The apartment was still dark when V opened her eyes, lying on her back in bed. As she stared at the ceiling, her first thought was that today was the choosing ceremony. It was a day that she both hated and loved at the same time. Getting the new recruits in order was like herding cats, and it was long day… However, this year, V and Eric had been chosen to lead this year's new group. Alongside her brother and two other top officers, which meant that any member of Dauntless had to do what they said.

Without hesitation, V swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the cold morning air brushing against her skin as her feet met the floor. She stretched her arms above her head, the muscles in her back and shoulders loosening up as she stood up. She yawned again as she began making her way into the bathroom to get ready for their incredibly long day.

She lazily reached for the shower knob, the sound of the rushing water from the showerhead filling the quiet space. She immediately stepped into the shower, softly gasping at the initial shock of cold water. Quickly it started to warm up and she started washing her hair, the smell of lavender filling the steamy bathroom.

After a couple minutes she heard feet shuffling against the tile floor as Eric got ready to shower with her. As she started rinsing shampoo out of her hair, she heard him hack twice, the harsh sound echoing off the bathroom walls as he spit into the sink. She scrunched her face up, always grossed out when he did that in the mornings. A second later the shower curtain pulled back and she watched him step in with her, the steam swirling around the two of them. He took two small steps towards her, trying to move behind her.

As they slid past each other Eric's lips brushed against her bare shoulder, sending a soft shiver down her spine. She inhaled, the steam of the water filling her lungs as she let out a content sigh. Eric stood behind V, and without any words V gently stepped back leaning her back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist as they quietly stood together, the warm water running over them. "Good morning, Mrs. Coulter." He whispered in her ear, and it made her smile.

She wanted to stay in this moment forever, but she knew that was not on their busy schedule for today. She turned her head and kissed his neck before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around her body and long-wet hair. She quickly grabbed some things out of the medicine cabinet and got to work taming her hair, admiring herself

in the mirror as she did. She let her hair down from the towel balanced on her head, adoring how long her hair was now. Her long hair was her favorite feature. Despite V's tomboyish nature, she meticulously maintained her grooming, keeping her skin and hair flawless.

She decided on a tight set of French braids, knowing her hair would be a wreck by the end of the day anyway. Her fingers expertly began weaving the wet strands of hair into place, each piece of hair pulling and shifting with every move she made. She worked with no wasted movements, tucking the final pieces of hair into place and pulling the braid tightly against her scalp.

The water shut off as Eric stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and locking his eyes on V. He carelessly dried himself off, staring at her towel-wrapped figure the entire time. She could see him looking at her in the mirror as she finished pulling the braids over her shoulder, and a teasing smirk danced across her lips. Without acknowledging him she pivoted on her feet and turned out of the bathroom.

Eric let out a frustrated groan to himself, glancing down at his watch. As much as he wanted to snatch her up and throw her down on the bed, he knew they didn't have time... He followed her into the bedroom, his thoughts of affection quickly shifting back to their day ahead. V was already halfway dressed, her new uniform fitting perfectly. Eric thought about how a brand-new uniform would signify to everyone that there was a change. With a new last name came a new wardrobe. Last names were sewn onto everything a Dauntless officer owned. She looked up and caught him staring again, making her blush a little this time.

"What?" She asked, smoothing down the fabric of her uniform, keeping the edges sharp and neat.

"Nothing. I just love you." Eric replied walking over to get his uniform out of the closet. He quickly got dressed, moving efficiently. His movements were swift as he pulled on his uniform, the fabric sliding over his shoulders with familiarity. By the time he finished getting dressed, V was lacing up her boots almost ready to go.

Eric quickly stomped his own boots on, lacing them up with a quick tug of his hands. The flat was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of Chicago's low panting as the couple danced around each other, trying to make their way out the front door. The dog was patiently waiting, anticipating what came next. He was always a part of this routine, and he imagined today was no exception.

"Keys?" V called out, as Eric walked out of the bathroom from brushing back his hair.

"Already got em'." He replied, rushing around to grab the last few things he would need for today. Their regal-looking Belgian Malinois sat by the door and tilted his head, sensing that something was different about today. Normally, they woke up got dressed and were out the door. Finally, the couple reached the front door and Chicago's usual eagerness was met with hesitation from V as she blocked him from bolting out the door.

She crouched low, her expression softening as her eyes met her dog's. Chicago sat obediently, with his ears perked up and tail excitedly thumping against the concrete floor. "Good boy." V whispered, reaching out to scratch gently behind his ears. Chicago leaned into her touch with a small whine, tail wagging more slowly now. He realized he was not going with them. "Not today, I'm sorry." She hummed, her voice low and warm. "You stay here, and we'll be back tonight."

She kissed the top of his soft brown head before standing back up and walking out of the flat. Chicago stayed where he was, ears drooping slightly as the door clicked shut between him and his girl. As soon as he heard them walk away, he laid down at the front door, nose resting on his paws, and ears pointed forward to listen for the sound of them returning.

The couple moved quickly down the stairs, their footsteps echoing outside the quiet building. The sun was finally starting to rise, dimly lighting the sky a soft purple color. V wondered when their neighbors would be getting up for the day, she imagined more people would be up by now. Then she had to remind herself that not everyone lived the same life they did. Being Jeanine's top two was a hard job to keep up with, and not many officers were able to maintain themselves like the Coulter's did.

By the time they reached the car, V pushed the thought aside and climbed inside. Eric peeled away from the curb as soon as she shut her door, speeding recklessly into the early morning traffic. Eric drove like a bat out of hell on purpose, and Jeanine was aware of it. The entire city of Chicago was aware of it. At the same time, Jeanine never said or did anything to stop him. Honestly, his bad driving behavior was the least of her problems. The couple drove to the main Dauntless compound in complete silence, both of them compartmentalizing how their day would unfold.

First, they would need to check in with Jeanine. Then, they would need to catch the train to the center of downtown. From there, they would have to sit through an incredibly boring and lengthy ceremony. After that, they would have to catch the train back to the training compound. Once they got back, they would have to kick the official initiation into the faction. On top of that, they would have to herd the new recruits to get their uniforms. Finally, they would have to get them to their living quarters and from there Four would take over until it was time for bed. It was going to be a long day.

On top of that, Eric had to work extra to desensitize himself after having been off for a week and only being around his new bride. He was different around V, and only to V. He could never let anyone in the faction see that side of him. When Eric went to work, he became a cold and ruthless soldier… Thankfully, for Eric, V still knew how to handle that side of him. Even then, she knew to keep her distance and go along with whatever he said. Easier said than done sometimes…

V knew today was going to be uncomfortable for Eric, especially after the intimate week they'd just shared. The kind of closeness they had been used to for the last week wasn't something that was easily tucked away once Monday morning rolled around, especially now that they were married. She shifted slightly in her seat, the leather creaking beneath her as she looked over at him. Her gaze lingered for a moment, watching the sharp line of his jaw twitch, the way his shoulders tensed up, and how his knuckles went white as he tightly gripped the steering wheel.

Eric could feel her staring at him as he reached across the center console, very slowly as if unsure of how the gesture would land. He firmly took her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. He looked back out at the road and V could sense something inside him unclench. He let out a heavy breath, and his once rigid shoulders softened a tiny bit. For a moment, he found peace in their simple touch.

"Just take your time," V murmured, her voice barely louder than the hum of the tires against the pavement. She turned back towards her passenger-side window, watching buildings blur past as they sped through traffic.

Eric looked over at her again, just for a second, before locking his eyes back on the road ahead. All he could notice was her brand-new uniform. He gave her hand one more tender squeeze before letting it go and resting both hands on each side of the steering wheel. V turned to look back at him, expecting him to say something. His back was straight again, with his jaw tensing back up, and a stressed-out expression across his face.

"Everyone's going to know as soon as they see your uniform," he muttered, the words slipping out through clenched teeth. His hands abruptly left the wheel as he roughly rubbed his face with both palms. Then, with a loud smack, his palms hit the wheel again, knuckles whitening as he gripped it as tight as he could. He shook his head, trying to physically shake off the anxiety that coiled around his chest like a vice.

"Eric…" V said softly, her voice trailing as she searched for words that she couldn't find. Because he was right. The uniform, pristine and new, would be noticed instantly. It wouldn't take anyone long to see her new last name.

Eric stared straight ahead with his jaw still clenched tightly, gritting his teeth. He hated feeling this exposed and vulnerable. He wanted her to have his name, but the attention it would bring made his stomach knot up.

"I'm sorry," he groaned. "I'm not trying to be a dick…"

"Stop the car." Her voice was calm, but firm.

"What?" His brows furrowed as his foot hesitated over the brake pedal. He turned to look at her like she'd lost her mind. The road was only two lanes wide, and traffic was steady.

"Stop. The. Car!" She barked at him, and he smashed on the brake pedal.

He growled, skidding across the pavement as the SUV lurched to a stop. Behind them, a truck blared its horn and swerved violently around them, tires squealing as it peeled off ahead.

"Jesus, Doll!" he exploded, throwing his arms in the air. "What the hell was that?!"

"You're not a dick," she snapped back, locking her eyes deep into his. Her voice was low, deliberate. She paused for a moment, thinking. She had to pick her words carefully. She knew they wouldn't have another opportunity to talk to each other like this for the rest of the day, and it was her one chance to get it all off her chest.

"I'm anxious too," she finally said, her voice softening. "There is no doubt our marriage is going to bring attention to us. A lot of it. But we just have to make it through today. That's all. Tomorrow… no one's going to say a damn thing to you about it. I'll handle the rest."

Eric stared at her, frozen, letting her words sink in for a moment. The storm in his chest quieted a little, knowing she was feeling the same way as him. And she was ready to carry the weight of this alongside him.

"…Now, drive," she ordered, folding her arms across her chest and turning back to face the windshield like the conversation was over.

He watched her for a moment longer, a crooked grin pulling at his lips. She had a fire in her that knocked the wind out of him every damn time. He was still buzzing from her intensity as he took his foot off the brake, aggressively merging back into traffic.

"You are something else," he said under his breath, the smile still lingering. It wasn't sarcastic, he was truly impressed by her. She caught his glance out of the corner of her eye and gave him a little side-smile before looking away again. V understood him better than anyone ever had, and that scared the hell out of him. At the same time, he loved it.

A couple of minutes later, Eric turned their car into the nearly empty parking lot. He pulled into their designated spot, hesitating to turn the car off right away. The electric engine stealthily idled in its parking spot as he thought about what he wanted to say to his wife.

Their eyes met again, and V could see that his expression had shifted. His eyes looked much darker now, his movements were more controlled, and he seemed quieter. The tension had returned to his frame, settling in like armor before a battle.

"You know that I appreciate the hell out of you, right?" He bluntly asked, and she smiled climbing over the center console to give him a kiss on his lips.

"You're my person." She whispered, seductively smiling at him.

"I just want you to know that —" He trailed off for a minute thinking about what to say next. "You don't have to deal with everything on your own. Besides the more I'm involved with telling our news, the less everyone will have to say." She kissed him again, not sure what to say. He could be such a romantic when he wanted.

V reached a hand up and pulled down the car's sun visor. Her thumb flipped open the small mirror embedded in its underside, quickly looking over her appearance. She wanted to make sure that she looked her best for Jeanine and while representing her faction. She carefully brushed down the collar of her uniform again, making sure everything looked perfect. Once satisfied, she flicked the mirror shut with a soft click and pushed the visor back into place.

"Let's go to work," she said to him, pushing open her car door and stepping out. The chill of the morning air met her face immediately, and the solid thump of her boots hitting the asphalt echoed louder in her head than it did in the lot.

As V rounded the front of the car Eric's door swung open, and he climbed out in one fluid motion. V watched him closely as he stretched his shoulders back and rolled his neck once before shutting the door with a firm thunk. His expression still appeared unreadable, but anyone could see the visible tension he was holding in his jaw. He slipped his hand into his pocket, locking the car with his key fob as the car let out a single chirp.

Without another word they started their short walk inside. Eric took the lead, the two of them almost marching inside. Their boots struck the pavement with rhythmic precision, V was perfectly in step to his left. She kept her eyes forward, not looking over at Eric, while trying to keep calm as they got closer to being inside. She did not want to see Jeanine.

As they neared the main entrance, the double doors hissed and parted for them. Two doormen in striking blue uniforms held the doors open for everyone who walked into the great hall, keeping straight faces and staying quiet as they held the doors open. The couple stepped inside and looked around noticing only a few other officers had arrived this early, stopping just inside the doorway. They stood two feet apart, with neither glancing at the other. Their posture was rigid, and their uniforms were perfectly pressed. They were the perfect looking Dauntless couple, and everyone silently hated them for it.

Jeanine was standing in the center of the open hall, engaged in conversation with two sharply dressed officials on each side of her. She was wearing a long dress that was a deep shade of blue, regal and crisp with her blonde flawlessly coiled into an intricate bun at the top of her head.

The second she spotted the couple a smile radiated across her face. Without a word she walked away mid-conversation from the people she was standing with, just to greet her two best officers. She seemingly floated across the hall, her eyes never leaving the pair.

V suddenly felt a lump form in her throat the second she saw Jeanine coming towards them. Her shoulders remained squared, her spine straight, but her stomach tightened into a hundred knots. Eric shifted slightly, subtly widening his stance, as if bracing himself for impact.

"Good morning, Coulters," Jeanine called out, her voice deliberately loud and clear. Conversations in the large room tapered off mid-sentence as a few of the surrounding bystanders turned their attention towards the couple.

Eric didn't flinch, but a breathless sigh slipped through his nose. It was barely audible, but V caught it. She hoped Jeanine had not. Eric kept his composure, nodding once in acknowledgment. "Good morning, Jeanine." His voice, was low and controlled, lacking warmth. His response was flat but respectful enough to pass as civil. And as much as he wanted to yell at everyone… He didn't react to the dozens of eyes now aimed at them like quiet spotlights. But he could feel them. All of them. Whispering. Judging.

The rumors of Eric getting married had been spreading for weeks, but no one had any proof. Plus, no one had dared to speak to either one of them openly. But now, it was obvious. V's uniform was the evidence they had been lacking for weeks. Proof.

Whispers bloomed like smoke in the corners of the room and Eric felt like he could hear all of them. It made his blood boil, but he knew he needed to stay level. Jeanine, of course, looked absolutely delighted.

"Are we ready for a successful initiation?" She asked them both, knowing exactly what she was doing.

V did her best to keep her head up and maintain eye contact with Jeanine. Inside, her stomach hurt, and she felt like she couldn't swallow. "Yes, Ma'am." They both nodded and Jeanine smiled. Neither one of them could wait to get the hell out of here.

"Then I shall see you there, Coulters," Jeanine said with a forced smile. She gave them a polite nod before pivoting on her heel, her neatly polished shoes clicking loudly against the tile floor as she walked back to the group she'd left behind. Her tone had been sweet, but her exit felt calculated, as if the entire conversation had been a performance.

Eric's eyes followed her for a second before scanning back across the room. He noticed that people were still staring at them and one by one, he met each gaze head-on until people instinctively looked away. His presence alone was enough to intimidate, and he used it like a weapon.

He glanced across the room once more, searching for Max or Four but didn't see either one of them. He assumed they had either already left or had not yet arrived. In any case, V and him were ready to leave.

"Let's go," Eric mumbled, as he turned and led the way back through the grand lobby. The doormen pulled open the heavy double doors once more, allowing the couple to exit. As Eric and V stepped outside, the early morning light had shifted from a hazy purple to a bold and golden yellow that spilled between the buildings and warmed up the city. A gentle breeze threaded through the buildings, tugging at their faces to remind them that winter was still lurking.

Instinctually, the pair broke into a sprint, boots pounding against the pavement with purpose. Their movements seemed practiced, having rehearsed this moment a hundred times before. Ahead of them, the rusted rail structure of the train stretched across the city skyline.

They reached it in seconds, scaling the beams with ease, fingers gripping cool metal as they hoisted themselves towards the top. Rust flaked beneath their hands, and the metal structure rattled under their boots as they ascended, moving quickly and comfortably. V kept pace just behind Eric, focusing on each move she made, trying not to think about how high up she was. By the time they reached the platform, the train was already in sight rattling down the tracks at full speed. As V turned to look back at how close the train was, her eyes locked on her brother and Max who stood just a few feet away. They both head their heads turned back to look at the train, their bodies positioned to take off into a full sprint when it was time. It wasn't until they all took off running that the two soldiers saw the Coulters.

The four of them took off running down the narrow platform, their combat boots pounded against the metal surface as each of them took turns leaping into the train car. Four went first, his body a blur of motion as he hurled himself through the air. He hit the floor of the car, rolling onto the ground and jumping to his feet. Eric and Max followed with ease, leaping and landing on their feet. Eric quickly leaned out the open car and looked down at V.

She was still running, with her boots slamming hard against the platform. Her heart raced, not from the sprint, but from the height. She hated this part… always had. Twenty feet off the ground, with no room for hesitation. To make things a little worse, the end of the platform was coming up fast. If she didn't jump now, Eric would have to yank her up. She hated that method.

V gritted her teeth and threw herself at the open car, air rushing over her face as she flew inside. She braced for impact against the metal floor, being pleasantly surprised when she crashed into Eric's arms instead.

He pulled her into his chest as she collided into him, the force knocking him back a couple of steps. He let her go and neither of them said anything while they straightened themselves back out. They stood side-by-side again, maybe two feet apart, and trying not to overly focus on the other. Eric suddenly realized how difficult it was going to be for him not to overly focus on his new bride.

Four and Max both watched the couple closely, quickly noticing V's new uniform. Four's gaze immediately dropped to the stitched name on her chest, COULTER. He shifted his gaze over to Eric, who was giving Max a death stare. Four wondered if V's presence was going to change Eric this year, while initiating new recruits. Especially since both men knew this would be the last group that they initiated into the faction.

The longer Four stared at the couple, the more V felt it. She finally turned her head and caught her brother looking at her. Without a word, she stepped away from Eric's side and took three steps over to him, leaning her back against the wall of the car. She stared at him, mirroring his posture and crossing her arms.

"Nice uniform," Four said dryly, eyes flicking down to her new last name again.

"Oh yeah?" she shot back, picking up on the edge in his tone.

Four exhaled slowly, his posture softening slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm just tense."

She nodded along, knowing exactly what he meant. The first day always brought everything to the surface. The pressure, the expectations, the emotions... Added on top of that was the risk of both kids seeing their father. Marcus Eaton always found a way to try to talk to them, every year without fail. And every year, both siblings did their best to avoid him. Four managed the situation better than his sister, but it was still challenging for him to guard them both from Marcus. Thankfully Eric was here this time, and he wouldn't let Marcus get within a 6-foot radius of V.

Both kids resented their parents, but V more than her brother. She had to deal with their father on her own for those two years that Four left their faction to join Dauntless. What V didn't know but would surely piss her off… was that Four had been in contact with their mother again. Eric too. They were both working with Evelyn to get them out of the factions and into the non-sanctioned part of the wastelands. A place where they would be entirely on their own and hopefully be able to eventually make their way to an old free-world society in the furthest corner of the northwest.

She caught Four staring back at her new name badge again and she knew it bothered him. "You, okay?" She asked as he looked up into her eyes. He blinked a couple times as he thought about what to say to her.

"So, you changed it?" He asked, looking back at the new name on her uniform and unable to think about anything else. She nodded not saying anything to him about it as she carefully watched Eric and Max from the corner of her eye. She knew Eric wanted to beat the pulp out of Max, but he knew better. Max looked a little nervous, staring back at Eric like prey.

"I wanted to." She smiled back at her brother, not realizing it made Four feel like he was losing her even more. They both knew Jeanine had strict rules, and this was just one of them. "Besides, that's what you're supposed to do." She sighed.

"So, I guess you're okay with this going public?" He asked, knowing that she wasn't okay with it. His sister was a very private person, just like Eric. She shrugged not saying anything. She knew she didn't have a choice. She had to get new uniforms, and she had to give her old ones back.

"I don't really have a say in most things nowadays." She looked at him with a straight face. He nodded, agreeing with her. His life wasn't anymore rid of Jeanine than hers, so he got it. He just wished she had chosen to live with him just a little longer. At least until they made it out of the factions. It would have made him feel better about his sister's safety. He knew how cruel Jeanine could be to her and he was suspicious Eric didn't know everything about that quite yet. If he did, he wouldn't be able to tolerate Jeanine as well as he did. But this was what his sister had wanted and so he was trying his best to be supportive.

Their stop was coming up fast as they approached the center of downtown. The rhythmic clatter of the train rattling against the rusted tracks echoed off the steel and glass buildings towering around them. Eric moved first, stepping toward the right side of the train car. His hand gripped the edge of the open door, mentally calculating the timing. Behind him, the others followed bracing for impact. The rooftop was coming up fast, a wide landing pad of weather-worn concrete three stories below.

V took her position behind Eric, her heart pounding hard enough that she could feel it in her throat. The wind stung her face as she leaned out to get a look. The ground below looked farther away than she remembered.

"Now!" someone yelled, but she wasn't sure who. V ran for it, following behind Eric. Her legs moved before her mind caught up, and she threw herself from the train into the open air. For a moment, all she heard was the wind roaring past her ears and the distant hum of the train pulling away. She hit the rooftop hard, landing into a roll and quickly getting to her feet.

At the same time Eric landed in a crouch, boots skidding on the rooftop's surface before he moved out of the way for the next jumper. The other two followed, one by one, launching from the train's side and slamming down onto the rooftop with a mix of thuds and scuffing.

The group moved as one, rushing toward the fire escape ladder on the far end of the roof. They descended single file, their boots clanging against the steel rungs. Eric dropped the last few feet, scanning the alley before motioning V and the others to follow the rest of the way. They stealthily exited the alley and stepped into the crowded center like ghosts appearing from the shadows. Max took his opportunity to depart from the group, going off to do his own thing before the ceremony started.

As soon as they walked into the busy center, the atmosphere changed instantly. The overwhelming noise hit them first. There were hundreds of voices, some laughing, some crying, and the distant pounding of drums from a live band nearby. The crowd was thick, packed shoulder to shoulder with people from every faction. The air was heavy, filled with tension and emotion. Everyone seemed to be moving in the same direction, toward the massive, marble-carved entrance where the ceremony was held.

Banners hung on the outside of the building, each one bearing a different faction symbol. V watched as they fluttered in the wind like war flags. The entrance loomed ahead, looking like a mouth waiting to swallow everyone inside of it. The young people walking inside would come back different, regardless of if they stayed or left their current factions. No going back after today.

Eric walked beside V, silent but alert, his eyes sweeping over the faces around them. Whispers followed in their wake as other Dauntless members noticed V's new uniform and name. Four, V, and Eric moved with purpose, cutting through the masses like blades. So far, no sign of Marcus.

The three of them stepped through the towering doors of the ceremony hall, somewhat intimidated by the sterile brightness inside. The air was cool, and the space was enormous. Pale marble floors gleamed beneath their dirty black boots with tall and seamless walls stretching up into an arched ceiling. The room was perfectly smooth, as if the entire building had been carved from a single block of stone. The seating area covered the outer edges of the hall, rows upon rows of perfectly aligned white chairs sectioned off by faction. Each section had been marked with subtle banners bearing each faction's respective symbols.

Dauntless-born candidates began filling into the seats behind them, their entrance loud and unrestrained. Laughter and raised voices bounced off the high ceilings as they settled into their seats. In contrast, the other factions entered with more discipline and restraint. Erudite groups moved in small, tidy clusters, speaking in hushed, intellectual tones. Their eyes darted across the room, calculating and cataloging. Candor filtered in, whispering occasionally to each other but otherwise keeping to them, likely already evaluating the honesty—or lack thereof—in the room. And then came Abnegation.

V's eyes lingered on the Abnegation group as they quietly filed in, each step modest, each movement subdued. They sat perfectly straight, hands folded in their laps, eyes fixed forward. Not a single word passed between them. The stillness of their presence made them look more like statues than people. V felt a strange twist in her chest. Remembering memories of her past life, that was not all that long ago. For a second, she could almost feel the stiff fabric of the gray Abnegation dresses the young women were wearing. She blinked it away, her gaze shifting back to the present.

Beside her, Eric sat straight up in his seat, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes were scanning the room, slow and methodical. He didn't speak, but V could feel the seriousness in his posture. He looked at V for a split second, his eyes lingering on her for a couple seconds, before resuming his silent watch over the hall. That was his way of letting her know he was there. He had already spotted Marcus, and he was pretty sure the old man had spotted them too.

V leaned back in her chair, hands resting in her lap as she looked around again. The stage loomed ahead. In front of them sat five large bowls, each one resting on its own pedestal, signifying each faction. Gray stone for Abnegation. Glass for Candor. Soil for Amity. Burning coals for Dauntless and water for Erudite.

V looked around the room until her eyes snagged on her father's gaze and her stomach dropped. Without being obvious V repositioned herself in her seat, bumping into Four's side. He looked up at her and saw Marcus in the corner of his eye. Their father's face lit up as he waved across the room to them as they sat there acting like they didn't see him. V felt that knot in her stomach grow bigger, and her face suddenly felt hot. She felt like she was going to crawl out of her own skin. Four looked at his and saw the panic growing in her eyes.

"Breathe." He growled, barely above a whisper. "Look at me and breathe." He mumbled to her again, staring into her eyes. He could see the panic in her eyes continue to creep up as she tried taking some shaky breaths in and out. "Breathe." He whispered one more time as she took another breath in, closing her eyes and focusing. She felt the panic shrink away and she felt like she could breathe again. The tightness around her head and chest unraveled and she felt okay again. She looked at her brother and felt grounded again, avoiding the other side of the room.

Behind the stage, Jeanine lurked in the darkness, her gaze fixed on the tension unfolding across the room between the Eaton's. She quietly watched as Marcus' mere presence sent a visible tremor through his daughter's composure, pushing her to the brink of having a full-blown panic attack. A flicker of amusement glimmered in her eyes, she hated Marcus Eaton just as much as his kids and late wife hated him. Her eyes moved back to Four as he steadied his sister with a wordless glance, their silent exchange grounding V again. The moment passed, and Jeanine adjusted her posture, waiting for her cue to begin today's ceremony.

As soon as she got the signal from her stagehands she stepped onto the stage, her gown sweeping across the polished floor. It was a deep, commanding blue that elegantly shimmered under the lights. The room fell still, everyone's full attention snapping to her like a magnet. All heads were turned her direction as she reached the center of the platform, a porcelain smile firmly painted on her face. She held the silence for a breath longer than necessary, letting the weight of her presence settle over the crowd.

"Good morning, everyone," she began, her tone warm and smooth like her satin dress, but hollow. Her voice carried with a calm authority as she launched into her usual address, a recycled performance she gave every year. She spoke of promise, of potential, of bright futures and bravery. All empty and meaningless phrases delivered with impeccable poise. The crowd of young recruits sat there, captivated by the ritual of it all. As her speech tapered off, Jeanine gave a final, dazzling smile, before stepping over to her podium and calling the first name.

V watched as each young faction member would walk up on the stage, slice their hand with the small knife on a pedestal, and let a drop of blood fall into one of the five bowls. Jeanine droned on for the rest of the ceremony, announcing each person that walked up and then what faction they chose. V thought she was going to fall asleep. She hated this part. She looked at both Eric and Four who sat beside her, straight as boards and staring straight ahead into the abyss.

"Caleb, Prior!" Jeanine called, three fourths of the way through the ceremony. V's attention snapped over to the young man that got up from his seat and walked up on stage. Growing up she had known who the Prior's were. They lived just a few houses down from the Eaton's and both Prior siblings were only a couple of years apart in age from V. Plus, their parents were all on the council together. She watched Caleb pick up the knife, slice it over his hand and let his blood drip into the bowl of water.

"Erudite!" Jeanine called out as everyone in blue stood up and applauded their new recruit. V's eyes glanced to his parents who looked both confused and startled as Caleb walked over to his new faction with little remorse, but avoiding eye contact with his sister and their parents. "Beatrice Prior." Jeanine called out next as Caleb's sister got up from her seat beside her mother. She looked at her mom before turning away and walking up on stage. She sliced her hand and paused standing over all the bowls for a moment. Finally, she reached her hand over one of them, but V couldn't tell which one it was.

"Dauntless!" Jeanine clearly stated, leaving no uncertainty regarding the faction the girl had just chosen. V's heart jumped in her chest as she instinctively turned to glance at the Priors. Their faces had crumbled into quiet devastation, frozen with disbelief. V's gaze shifted to Four, who sat motionless beside her. His hands moved in a slow, mechanical applause. But his eyes were vacant like a ghost, present but hollowed out.

Forcing herself to follow suit, V turned back to the stage and joined the applause, her hands clapping numbly with the rest of her faction. Everyone in their section of seating roared to life, some even rising to their feet, cheering, stomping, and whistling for the new initiate who was crossing the stage and headed towards them. Their voices echoed off the stone walls, wild and full of energy. She kept her expression neutral, eyes forward, feeling the deep crack that had just split an entire family up.

An hour dragged by before the ceremony finally wrapped up and it was finally time to go 'home'. Which now felt a little different to everyone in the room. V was the first to leap out of her chair, as if it had burned her. Eric reacted to her by also bolting up and out of his. Four stared across the room as he also quickly got up, noticing that Marcus was looking and heading in their direction. He was working against the crowd, which meant that they had enough time to avoid him.

"We need to go," he mumbled tightly to Eric. Eric scanned the crowd, jaw tightening as he spotted Marcus weaving through the crowd with alarming speed, despite pushing against the exiting crowd. Neither of them said anything as they looked up ahead where V was, practically running back to the train. Both boys caught up to her, falling into formation that protected V from either side with Eric in the front, and Four behind with his hand on V's back, navigating her through the swarm of bodies. V kept her head straight ahead, her stomach churning, not yet realizing how close behind her father was.

They cut ahead most of the crowd, bursting out into the cool open air of downtown's center square. Their boots pounded against the pavement as they charged at full speed toward the rusted rail structure, the one familiar escape route that offered freedom from their current situation. Eric reached the base first, gripping the cold steel as he hoisted himself up onto the platform above. V followed close behind, almost breaking into a sweat as Four followed behind, just as Max also made it to the railway. Once to the top Four glanced back to see Marcus emerge from the building, quickly scanning the crowd. After a second he looked up at the train that was approaching to see both of his kids standing there, staring down on him.

The young members of their faction flooded in behind them, shouting and heavy footsteps echoing up the structure. The train zoomed in from behind as the three of them took off running, barely making it off the platform before it was taken out from under their feet. Eric grabbed the edge of the front car's open door and swung himself inside. V leapt in after him, her heart in her throat. Four landed hard behind them, just as the train surged forward, pulling them away from the platform. V sat up and saw her father, standing below, watching them disappear. As the train turned away from the center of the city, they could see new recruits leaping into all the train cars behind them.

Four sat down at the edge of the open doorway, staring out at the changing scenery. Max stood at the back of the mostly empty car, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. V laid down on her back on the floor of the metal car, catching her breath for a moment. She had been an emotional wreck the last few weeks, around the time Jeanine started "planning" their wedding ceremony.

Eric stood rigid at the front of the train car. His arms crossed tightly over his chest with his jaw locked, and teeth grinding. He stared down the length of the car at Max, who stood casually near the back, trying to act like he didn't feel Eric's laser stare burning a hole in the side of his head. The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks was the only thing anyone heard, and V closed her eyes for a minute, preparing herself to be thrown off this train again.

The longer Eric stared at Max, the more his anger surged in his veins, begging to be unleashed. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that blank expression off Max's face. He wanted to drive his knuckles into that man's jaw as hard as he could, to make him feel even a fraction of the damage that had been done to V under his watch. But he didn't.

'Not yet.' He thought, reminding himself that Max hadn't acted alone. He was just another one of Jeanine's puppets. That didn't make him innocent, but it did make him pitiful. Which, somehow, made it worse.