and serious. "We know you're Divergent, and so am I. You must stay away from Jeanine Matthews. She's plotting to eliminate all Divergents."
I was stunned. My own mother was Divergent. "What?" was all I managed to utter.
"Beatrice, get a hold of yourself. We don't have time to explain everything now," my father said, his tone stern as ever.
"Andrew, you know you can't talk to her like that, especially not about something like this," my mother scolded him. He mumbled something but didn't argue further.
"Alright, listen carefully. I've known about your Divergence for a long time, but I wanted you to make your own choice at the Choosing Ceremony. However, that's not the main point. I need you to go to Laboratory 17," my mother instructed, and my father continued.
"It's on the 7th floor, primarily used for serum-related work. If you come across anything unusual, transfer it onto a flash drive and give it to Cara. Be discreet, and make sure no one sees you," my father instructed.
"Okay," was all I could manage to say.
"And you should try those fizzy drinks they're quite good," he added cryptically.
I gave him a puzzled look. How could he know this place so well unless...
"Were you Erudite?" I asked.
He simply nodded, and I heard Cara's voice approaching.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Prior. How may I assist you?" Cara inquired.
"I'm here for a meeting with Ms. Matthews," my father replied.
"Alright, follow me, Mr. Prior," Cara said.
As my father left with Cara, my mother bid them goodbye and departed as well.
Afterward, I turned to Caleb, who had been lost in thought during the conversation. "Let's go find our friends. What do you say?"
When he didn't respond, I called his name again. "Caleb?"
Startled, he finally looked at me. "Sorry, I was lost in thought."
"I was suggesting we go find our friends," I repeated, a frown on my face. I didn't want to press him if he didn't want to share more.
"Yeah, okay, let's go," Caleb responded.
Caleb and I began our search for our friends.
Most of the parents had already left, and initiates were either in the library or their dorms. Finding them wasn't too challenging.
"So, what's the plan now?" I asked when we were within earshot.
"Well, since it's lunchtime, how about we head to the cafeteria and then discuss our research focus? The first stage of initiation ends today, so we'll need to start on it tomorrow," Will suggested.
"Wait, the first stage ends today?" Roy exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes, didn't you know? The paper we gave this morning was the last one, and the results will be announced this evening," Caleb informed him, a touch of annoyance in his voice.
"I knew that, I just forgot because I was worried my parents wouldn't show up," Roy defended himself.
"You shouldn't care about them that much. They won't come to help you if you end up factionless," Caleb muttered under his breath, almost too softly for me to hear.
"Anyways, you go to the cafeteria, and I'll join you later. There's something I have to take care of," Caleb said before leaving.
"What's up with him?" Christina asked.
"I don't know. Ever since the IQ test results were posted, he's been acting strangely," I replied.
"It sounds like he's jealous of you, Beatrice," Christina suggested.
"Jealousy isn't typically his thing," I responded.
"I think Christina might be onto something. He did seem jealous, and he looked like he just wanted to be alone," Roy chimed in.
"I don't think it's a good idea, but let's give him some time. If he doesn't come back, I'll check on him," I suggested.
"Okay, let's head to the cafeteria," Roy agreed.
Finding an empty table in the cafeteria wasn't difficult, given that it wasn't quite lunchtime yet. We chatted for a while and decided to have an early lunch before heading to the library to discuss our research focus.
I needed to use the restroom, so I informed my friends that I'd catch up with them later. On my way back, just as I was about to enter the library, the sound of heels clacking on the floor reached my ears. I turned to see Jeanine Matthews approaching.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Matthews," I greeted her.
"Good morning, Ms. Prior," she replied coolly. "Have you considered my offer?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet," I responded cautiously.
She regarded me with a investing look. "If you have any doubts, feel free to ask me. Opportunities like this are rare, and you have something many would envy. But you seem hesitant to accept it."
"I appreciate your offer, Ms. Matthews, but I need some more time to think it over," I replied cautiously.
Jeanine Matthews regarded me with a penetrating gaze. "Time is a precious, Beatrice. Consider this carefully, for opportunities like this don't come often."
With that, she continued on her way, leaving me with a sense of unease. What did she really want from me? And could I trust her?
As I entered the library, I spotted my friends huddled at a table. Their discussion halted when they saw me.
"Hey, Beatrice, where have you been?" Christina asked.
"I ran into Ms. Matthews," I replied, not wanting to reveal the full extent of our conversation.
"Did she say anything about her offer?" Will inquired.
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to share a bit. "She wants an answer soon, but I'm not sure what to do."
Roy leaned in. "You've got to consider it carefully, Tris. This could be a life-changing opportunity."
I nodded, acknowledging their advice, but my mind was still filled with doubts. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Jeanine's offer than met the eye.
After our discussion, we enjoyed our early lunch and headed to the library to delve into our research focus. The weight of my decision regarding Jeanine's offer lingered in the back of my mind, making it hard to concentrate on our studies.
As the afternoon wore on, Caleb's absence gnawed at me. He had been acting strangely, and I couldn't help but worry about him.
Finally, unable to contain my concern any longer, I excused myself from the group.
"I'll catch up with you later, guys. There's something I need to check on."
With that, I set off in search of my brother. The corridors of the Erudite compound felt strangely empty, with most initiates either studying or in their dorms.
As I walked, I spotted Caleb from a distance, standing alone in a secluded corner of the hallway. His expression was distant, lost in thought. I approached him cautiously.
"Caleb?" I called out softly, not wanting to startle him.
He turned, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of surprise and worry. "Beatrice, what are you doing here?"
I stepped closer, concern on my face. "You've been acting strangely, Caleb. Is something bothering you?"
He hesitated, then sighed deeply. "I overheard our father talking to Cara earlier. They said something about you being Divergent and a plan to kill Divergents. Beatrice, what's going on?"
"Caleb, there's something I need to tell you," I began, choosing my words carefully. "It's about Jeanine Matthews and her offer, and it's also about me being Divergent."
Caleb's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step closer, his voice hushed. "Divergent? Are you serious, Beatrice?"
I nodded solemnly. "Yes, Caleb. And there's more to it. Jeanine is involved in some dangerous plans. Our parents wanted me to retrieve information , and they said Jeanine wants to eliminate Divergents."
Caleb's face paled, and he seemed overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
"But why would they involve you in this?"
"I think they wanted to protect me and gather information to help the cause," I explained.
Just as I was about to share further details, Jeanine Matthews herself appeared in the hallway, her heels clicking on the polished floor. She regarded us with her cold, calculating gaze.
I tried to hide the fear in my eyes as Jeanine looked at me and then Caleb. She seemed to sense that something was amiss. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned in closer to me, her voice laced with an air of curiosity.
"Is there something you're not telling me, Ms. Prior?" Jeanine asked, her tone sharp.
I took a deep breath, my heart racing, and met her gaze with a carefully made face of uncertainty. "No, Ms. Matthews, it's just that... this decision is so significant, and I want to be absolutely certain it's the right path for me."
Jeanine's eyes remained locked onto mine, as if she were attempting to decode my thoughts.
She continued to investigate, her tone softening slightly. "Ms. Prior, I understand the weight of this decision. But sometimes, it helps to talk about your concerns. Sharing your thoughts can lead to clarity."
I could feel the pressure of her words, as if she were trying to manipulate me into revealing more. Jeanine had a way of making even a simple conversation feel like a chess match.
But Jeanine was relentless. She stepped even closer, her voice a mere whisper. "Tris, you can trust me. I've been in your shoes before, facing choices that could change the course of my life. I've made difficult decisions too."
I maintained my composure, avoiding her gaze and giving her a guarded response. "I appreciate your understanding, Ms. Matthews, but I just need a bit more time to reflect."
Jeanine exhaled slowly, a hint of frustration crossing her features. She seemed to understand that I wouldn't yield easily, but that didn't stop her from trying.
"Very well, Ms. Prior," she said, her voice returning to its usual composed tone. "Take the time you need. But remember, sometimes the answers you seek are closer than you think."
With those cryptic words, she turned and walked away, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. I wasn't sure if I should trust Jeanine. My parents had warned me against her, but I couldn't deny a strange attraction to her, a feeling that she might be someone I could trust with anything. My inner turmoil only deepened as I watched her retreating figure.