Kat, Joseph, Uriah, Lynn, Marleen, Gabriel and Jade all sit on the edge of the roof on the stairwell while the other Dauntless check the zip-line mechanism with Bud, there are about a dozen other Dauntless here with the main focus of making sure the cold weather didn't mess with anything.
Bud tells someone to check the harness and another person to check the actual line, while he attempts to shake the large tower it is connected to.
It's sturdy and doesn't budge.
We only ever use this once or twice a year. I pull the large yellow pulley when Bud gives me a thumbs up and the generator roars to life, shuddering and sputtering.
The twinkling lights all around the rooftop start blinking on and the others cheer excitedly. It's still light out so we don't need them on but they needed to test everything to make sure it's in working order, a malfunction could prove fatal. It has happened before.
It's gotten colder, coming into fall. It's not raining today but the sky is overcast like it might and I inhale the crisp, fresh air of being outside and up so high.
Summer had gone in the blink of an eye. The routine unyeilding and monotonous.
I shove my hands into my pockets to warm my fingers, ignoring my gloves and I watch as Bud pulls the lever on the side of the tower down, sending electricity through the powered zip-line, it hums and a loud echo reverberates through the air, he yells over for someone to ride it and Uriah is the first one to scream that he wants to do it.
The whole time I help him into the harness with Bud, checking the straps and the brake pulley, he chants "let's go, let's go."
He's smiling, his eyes are wide, full of excitement and his cheeks are flushed red from being bitten at by the cold.
"Don't shit your pants." Lynn bellows, everyone laughs, the air is filled with their casual laughter and friendly conversation.
"Too late!" Uriah jokes back and the laughter becomes louder, he gives me a devious smirk.
When he finally gets sent down he yells until we can't hear him anymore, it takes moments to get all the way to the end, and I know that's where most of the people are, drinking and sitting around waiting for night to fall.
The war game starts as soon as the sun is in the middle of the Ferris wheel. Bud calls over his departure saying he's going to go drinking with the older people and everyone yells goodbye while we watch with growing anticipation as the sun crawls lower and lower.
The harness comes back up, having automatically retracted, and in 30 minutes Uriah comes bursting through the doors back onto the roof of the Hancock building breathless and laughing.
We are up 100 stories high.
No one is allowed to drink up here, for obvious reasons.
The view of the city is spectacular, in one direction is an expanse of tall shimmering buildings and over the other you can see the wall and beyond it, stretching on as far as the eye can see and not too far out there, is Amity. You can just barely spy the large tree said to be their gathering hub and the edges of their orchards with multi colored feilds of crop.
"Gene!" Joseph calls over to me. "Get your ass up here!" I breathe out a thick fog of white before climbing up to join them and they tell me about their game of Dare, while I kick my heels against the brick of the building and watch as the bright colors in the sky fade into twilight.
I had already noticed the butterfly tattoo on his neck and a matching one on Gabriel's, and that Jade no longer has any piercings. Idle observations.
They tell me that by the end of the week Kat has to have a new hair color and when they tell me about the transfers I pinch the bridge of my nose and try not to frown.
Their game much more tame that I'd envisioned.
The wind started picking up and drops of rain begin to fall in succession, more than a drizzle but less than torrent. To everyone elses disappointment everything is shut down by the older Dauntless and the groans of annoyance at the weather starts.
I can already imagine how the initiates will be when they can't ride the zip-line after the game, and here I wondered if Four might become Three tonight.
Sure enough they shut the zip-line down completely but we all stay up on the roof, unwilling to climb the flights of stairs to get down, although I'm very close to getting up to leave.
Weather is a formidable adversary, my body continues to react pitifully against it.
I have my jacket zipped all the way up and my hair is down to keep my ears warm but the cold air bites my nose and cheeks.
I wasn't the only one practical enough to bring gloves but I give one to Jade because she complains that she can't feel her fingers.
The door slams open beneath us and we all lean forward as the 12 initiates come rushing out lead by a triumphant Zeke.
He holds his hands up high as if he is the sole victor of the game. "Behold! The victors!" He shouts, jumping up onto a rotating vent as he drums his fists to his puffed out chest.
Amar's team, victorious, but unsurprisingly he had chosen Four, Zeke, Eric, Mia, Henry and Graham. Majority transfers but he chose the highest ranking ones of course.
They stand there around Zeke soaking up the praise, even Four looks a bit big headed and smug. Eric only mildly incensed.
"You guys climbed up here for nothing!" Gabriel yells through his cupped hands to amplify the sound, everyone starts laughing raucously as the initiates complain.
Winter is approaching and Dauntless up the amount of security posted around the city and the amount of guards as escorts for the Amity deliveries.
Max greets the first driver but I'm too far to hear their exchange, and when he notices me he smiles approvingly.
"Gene." He greets with a head tilt. "Looking forward to the conference today?" He asks conversationally, he clasps his hands in front of him like usual to stand with authority.
"Of course not." I respond evenly, adjusting my glove so that it's easier to see the face of my watch, before pulling my sleeve back down over it.
Max chuckles before handing me a folded white piece of paper, that I take and slide into my jacket pocket without checking.
"It won't be too bad." He says before breezing past me to head indoors.
I find myself less agreeable on that matter than last year. It has only been several years on my account.
"It's getting mighty cold." The usual Amity man exclaims and even though he sounds disappointed he smiles brightly, his breath comes out in white huffs as he continues to exert himself carrying the heavy loads, he's already a bit far out in his age.
"No shit." Eric says, throwing another sack over his shoulder and stalking away without acknowledging me.
I had not acknowledged him either but he's around in the background more often now. I'm certain he got my implication but instead of heeding it, just made himself more noticeable.
"It's only going to get colder." I respond while removing my gloves, I rub my hands together to retain warmth with friction while the Amity man continues to thank me over and over and over.
"Don't forget your gloves next time." I admonish sternly before stalking away with my own heavy sack of potatoes. They do not work as efficiently when adversely effected by the weather.
I cup my cold, numb hands together and blow hot air into them before accepting the next seasons itinerary from the elderly Amity woman.
The sounds of their rusted old truck doors slamming and engines roaring to life around me, while they prepare to move onto their next destination.
"Ready to go?" Max asks me, approaching from the side.
I nod my head absently while scanning over the schedule before folding it up to hand to him, it hasn't changed much, just in anticipation for weather and winter festivities
Max sighs, he turns around to start heading towards the large black vehicle that's to take us to the Hub.
I shove my hands into my pockets to stay warm as I start after him.
When I hear the sounds of gravel being disrupted behind me I turn sharply to see a tall slightly older but familiar Amity reaching for me like he was going to tap my shoulder.
His hand stops midway and he withdraws when no longer needing to gather my attention. Upon immediate inspection, he has short scraggly dirty blonde hair that sticks out in tufts under a faded red cap, and pale green eyes.
"I'm sorry, it's just that…" He smiles when I give him an impatient huff. "Your hair is like moonlight."
I hear Max laugh, having stopped to see why I wasn't following along, it's a loud and slightly mocking sound.
I scoff, hot air and turn to leave.
"My name is Liam. . ." He adds, calling it out, I shrug with my back turned on him. He must have been one of the older boys that I saw. Their names are unimportant information that I hardly retain.
It's only a passing thought where I question, curiously just how many relatives the Amity transfer had left behind. "I saw you on visiting day and-"
"I didn't see you." I reply flatly with a finalizing tone before checking my watch.
Jeanine Matthews, is the representative of Erudite. She is one of the few Erudite whose arrogance I find mildly tolerable, because it is deserved.
She earned her bragging rights by being the smartest person in her faction, and by fault, the city.
She wears a crisp blue suit dress with her spectacles hung loosely around her neck on a chain, I've never seen her wear them on her face. It is a decoration.
Her smile is patient and despite the temperature of the room, her coat is draped on the chair. She sits straight with her hands curled together on the surface before her completely at ease.
On the other curve of the long conference table sits Jack Kang, the representative of Candor in his finest black and white suit and further down is Johanna Reyes the representative of Amity in light fall colors, dressed for warmth.
Lastly is Andrew Prior which is an active member of Abnegation's council, normally Marcus the leader of Abnegation would be present and his absence is noted.
He dresses in Abnegation gray with just enough to stay warm but not comfortable.
I also notice the small boy sitting next to Jack, it must be his son and then I find the older boy in gray next to Andrew, they must be potential predecessors.
Jeanine has along her usual impudent assistant, Garret and Johanna has a cheerful young female next to her, that I know is not related. Johanna has no children or immediate relations, faction or otherwise.
Neither do Max or Jeanine despite their ages, but considering their lifestyles, children are liabilities, and inconveniences, on top of undesirable.
Falen had lost his son several years ago and his daughter before that.
Max sit's lazily beside me tapping his scarred and tattooed hand on the table, we accept their condolences on the loss of a leader with as much graciousness as we can and their hopes for Falen's speedy recovery before they start on recent news like Amity's new agricultural regimen or Candor's negotiation with Abnegation on the repair of their bridge that's to start next spring.
In light of the recent faction-less attack Max assures them the heightened security is already in full effect for the winter months.
Candor brings up their concern of the recent body count of faction-less littering the city, winter is when they are the most harshly affected.
"How is Marcus?" Jeanine asks Andrew, when the meeting has been concluded. Her assistant never looks up from the electronic device in his hands, he has on his usual thick rimmed glasses.
Jack Kang stands near them with a look of pure interest on the topic while Amity files out of the room.
Candor is responsible for the News that is circulated through the city and factions but Erudite is usually the one that produces the topics of their headlines.
The scandal about Abnegation's transfer used to be big news but now its dwindled out. Still, Marcus' absence causes it to remain in the back of everyones mind.
"He's doing as well as can be expected at the time." Andrew answers solemnly before politely introducing me to his son as if to change the direction. "This is my son Caleb."
He has his father's features, light brown hair and hazel eyes. He doesn't smile but he bows respectfully even though he doesn't have to. I'm not an important figure.
I offer a greeting and he responds in kind, and then gives me his condolences, apologizing for my loss.
I nod wordlessly.
"Genesis, Max, pleasure to see you again." Jeanine says distracted from her conversation with Abnegation, her pale blue eyes take me in calculatingly and she brushes her hair away from her cheek, behind her ear.
"Likewise." Max replies politely, I'm about to answer, to offer up my own pleasantries but Jack's son runs into me, nearly knocking himself over.
"I apologize." He says immediately bowing, he looks up at me with wide eyes like I might hurt him, he barely comes up to my chest.
He has black hair and brown eyes like his father.
"Lem." Jack calls and the boy scampers away. I did try to soften my features and not scowl at him though I must've failed.
"Well if you'll excuse us." Andrew says politely, motioning for his son to also start heading for the door to the exit stairs. They both bow respectfully.
We also leave and wait till the elevator arrives but the rest of us are headed for Erudite.
"It's probably just an error in your new simulation program." Max says aloud and I vaguely catch Jeanine's piercing glare directed at him from across the room.
Max shrugs and leans back in his chair with his arms behind his head, completely at ease. She taps her long painted fingernails on her desk before referring to me.
"Do you notice any abnormalities?" Jeanine asks me as I peel my eyes from the tablet in my hands, just concluded watching through for the 3rd time.
In total Four is only in his simulation for 5 minutes and 24 seconds. Only in one portion of the simulation does a door appear for his exit. A door that had not been there before.
Rather than focus on the obvious wrong, that his Abnegation father should not be in charge of the cities government. That his absence is shameful.
We're looking for minute anomalies, searching for 'needles in haystacks' to help in her new and 'improved' version of the fear simulation program.
"Nothing that can't be construed as an error." I respond evenly. Sometimes terror can cause lapses in their landscapes, it does not mean they are aware.
Jeanine begins fuming, her tapping becomes louder, sharper.
Garret sits across from me and watches me with interest, I've been around longer than him even though he is several years older.
I ignore him and work through watching the other simulations of the people on the neatly typed list and imagine what sort of consequences Amar may face for not reporting these results in preliminaries during the initial trial of the new fear serum.
Erudite would have used those results as before making improvisations to it for stage 2.
If the new serum did not perform well, they would revert to the previous years stock. But the test was inconclusive do to the miss handled results.
Transfers:
Four
Jason
Dauntless Born:
Reiner
Out of the 12 initiates they suspect less than a handful, of being Divergent.
My tongue bristles at the thought.
They look, talk, and act like everyone else, which makes them diffcult to detect outwardly.
Sometimes they just bring up those that do suspiciously well. I am inclined to dismiss all of them, and blame Erudite's faulty technology but I know Jeanine would never be so inaccurate.
"Since you two seem to be so well versed in the inner workings of a simulation program, tell me how I could go about remedying this error?" Jeanine asks tersely with sarcasm and disdain, she runs a hand through her bob, sitting back in her chair as she does so.
In our presence she hardly keeps up her stoic straight sharp countenance. We are all too familiar with each other.
"Before we talk about that, Jeanine." I say her name with verve and disrespect. "Did you plant the Erudite transfer?"
Jeanine smiles, covering her mouth and I take it that he was. If so. I have half the mind to have his name among this list.
"Of course not." Jeanine denies, with a raised brow, and a noncommittal shrug but her smile remains. "In fact I was surprised when he transferred. He had expressed an interest in becoming a doctor, although his aptitude test showed Dauntless. He has a very short temper that one, little patience, and an inclination for violent behaviors."
"Then why is he observing me?" I ask.
The two of them laugh as though my question amuses them.
Having someone watching me for Erudite purposes is highly aggravating, considering our Leader's failure and betrayal, it isn't unlikely that they would watch her spawn closely but I don't appreciate the insinuations and he is still an initiate.
"Oh, Genesis." She admonishes waving her hand in the air, my expression becomes bored, and un-amused. "Did you not stop to consider that he may be just another inexperienced adolescent male? Or perhaps it's your inexperience."
"I hardly have an interest in preoccupying myself with the little distractions you so graciously provide us with." I say with palpable annoyance now, leaning back in my chair to glower at her.
The Erudite transfers thus far, to their credit do have Dauntless aptitude but I could never dissuade myself from the thought that they defect with some hidden agenda spurred by her.
"Unfortunate for him, he's obviously not intelligent enough to 'dodge' the metaphorical and literal bullet that is you." Jeanine jokes flippantly, insulting me. "It's obvious he's right where he belongs if he's that dim-witted." Then Dauntless as well.
Max chuckles and pinches the bridge of his nose before shaking his head. "Let's move on." He says with amusement, before checking his watch. "We'll just watch them all throughout stage 2, or you could investigate the simulations more closely, watch the administrations, take a more hands on approach. It would be nice to have a little more to work with, Jeanine."
Jeanine frowns at that, looking thoughtful.
"Very well, schedule an appointment for an extended visit to Dauntless." She shoots to Garret who begins typing immediately into his device. "Anyway." She counters, looking back to me. "Out of what you have observed of Tobias Eaton, do you feel he is having any particular difficulties? Say in…' Fitting in' socially?"
"No more than the other transfers." I reply flatly putting my cheek in my palm, Jeanine looks genuinely pleased by my answer.
In all honesty he seems to be one of the most well adjusted of them.
I look over the initiates rankings from stage one, he definitely shows no reserves. Although I bristle at the thought of cowardice in him, in regards to his father.
A fear like that should be easily overcome and mastered. Yet it persists. His landscape dominated heavily by it.
"As you can see he's the top ranked initiate." Max says with a proud undertone. "You know maybe we could have him as one of the candidates for leadership… Say after this years is over and your new simulation programming is confirmed a piece of shit." He adds half-jokingly, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the desk.
Jeanine's frown depends to become her most prominent feature, she is ovely concerned with who might become the next Dauntless leaders.
"I don't believe we've tested it on you yet Genesis." She says changing the subject back to her program, and ignoring the leadership discussion while looking me over with calculating eyes, for the moment she looks just like our late leader. "I wonder, do you still only have few fears yourself?"
I don't reply this time, leaning back in the leather chair, raking a hand through my still silver hair, with forced casualty. My jaw tightens instinctively.
I slow my rapid breathing and in response to the painful irksome pounding of my heart against my rib cage while sitting up in the metal chair, blinking away the spots in my vision as the fluorescent lights attack my eyes.
Letting out a deep breath followed by wiping the sweat off my palms on the fabric of my pants.
Max stands leaned against the glass, the smell of cigarette smoke invades my nose when I inhale.
Garret works quickly removing the electrodes from his temples and my temples, I bristle at his lingering fingers when he removes the electrodes monitoring my heart rate that was placed between the column of my neck and my clavicle.
His spectacle covered eyes advert themselves while I re-zip my jacket up to my chin, expression flat and unaffected by my glare.
"Once again you've proven to be the most successful candidate for testing." Jeanine tsks sarcastically through the microphone on the other side of the glass, she writes something down before pressing the intercom button again. "At least Riedley did something right."
Her casual reference to the late leader, being at all responsible for my accomplishments brings on an unprecedented rage.
As if I am just a product of years of her conditioning and not my own natural disposition and aptitude.
Unlike the other unsuccessful broods.
Falen's son started killing for sport of Divergent and non. His daughter lost her mind much before that. They were the twins. Their mother having died from complications in childbirth. Twins are very rare.
Erudite themselves have a string of supporters but Jeanine is always reluctant, as doctors tend to get a bit too demented with their methods of study.
I'd understood little on how a Divergent differed from the faction-less besides the faction-less just being individuals who made the wrong choice against their aptitude and were unable to assimilate.
Their predisposed attitudes and behaviors unwelcome, and then restricted from returning to their previous factions having denounced them.
At some point there had been a necessity for faction-less, a place the rejects could go that still had a purpose. Still, they had to make it undesirable. A threat and motivation against failure to drive making the right choice on choosing day.
The aptitude test gives everyone a clear absolute, on where we belong, another way the choice is made simpler.
"Anyway, we can use your results as a control variable for the oncoming research." Jeanine says again through the speakers with a tired sigh, like she doesn't look forward to the work ahead of her.
"Would you like a ride back to Dauntless?" Max asks me, casually putting his cigarette out under his boot on the pristine white ground, creating an ugly spot.
Jeanine makes obscenely rude gestures at his back through the glass.
"No." I stand, he smirks and then shrugs.
The fear simulations put me in a dangerous mood.
He reminds me to stay away from faction-less territory and that the train should be arriving soon.
Before I can depart after standing, Max speaks up. "I hear you've become popular among the transfers, I hope that doesn't effect your judgement this year." He picks at the dirt under his nails.
I grit my teeth and think of the transfers. Falen and Max will oversee Dauntless born initiates, they feel it's being considerate of me, having grown up with most of them.
Conscious of Jeanine's sudden interested in us once more, perking up at our conversation. I pull my jacket down to smooth out the wrinkles.
"On the contrary." I lie, saying nothing more.
Max smiles but Jeanine does not.
It's a cold night, my breath comes out in short huffs, filling the light mask that's covering my face with hot air.
Only my eyes are exposed to not affect my vision. My jacket is heavy, larger to conceal my form but fit enough not to hinder my movements, I dressed for warmth and stealth with the hood pulled taut over my tightly pinned hair.
The ground gives way to grass under my boots and I step lightly through the quiet corners going from shadow to shadow, pressing myself between buildings .
Abnegation have a strict curfew and everyone is already asleep, has been asleep for several hours.
Each building is identical, plain, gray and modest and I know exactly which gray concrete square I'm headed to.
When I reach it, shining my light quickly over the plaque above their door reads Eaton Residence.
It's not uncommon for a transfer to take the plunge into the chasm when they fear they won't make it through stage 2, over breaking too many rules and being warned of them.
Or for one of ours to choose faction-less over shame though most consider that worse than death.
My mouth is cottony, thick and my head is throbbing, the food on my plate looks disgusting as I push it around with my fork.
I burp in my mouth once, coaxed by the pressure, a burning bit of acidic vomit rises up my throat, the taste and after effects of a night spent drinking.
The groans around me are loud and mirror my own, the celebrated braveries of our departed.
I can still hear the chanting and the declaration about the transfer going on to start a new initiation in the great unknown, the greatest achievement, and highest bravery.
The sounds are hollow echoes in my ears.
I push my plate away and press my cheek against the table top.
"I don't wanna go to school today." Gabriel complains, draping an arm over my shoulder before jerking me roughly upright once more.
Kat sits across from me, with an expression not unlike the others. She covers her face with her hands and groans loudly about her aching head, and exploding eardrums.
I reach across for my cup of coffee to wash the bile from my throat, and she looks up, a fleeting look in her eyes betrays her, my brow twitches involuntarily.
"I wouldn't drink that if I were you." She says, the moment past, wiped from her face like a trick of the light.
She scoops a forkful of my neglected breakfast into her mouth, chewing loudly with her mouth open.
I drink deeply, and swallow thickly. Dragging my tongue across the back of my teeth.
I glare at the book that's been dropped in front of me, right on top of the point sheets. My fingers curl around the pen in my hand, making my knuckles white with restraint in avoiding snapping it in half.
My composure returns with a long breath, and I slide it back over to the end of the reception desk.
Eric makes no movement to retrieve it.
I give him a raised brow while removing the lid of the fizzy water Amar brought me moments before, bringing it to my lips to take a sip.
His expression does not give me any answer besides the slight turn up of the side of his mouth in a smirk.
Eric then shrugs before leaving. Not a single word uttered in our exchange but much was implied. Such has been the nature of our encounters, though rare for him to engage outright.
I'm not sure what incenses me more, that he seems to be more observant of me than I'd like, or that I have become more aware of him.
That he's come into the shop without getting a tattoo or a piercing, just to give me a book.
My curiosity feels reprehensible, as I take it up to read, finding that it only contains pictures.
"Enough, Jeanine denies that he was planted. His aptitude is Dauntless. We ran the tests this year." Max says sternly, blowing an obscenely large amount of smoke out of his mouth and nose. "He is one of the top initiates, for now, just drop it. He's a boy, showing you more attention than you're used to, that's what boys his age do."
I grit my teeth and glare openly at Max, despite my knowing it was pointless to bring up my suspicions of Eric, I had.
They blame my inexperience with handling affections or attention from the opposite sex.
I have no evidence, Eric had little as far as personal belongings in his possession, stashed away between the layers of his bunk in the initiates dorm. The only thing he had retained of his past were his Erudite spectacles.
"We have much more important matters to discuss." Falen says with a deep frown, he taps his fingers on the table next to the tablet with the news headlines flashing across it. I lean back against the wall near the door and cross my arms over my chest. "I know, I know." He continues with a sigh, he leans back in his chair also, his knee bounces rapidly, drumming the ground with his boot.
Falen's son was excommunicated and left to faction-less over 2 years ago where he was permitted to cull their numbers, but only during the winter time when their deaths could be blamed on the extreme temperatures and lack of food.
I disproved of their decision in letting him live, much more in them letting him loose but I was younger then, they didn't listen to the late leader either.
Many of the previous leaders when in disagreement with the whole end up on the receiving end of a gun or blade.
Now Falen's son has murdered an innocent. A candor woman. Jack Kang demanded justice, to which Falen and Max said they would serve personally. Quietly.
"Should we draw straws?" Max asks next, he pushes away from his desk to open one of his drawers to produce the method in which we will decide who will take on the task.
Falen agrees instantly, although he expresses his thought's on how he should be the one to do it, because he is responsible.
Max insists that this is a group issue because there had been a vote and we are all equally responsible.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and push my fingers into my eyes and draw out of his hand, suspecting duplicity and that I will have to undertake the mission regardless.
But Max draws the shortest straw. When he looks at me anyway, I say "No."
The canteen is filled with people almost no space between the bodies packed in to watch the concession.
Kat, Jade and a few others tower above me, having taken up standing on the table to have the best view.
I sit with my cheek in my palm, twisting the melted plastic end of one of their untied boot laces.
Somewhere in the room, Amar stands with his initiates. He was devastated to have lost one but had acquiesced to have successfully gotten a year of instructing experience under his belt, determined not to lose another ever again.
When everyone quiets down, save for a few throat clearings and chuckles, I hear the telltale crackle of a microphone.
"A few weeks ago, a group of scrawny, scared initiates gave their blood to the coals and made the big jump into Dauntless." Max's voice booms. "I am prouder today than the very first. I'm pleased to welcome them now, with the highest total transfer scores we've ever seen!"
The cheers erupt, filling the room with nothing but noise.
"No more delays!" He bellows over the cheering and yelling, cups are clanking as people start drinking and the boots begin stomping on the tables, clapping at an interval.
I push out of the bench and stand. Spying Falen and Max on the second floor.
"I know our initiates are jumping out of their skin. So, without further ado, here are our 10 new Dauntless members!"
The large screen high above the pit begins displaying their names from lowest rank to highest.
Four is ranked at number 1. And when his name finally appears the room thunders with cheers and chaos ensues.
A crowd throws Four into the air repeatedly, the boy from Abnegation, only Four fears, top of the rankings in both stage 1 and in stage 2.
He has also become a candidate for leadership.
The rest of the new Dauntless get thrown up into the air above the crowds though Eric is obviously not happy with being second place.
I am disappointed that he is also considered a leadership candidate but I know they need a large enough selection to choose from.
Another year is coming to a close.
I lay awake in the dark listening to the soft snores and breathing around me and check my watch, which reads 2:24 A.M.
I sit up slowly and push the heavy pre-winter comforters off, to slide my legs over the side of the bed, silently and even more slowly creeping out of it, so as to not wake anyone.
The concrete ground is frigid under my bare feet as I make my way out of my room, stopping briefly to slide my pants on over my pajamas and gather my jacket, gloves and boots.
I close my bedroom door silently behind me.
My apartment is tossed from the celebration of new members last night.
Cups litter the floor, and there's are numerous sleeping forms likewise scattered in uncomfortable positions throughout. Some snoring.
A soft knock sounds at my door.
"Morning." Falen greets, he has on an exuberant smile with his hands clasped in front of him.