#iamdivergent

“Excuse me?” Newt asked. “Everything has gone to plan Mr. Newton. Although we expected more of you to give up along the way.” She looked at her companion and removed the hood from his head. It was as if Thomas’ eyes wanted to retreat back into their sockets. It was Gally. Every Glader’s breath in the room was sucked back and shortened.   Heat and anger filled his cheeks and he clenched and balled his fists. “What’s he doing here!” Minho shouted. “You’re safe now,” the woman responded as if she hadn’t heard him. “Please, be at ease.” “At ease?” Minho barked. “Who are you, telling us to be at ease? We wanna see the police, the mayor, the president—somebody!” Thomas was worried what Minho might do, then again, the thought of the woman getting punched in the face was close to comforting. Thomas kept his focus on Gally, trying to find eye contact. The kid looked strange, like he was in a daze as tears unwillingly dripped down his cheeks. The woman went on to say what a contribution the group made to the advancement of the world, and how their work was greatly appreciated. What was said was not clear in Thomas’ mind, all he heard was a muted hum of his own heartbeat quickening as his eyes stayed glued on Gally.  “They … can control me … I don’t—” Gally’s eyes bulged, a hand went to his throat as if he were choking. “I … have … to …” He almost looked as if he was being controlled. Gally reached to his right back pocket and pulled out something shiny and silver. It was a dagger. Everything that followed went by in a blur. The dagger came hurling towards Thomas. He heard it pierce skin, so he patted himself down, checking his body, but he was not the one hit. Chuck, his dear young friend, had taken the hit. Blood oozed from the wound, and Chuck moaned and groaned in pain. A waterfall’s worth of tears filled Thomas’ eyes and pressure came in to his head. All he could feel was hate.

WICKED took Chuck from me. Gally killed Chuck. WICKED. Gally. They killed Chuck. This refrain kept echoing in Thomas'head.

“Someone get help! Chuck please don’t die, stay with me please Chuck, come on buddy, you’re strong. Please!” Thomas said, but Chuck still wouldn’t answer. His eyes started to blink shut. “Thom…Thomas,” he could barely make out the name. “Thomas… Find my mom. Tell her I…” With that, without even finishing his last sentence, he died.

With a ragging outcry, Thomas lurched out at Gally, jumping out on top of him straddling his body. Thomas felt the death of Chuck, and Alby, and even Ben, who he didn’t even like. He felt every unexplained inquiry he’s ever known, since the Box, since the maze, and every barely lingering and faded memory all in one moment. He used that angst to fuel each punch, left and right and right and left. He squeezed down on Gally’s throat until he was purple in the face. He didn’t care, it was Gally’s fault Chuck was dead. Whatever part Gally was playing in this, it didn’t matter, he had to be gone.

“Stop you’re killing him! Tom– Thomas!! You’re killing him!” “IT’S HIS FAULT CHUCK’S DEAD. HE KILLED HIM!” “Please Thoma—” Newt and Minho rushed to Thomas’ side and pried his hands off of Gally. Thomas fell back onto the cold floor and wept. Minho walked over to the woman and spat in her face as she trembled with fear. In that moment a team of rescuers burst into the room. They were dressed in all black, with pockets running down the sides of their uniform jackets, they each had a band of identification with a symbol of a flame. They charged into the room and barricaded down the doors leading to the outside. One of the rescuers in front shot the blonde woman in the head and she fell to the ground. The rest of the group surrounded the Gladers and started pulling them outside. All of a sudden there were gunshots coming from helicopters labeled WCKD that surrounded the building, the rescuers pulled the teens onto their own helicopters that were on standby. Thomas stumbled back trying to keep his eyes on Teresa making sure she was not falling behind.

“Buckle up and rest up kids, we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.” said one of the masked rescuers, when they boarded the aircraft.

Newt nudged Thomas, “Whats next Tommmy?” He replied, “I don’t know man,  I don’t know, let’s just try and rest. Newt and the rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Thomas looked at the logos engraved into the roof of the helicopter as it took off. A hand holding another as if it was lifting up, was engraved in gray, an eye engraved in blue, a fire engraved in black, a tree engraved in orange, and a pair of scales that was black and white. Thomas didn’t know what those meant, but for now it was time for his first night’s sleep in what felt like a life time. 

Beatrice Prior

Beatrice Prior sat in the audience of the Choosing Ceremony without a single expression on her face. She thought of what faction she should choose. She looked to her left slightly at her brother Caleb who was fidgeting with his thumbs. Beatrice wondered what he would choose, would he choose abnegation–The faction of her birth? Would she? He told her that morning to “think of the family” what did that mean? Was he going to defer? Beatrice blinked and shook those thoughts out of her head. Her heart pounded as Jeanine read the name of each candidate off of her list.

“Bryan Pratt” Jeanine called.

Beatrice knew that her name would be soon or even next. She knew her responsibility to her parents, especially with the level of scrutiny that her family was under, with her parents being apart of the government. But this was her choice, it was the biggest moment she would ever undergo and this was her time not to be selfless but to actually choose for herself.

“Caleb Prior” Jeanine called.

Caleb chose Erudite, his mother and father looked with shock, how would this affect their family’s reputation? Their own son, Beatrice’s own brother, siding with the woman who attacked their faction with countless accusations.

Beatrice tensed up at hearing her brother’s name called; she would be next.

“Beatrice Prior”

Beatrice looked around as if she did not even recognize her own name. She looked around the sea of colored clothing of all the other attendees sitting under their faction’s section. All of the eyes in the room shifted to her as she stood up to approach the stage. She walked down the steps of the bleachers towards the platform and with each step she could feel the weight of her decision weighing down on her.

In front of her were 5 bowls, representing the five factions, on a tray in front of the bowls rested a silver knife and a cloth. Beatrice picked up the knife and made a slit within the palm of her hand and squeezed it so that blood would start to ooze out. She held it in the air as she tried to decide which faction would she choose.

Watching the red of her blood start to seep over the lines of her cut, Beatrice flashed back to her time with Tori in the testing room, where her results were inconclusive. She remembered her results for abnegation, erudite and dauntless. She remembered her Caleb’s advice to “think of the family”. She heard Jeanine’s words echo in her ears about how this would be our individual decision.

Beatrice took a deep breath in, held her hand over the abnegation bowl, and quickly shifted it to dauntless. Her blood sizzled in the bowl of burning coal.

Her family looked on with shock and disbelief. Caleb gave her a nod in salute to her choice and wished her well with his eyes. Her fellow dauntless cheered and roared in excitement.

“A stiff transfer? Wow, that’s something you don’t see everyday!” some loud mouthed kid from Dauntless exclaimed.

Beatrice took one final look at her parents still seated in the Abnegation sector, one glance at her brother with his new faction, and took a seat in Dauntless.

Thomas

The rising sunlight started to peer through the dusted helicopter windows. Thomas blinked open his eyes as the sun seeped through the bottom of his lashes. He turned to look at Theresa, who was still sleeping along with the rest of the gang, and he sighed. Everyone looked to him for leadership, but little did he know what would be in store for him now. The blades of the helicopter slowed as it descended towards the ground. Murmurs of “Dude, where are we? and Thomas, what’s happening?” filtered throughout the belly of the aircraft. The rescuers in black lead each of the gladers off the helicopter and transported them by train to a large building. Thomas looked at the outside again, wondering about what those strange symbols meant that he kept seeing everywhere.

“Ay mate, why is everyone here dressed in different colors?” Newt questioned the rescuers dressed in black.

No one answered. Honestly, Thomas didn’t know the answer. Maybe the colors of the symbols had to do with their clothing…Thomas thought to himself.

“Alright initiates, welcome to Chicago. Due to your maze trials, you will be entered into Dauntless as initiates. Do what you’re told and live by the rules. Forget what you knew before. You’re Dauntless now.”

All eyes shifted to Thomas.

Chicago? Dauntless? Initiates? We were just in a maze and now we are being trapped again? Are we safe now? Is this how life is outside of the maze? What about WCKD? What role did they play in this? Series of questions filled Thomas’ mind, but all he had to do now was be brave and wait.

Beatrice Prior

“Welcome to your new factions. You will be trained in the faction of your choosing. This year unlike any other we will have guests from outside the wall be entered as initiates in dauntless."Jeanine said, as murmurs scattered throughout the building. No one had ever gone or came from outside of the wall in centuries. "No questions at this time please, you will not question our methods, everything we do is for the greater good of our society. These new comers will join Dauntless as initiates and will be placed under the same process as you. Thank you for your time and congratulations on your choice. Good Luck to you all. Dismissed.”

Suddenly, a group of teenage boys around Beatrice’s age were pushed into the ceremony room. They mingled into the Dauntless line as they ran out the building, down the stairs and out into the city square. Beatrice looked at the boys, strong, and filthy with raggedy clothes as if they had been through a war. The Dauntless born climbed up the building supports leading to the train dock. Beatrice had seen them do this before in her earlier years, so she ran up the sides, ran to catch the train, and jumped on.

Thomas

Of course, another blonde authority figure, this is all too familiar… Thomas thought to himself. The rest of the gladers all filed into the clump with the other dauntless and they ran outside. Frypan hesitated from running with the group and shouted, “Minho, Thomas, where are we going!?” Thomas answered, “Just run with the group, heck I don’t know.” The boys and Theresa ran with the crowd, climbed up the metal support standards for the train, chased it, and ran on.

“Thomas…” Teresa whispered and gave him a worried look. Tightly packed in the train Thomas looked back at her and took her hand reassuringly and whispered back, “Everything’s going to be okay, I don’t think that they will hurt us.” She nodded, and they both looked forward.

Thomas noticed a small blonde girl sitting on the floor of the train, out of breath, dressed in gray clothing. She sat next to a dark skinned girl who appeared to be her friend. Her friend was dressed in black and white. I’ve got to know what these clothes mean. Thomas thought to himself. The girl in gray looked up at him, cracked a half smile and Thomas did the same.

“Thomas! These shanks are jumping!” Cried a voice from one of the gladers. Thomas looked outside and it was true, the rest of the dauntlesswere running and jumping out of the train and onto the gravel roofs of brick buildings.

“Alright everybody pair up, get ready to jump.” Thomas said. He took Teresa’s hand, ran to the back of the train, and on the count of three, they ran, jumped, and tumbled onto the roof.

After catching his breath and making sure the his friends were okay, they joined the rest of the dauntless that were surrounding a man.

“Alright listen up. I’m Eric. I’m one of your leaders. If you want to enter Dauntless this is the way in. And if you don’t got the guts to jump, then you don’t belong in Dauntless.”

Thomas’ eyes shifted to the boy to his right, dressed in blue, as he asked, “Is there water at the bottom or something?”

Eric replied, “I guess you’ll find out…or not. Somebody’s gotta go first. Who’s it gonna be?”

Thomas looked around in the group of kids, he certainly did not want to be first. Then again he looked at the scrawny blond girl, dressed in gray, something about her, made him curious. Was it that she was the only one dressed in such plain attire? Was it her unassuming presence that still seemed powerful…? He didn’t know, but he kept a close distance to her.

Then she did something that shocked him.

“Me.” She replied to Eric’s taunt.

All of the gladers along with the dauntless looked at each other left and right with open jaws. The rest of the kids in the clump dispersed, making a pathway for her to walk through.

She walked up to the ledge of the building, peered over the side to see the bottom, got on the ledge, and jumped.

Beatrice Prior

Beatrice looked over the building as some of the dauntless mocked her plain abnegation clothing.

“Be Brave”

She jumped.

Before Beatrice knew it she had hit a mesh net. She caught her breath and was picked up by a muscular dauntless leader, tall, incredibly handsome, and about two years her elder.

“What, you get pushed?”

“No” Beatrice replied still catching her breath.

“Whats your name?”

“B—” Beatrice stammered as she looked into his eyes. They were fierce, yet he also presented calm and kind.

“What is that a hard one? You can pick a new one if you want but make it good, You don’t get to pick again.” the leader said.

“Okay, uh–My name’s Tris.”

“First Jumper: Tris,” The boy announced to the other dauntless standing by as they cheered for her.

“Welcome to Dauntless.”

Tris looked around at the Dauntless compound.

A manly shriek came from the sky as another boy fell from the building. It was the boy from the train. The one that had noticed her.

Another leader welcomed into Dauntless and rushed him out of the way so that the next jumper could go.

“Hi, I’m Thomas.” the boy said with a nervous tone.

“Hey, I’m Tris.”

Thomas cracked another smile.

“So where are you transferring from, I don’t recognize your faction’s clothes.”

“Faction..uh..oh yeah right. Me and my crew are uh…apart of the new program I guess…transfers from beyond the wall.”

“Huh, Interesting” Tris replied. “No one has gone in or out from the wall in centuries.”

She saw the expression on the boy’s face change. Nudging him she said, “But hey we’re all new here, A stiff– first jumper. and an outsider–second! Not too shabby my friend.”

Stiff? Man, I thought our glader slang was weird. And friend. I like the sound of that. Thomas thought.

“Ha, so uh… do you think you could explain this faction thing to me?

"Sur–” Tris attempted to reply but was cut off by the leader boy who helped her off the net.

By this time the rest of the imitates had joined the group and surrounded Tris and Thomas.

Thomas

“Dauntless-born go with Lauren, Transfers, stay with me. Most of the time I work in intelligence but during your training, I’ll be your instructor. My name’s Four.

"Four? Like the number?” The girl in black and white interrupted.

“Exactly like the number.” Four responded.

Thomas could tell this was not a dude to mess with.  

“What happened, 1 though 3 were taken?” the girl said sarcastically.

Four pivoted and walked forcefully towards the girl.

“What your name?” he said.

“Christina.” she replied with attitude.

“Well, Christina, first thing you will learn from me, If you want to survive here, keep your mouth shut. Do you understand me?” She nodded yes.

“Good.”

Thomas took a step back as if he was trying to make himself smaller and blend into the group, which was difficult considering his tall and broad stature.

Four then told the group to follow him. The dauntless compound reminded Thomas of the rustic unkept walls of the maze. The group walked down a long staircase of iron steps and their boots echoed against the steel walls. Thomas and Tris lead the line of initiates down a long tunnel into a high ceiling room that Four introduced as ‘The Pit’. “Its the center of life here at dauntless.” he said. Dauntless covered the floor of The Pit like ants.

Next, Four let the group into their sleeping quarters.

“You’ll be sleeping here for the next ten months.”

“Girls or boys?” a boy dressed in blue said.

“Both.” Four replied. Slight cheers came from the male initiates. The gladers cheered the most though, for it’d been a long time since they seen girls in that setting.

“Yo, this is sick. Teresa isn’t the only hot piece in here.” Minho said with a laugh.

“You guys are pigs.” Christina said while shoving Minho.

“If you like this, you’re gonna love the bathroom.” Four replied with a smirk.

Thomas looked at the open and exposed toilets and showers that were organized in rows, it was a definite improvement from the maze, but still.

“Alright, this concludes this crappy tour. Shower. Get changed. Bring your clothes to the fire pile. Dinner’s in an hour.”

“You hear that mate, shower and clothes and dinner. An actual meal. Don’t mind if I do, ay.” Newt said. Thomas looked around at the rest of the initiates and thought to himself that maybe, just maybe everything would be okay now. Everyone called ‘dibs’ on a bed and so he took the next one available. Tris called the bunk to the right of him and Minho to the left.

Frypan was the first to strip and turn on the shower water. He was so thrilled to feel hot water again. Gradually, Thomas made his way over to the showers, the warm water almost felt unnatural to him since it had been so long. He looked at the floor as a pool of water and blood ran into the drain. He felt sick to his stomach, was that Chuck’s blood. Was that all he had left? It was too late now, that last piece of him was gone.

Laid on the top of his bed was a jacket and pants with a dark red shirt. He changed, keeping his head down, trying not to make eye contact with the rest of the kids.

“Hey Tris.”

“Hey.”

“So uh the factions…this whole society and systeming… what’s the deal with the colors.Basically explain everything please.”

“Uh, okay. Society is divided into five faction, which is why you see large groups of people dressed in similar clothing. Each faction places value on a specific virtue. We spend our whole lives trying to focus on that specific value. There is abnegation, my former faction, who focuses on being selfless and helping others. We wear gray, well they wear gray in order to mask themselves and not draw attention to themselves. They are trusted with running the government because of this attitude, my parents are on the board. Amity values peace, they also take care of our farming and food supply for all of the factions. Erudite values knowledge, they wear blue. My brother deferred there. The leader of Erudite is that blond woman you saw at the end of the closing ceremony. Candor values honesty…everything is very black and white there. And this is Dauntless. We value bravery over everything. Through the rumors I’ve heard, you guys are equivalent to  dauntless-born because of your "trials” whatever that means… Anyway, at sixteen everyone must go to that building you were dropped off at today in order to take an aptitude test. A hallucinogen is given to each candidate, and the results of the test are used in order to determine which faction you should be in. But, it is up to you to decide which faction you belong in. Unless well…you’re you…I don’t really know how you guys and girl really fit in…because you are transfers from the outside you’ll still be trained with those of us who deferred. I don’t know if this is helpful but, that’s all I can think of. Sorry.“

"Wow…that’s uh…alotta information Tris, thank you for that. I think that I get it. I’ll fill in the rest of the gladers.”

“Gladers?”

“Yeah uh that’s kind of what we were called where we were from… and hat’s another really long story with a lot of incomplete answers…”

“Oh, uh tha–thats okay. So who are your friends?”

Thomas pointed to each of his friends, gave a brief description, and thanked Tris again for catching him up to speed.

“Come on you bloody shank stop your flirting, hurry up, I’m hungry.” Newt yelled to Thomas. Thomas jogged to the cafeteria along with Tris and Christina.

Tris

The rest of the initiates flooded into the lunch tables and began eating. Tris looked around the cafeteria wondering where she would sit. The rest of Thomas’ friends had already taken a table hostage and were digging in. Thomas stayed behind with her and Christina to chat, so there was not a lot of available seating.  

“Maybe we should sit here?” Tris said as she gestured to a table. She spotted Four sitting by himself at the end of the table. Why didn’t anyone want to sit with him…is he that intimidating? Hey, pull it together girl. You’re dauntless now.

Christina sat next to Tris and Thomas sat across the table on the other side next to two other faction transfers. Thomas dug into his food with out a single blink as if he hadn’t eaten in ages. Everyone else soon followed. Tris eyed the hamburgers that were there, in abnegation there were no hamburgers. Even from this small thing Tris realized how different this faction really was.

“Have you never seen a hamburger before?” Christina mocked.

“Pfft–no I’ve seen one I’ve just never eaten one.” Trish shyly replied.

“Abnegation eat plain food. A plant based diet with no sauces and a minimum of seasoning.” The boy seated next to Thomas said.

“Who’s textbook did you swallow?” Christina said with a laugh and flirty smile.

“Nice to meet you too, I’m Will. Erudite.” Christina smiled again after learning his name. Tris looked back at her food, trying to just get through the meal.

Christina interjected again saying,“ I’m surprised abnegation even eat at all.–Too selfish right? No wonder you left.” Christina chuckled.

“You gotta be pretty confident to be friends with a Candor…” Will said with his mouth full.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have no filter, you say the first thing that comes to into your head.” Will proclaimed.

“You mean like you’re an idiot?” Another boy at the table said jokingly.

“Nice one Al.” said Christina.

Tris tried to remain quiet and observant trying to stay in the moment and remember all of the names that she had learned today.

“Hey, at least we’re honest.” Christina declared.

“Erudite can tell the truth ‘cause we have the facts.” Will snapped back. Tris replied with an “Oooo he got you” and was interrupted with from a voice to her right. It was Four.

“I don’t want to hear about your old factions. You’re dauntless now.” Four said with a firm voice. Tris really couldn’t figure out this guy, one minute he was lifting her off a net and sarcastically making a joke, then he was exercising his authority so strong he resembled Eric.

Tris finally spoke up asking, “Where you a transfer too?…Or Dauntless-born?”

Four was taken a back, as if he was surprised that she had asked. He looked at her, and shook her head saying, “Are you kidding?”

“No.”

Will took a long long sip of his drink he just had to add to the awkwardness.

“What makes you think you can talk to me?” Four reluctantly responded.

Tris stammered for words and then finally spoke up.

“Maybe it’s because you’re so approachable.” She said with an eye roll. Thomas snickered at this, and finally looked up from his plate. After a long pause Four said, “Careful.” and took a long swig of his water. Four was then pulled away from his meal after one of his fellow dauntless leaders came bringing some news to his attention.

“You my friend, have a death wish.” Christina said with a pat on Tris’ shoulder.

“You know he was first in his class? They tried to recruit him for Dauntless leadership twice but he said no.” Will said cautiously.

“That was uh, really cool Tris.” Thomas said in a low voice.

“Thanks…OH guys, this is Thomas, he is uh from the outside, those are his friends over there, and they are joining us here at Dauntless as initiates in the new program. Dispersed welcomes and cheers emanated from the table.

"Sounds like just another person to try and knock you guys down on the ranking list. ” A boy named Peter chimed in as he nudged his companions Molly and Peter. Ignoring Peter, Thomas introduced himself.

“Where you from? How is it on the outside? And don’t lie (I’m a Candor at heart) and I will know.” Christina said.

“Oh uh, its a long story…I’d rather not talk about it, but isn’t that what we’re all here for? Choosing something new, and moving on…” Thomas said nervously, desperately trying to change the subject. “Uhh..I’ll drink to that!” Tris said, seeing Thomas needed an out, raised her glass and gave a toast to beingdauntless.

All of a sudden, the room became silent as a dark tall man walked into the room.

“Hello, I’m Max. I am one of the dauntless leaders. You have chosen to join the warrior faction, tasked with the defense of this city, and all of its inhabitants. We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, and the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. Respect that. Do us proud.” The dauntless-born started banging their cups, and cheering as they celebrated their faction and the days to come. The dauntless born lifted up the initiates so that they were surfing the crowd and cheered them on.

These kids are kinda crazy. But this was my choice.  Despite the test results and the trials to come…I’m finally free. Goodbye Abnegation. Hello Dauntless.

Thomas

Thomas snuck out from under the excitement and gathered his friends around him in the corner of the room. “Heyguys” he said. “So that was pretty crazy right.” “Yeah um, could you tell us what the bloody heck is going on here?” Newt said annoyed. Thomas tried his best to relate what Tris had told him to his friends.

“So what, hold up. We are in a strange city. Behind yet another wall. Being placed under more trials and 'training’ so that we can prove yet again more points to some authority that couldn’t give two klunks about us? Nah man. Shuck it. I say we run. Who’s with me?” Minho said.

“Slim it Minho! Look around. You were in the maze way longer than I was. Was there food, a proper bed, clothes, and better yet girls? I don’t think so. Lets say we do run. Where would we go? At least here we do what they tell us, we advance in the training and do some actual good of being able to protect a city of people. Do I trust these Dauntless people yet? Not. But when you think of our odds this seems pretty good to me. Did I mention the 3 meals a day part?” Thomas clapped back.  

“Alright alright. I got it dude, I just don’t like being the greenies here, I’ll cool it.” Minho said releasing his defenses.

“Alright is every one in agreement? Say aye.” The rest of the group chimed in.

“And another thing, we are no longer in the glade, we are Dauntless now.” Teresa pulled Thomas by the hand to the side so that they were in private saying, “Are you sure about this Tom? We don’t know anything about these people.”

“I know, but for now I needed the guys to believe in something. We’ve all spent too much time not believing in anything, now we have something new.”

“And what’s that?”

“Hope. Hope Teresa. Hope is the only driving force we’ve had. Hope is what got us to keep trying new methods to get us out of the maze. Hope is what’s going to get us through whatever these Dauntless leaders have us doing, hope in a bright and peaceful future… I know I asked the guys before, but I need to ask you. Are you with me?”

“I’m with you Thomas.” she replied reassuring him.

Thomas nodded in agreement. “Now, what we have to do is be brave.”

Teresa nodded, squeezed his palm and left to return back to the dorm. Thomas stood in the middle of the floor looking at the now empty cafeteria. He sighed with relief and began walking back towards the dorm.

You did it Thomas. You came into a new place and led a group of trapped people out of a maze. You hoped. You believed. You did it. You are brave. You are now dauntless. Said a woman’s voice in his head.

The rest of the initiates filed into the training room where Eric and Four stood.

“There are two stages of training. The first is physical. Push your bodies to the breaking point and you’ll master the methods of combat. The second is mental. Again, breaking point. You’ll face your worst fears and conquer them, unless they get you first. You’ll be trained separately from the Dauntless-born, but you’ll be ranked together. Newcomers, your aptitude is Dauntless, but because you  are transfers you will be trained with the rest of the deferred initiates. After initiations, rankings will determine what jobs you move into. Leadership, guarding the fence, or keeping the factionless from killing each other.” Four instructed.

“The rankings will also determine who gets cut.” Eric said with a sly smile. Cut? What did he mean cut? Would we be factionless if we didn’t make it? Tris thought to herself. Worried eyes shifted to each other and back at Eric as the initiates processed his statement. “At the end of each stage of training, the lowest-ranking initiates will be leaving us.” Eric continued. “Do do what?” Frypan asked puzzled. “There’s no going home to your families so you’d live factionless.” Eric responded.  That hit Tris like a ton of bricks. Factionless. That’s the worst of all. She thought. “Why didn’t we know that?” Will questioned with his voice shaking at the thought of being factionless.“ "It’s a new rule."Eric added. "A new rule? Somebody should have told us that.” Christina said incredulously. “Why. Would you have chosen differently? Out of fear? I mean if that’s the case, you might as well get out now. If you’re really one of us it won’t matter to you that you might fail. Now, you chose us. Now, we get to choose you.” Eric responded, rendering the room silent. Oh no, I’m going to be factionless. Look at everyone here, everyone has a drive to be here something that makes them strictly dauntless. I’m so many other things. What if I’m not dauntless enough…

Troubling thoughts filled Tris’ mind and her knees locked in place, she couldn’t move.

“Hello?” Thomas said as he waved his hand in front of Tris’ face. “Helllooo?”

“Ahem, sorry, yes Tom, I’m good, ready to go so uh lets head into the training room.”

Thomas nodded and the two walked off to catch up with the others at the fighting mat.

Minho

First on the mat was Minho and Molly. “I ain’t fighting no chick.” Minho said. “I think your underestimating me.” Molly responded back. Molly and Minho crouched low like two boxers in a ring. Molly threw the the first punch into Minho’s jaw. Oh no she didn’t. Come here you little —- before  he could finish this thought. Molly swiped his left support leg and Minho fell hard onto his back. He popped back up like an armadillo, and punched Molly right in the gut. She grunted in pain as she fell on her side. “Finish her.” Eric commanded. Even though Minho had a tough exterior, he did actually care about people. Seeing her in the fetus position, Minho stomped on her head knocking her out.

“That’s better Minho. Not bad. Not bad at all.” “Newt. Christina. On the mat.” Eric commanded again. “Come on buddy you can do it.” Minho said as he encouraged his friend. Newt and Christina squared up in the ring as they faced off. Christina left Newt with a bleeding nose and his blood splatter painted the area in which they fought.

Tris

“Take Newt to the infirmary. Next up. Thomas facing off with Tris.” Eric called out. Thomas? he’d been so sincere and nice to me. I’d never win. He towers over me. Tris thought. Thomas looked at her with sad eyes as he hesitated to take a stance on the mat. Tris looked at him and shook her head slightly. This would not end well. Its a means to an end she thought.

Thomas and Tris faced each other, each in a low squat position as they tried to see who would make the first move. Thomas stepped forward. Tris step backwards. Which each step forward Tris kept coming backwards until her bare foot hit the cold hard floors of the training area.

“AGAIN!” Eric shouted.

Tris stepped back on the mat. Various chants of “Come on Tris.” and “Lets go newbie.” circulated through the other dauntless bystandards. Tris took a step forward and right jabbed Thomas in the shoulder. He stumbled backwards. Thomas recovered and punched Tris in the stomach, she took the punch and grabbed on to his shoulders and wouldn’t let go. She jumped onto the front of his body, tackling him and brining him to the ground. Her small hands tried to take a grip around his neck but he was too strong. Thomas pushed her hands off of him and pinned her to the ground with a kick to her side. Tris felt weak. Eric made a snoring noise as if the fight was boring him as he said “That’s enough. Stiff you tried, not hard enough. As for you newbie…Thomas is it? Dang. You might actually show some promise. Don’t let that go to your head though, or I’ll beat the pride out of you personally.” “Noted.” Thomas said rubbing his injured ribs.

Whatever criticizing comment Eric had to give, Tris barely heard it. Her eyelids fluttered as she started to pass out.

Thomas

Thomas felt sick to his stomach as watched Tris’ eyes flutter shut. I had to do it. I had to. Thomas tried to make himself believe. Four started speaking before Eric could announce another pairing. “Alright, that’s enough for the day. Take five. Take Meet back in The Pit for further instruction. Dismissed.” Thomas ran to the cafeteria to grab a water bottle. He sprinted down the winding halls of the dauntless compound until he reached the infirmary.

“I need to speak to somebody. I need to see her now. Tris. She would have come in a couple minutes ago. Is she here? Is she okay?” Thomas said as he banged on the door to the infirmary.

“Thomas…” Said a whimpering voice behind him.  "Hey, hey…what’s going on?“ Tris asked as she turned the corner showing her face.

Thomas ran to her and held her by the shoulders as he said, "Tris, oh my god, are you okay? I’m so sorry, are you hurt?

"I–I’m fine. You don’t need to apologize. It’s apart of our training.” Tris replied.

“Okay, then… hey uh Tris, I just been thinking about this whole being dauntless thing. I just don’t get it. They’re training us like robotic soldiers just made to follow such daring commands.  If we fail, we’ll become factionless. Whatever the heck that means, and be left to starve and be on our own in this place we don’t even know. I was talking with the rest of the guys, and what if we’re not what what they expect us to be. How can any of us just be one thing, one quality?. I’m freaking out here, Tris.”

“Dude, why are you confiding in me, I was abnegation, the most unassuming of everyone here. I have a higher chance of being factionless than you.”

“What do you mean higher chance?”

“Never mind that.” Thomas could tell Tris was starting to close off to him, but he needed answers.

“Look Tris–” He said as he placed an endearing hand on her arm. “I just– What if I’m not what they are expecting. Is there somewhere else we can go…If we’re…not dauntless enough?

"Thomas!!” Tris said shushing him. You either fit. If anyone even senses for a minute that you’re different, they will hunt you down and kill you.“

"Wow Tris. Alright…alright. I will try to do everything I can to make sure me and the guys fit in as much as possible.”

“Not try Thomas, you will.” Thomas nodded, and the pair ran to The Pit.  

Tris

“Listen Up. You know what this is?” Eric said as he pointed to the ranking board behind him. “It’s your life. We grade you everyday. If you’re still in the red by the end of the week then you’re out.” There he goes again…‘you’re out’…'you’re cut…I’m never gonna make it. “Alright. Rest up and grab lunch. Be back in the training room at 1300 hours.”

After grabbing a bite to eat with her friends, Tris headed back into the dorms with Christina, Will, and Al.

“I’m never gonna take it Christina.” Tris said.

“Yes you are.”

“I’m the weakest one here.”

“Then you’ll be most improved.” Christina replied with a smile.

“You’re Candor, you’re not supposed to lie.” Tris said with a slight grin.

“I was Candor, and I’m not lying.” Christina replied confidently.

“If they cut me, I think my parents would take me back.” Al said trying to add a positive note to the conversation.

“No, it doesn’t work like that. Even if they wanted to, their faction wouldn’t allow it.” Will said, shutting down Al’s hope.

“Even if my parents would take me back… I wouldn’t belong there anymore.” Tris said with a frown. I wouldn’t fit in anywhere if I fail. She thought.

“Alright this is getting depressing.” Christina shouted with a giggle trying to lighten the mood. Al nodded in agreement.

I wish I could tell them…about my divergence… I hate lying to them.

“You know what we should do?” Christina said excitedly. “Get tattoos.”

Tris shook her head, but went along anyway, she needed a distraction from her thoughts.

Christina said, “Alright boys, turn around boys, we gotta get cute.”

“Whaaaat? You don’t think our uniforms are fashion forward? Tris joked.

"Girl, please. Hand me one of the spare tees.” Christina said as Tris threw her t-shirt to her. Christina took Tris’ shirt and ripped it so that it became a cropped top. “Look at that. Good as new.” Tris held up the shirt to her body and looked at the ground. “What’s wrong? You can totally rock that girl especially with that body. Come on go change. We’re dauntless remember.” Tris smiled. “You seem to choose whether you’re dauntless or candor at will huh?” Tris tried on the shirt and pulled up her hair into a high bun. She toyed around with the loose strands that framed her face.

“Can we turn around yet?” Al and Will said in unison.

“Yeah.” Tris replied.

“Let’s go.” Christina said, ready by the door.

“Hold up, shouldn’t we invite the new guys?”

“I mean if you want to Tris, but’m not waiting up…see you at the parlor.”

Thomas

“Wait a minute. Dude, this is the second secretive meeting you’ve called since we got here. What’s going on?” Frypan asked. Thomas turned the corner of the hallway in both directions to see if anyone was coming. Seeing that there was no one on their way, Thomas began explaining his conversation with Tris. After explaining the the expectations of the dauntless leaders and the cautions that came with staying here in Chicago.  

“So let’s be frank, huh, shuckface. You mean to tell us that every bloody person within these walls all has to act like  the place of their choosing. If they act like any of the opposing factions and people catch wind of it. Ya die? Is that right essentially?”

“If you want to put it that way Newt, yes.”

“That’s seriously jacked mate.”

“I know, but it’s the way things are out here in the real world. Not everything can be as cut and dry as it was in the maze alright?” Thomas said, trying to bring his group together. “Come on Teresa, back me up here.” Teresa looked at the ground.

“No offense Tom but what do you really know about the maze. You weren’t even there a week. Who even made this guy leader?” Winston said.

“Winston, man, dude, what do you mean, I thought we were in this together?”

“I know man, I’m sorry its  just you add something even more strange about this place everyday… it’s a lot to take in.” Winston said with a sigh.

“I know…let’s just agree to blend in as much as possible a—”

Tris turned the corner and stopped Thomas mid sentence, she scratched the back of her neck awkwardly as she invited the former gladers out to get tattoos and hang out with some of the other dauntless. Thomas, still stuck on his unfinished sentence, didn’t answer right away. “Sure Tris, we’d love to come.” Teresa said.  Thomas hesitated while his friends walked in front of him, his mind still racing about the current information. Slim it Thomas, try to relax, you need a break. Thomas thought to himself as he attempted to clear his mind. The group headed down to the recreation area and split up.

Tris

Hip hop music filled the area of the dauntless recreation center. Red strobe lights and dark colors created the night life aesthetic of dauntless. Tris spotted the tattoo Parlor and told Thomas and the gang that they shouldn’t wait up for her, and that she would only be a few minutes.

Tris looked around for Christina and Will, she found them lost in each other’s eyes near the waiting area for the parlor. Instead of walking over, she wandered the center looking and ease dropping in different conversations that where occurring. She found Four, talking with some other dauntless leaders. When he saw her he took a step towards her and Tris quickly ducked into the tattoo shop. There she found Tori.

“Hey you remember me right? I was wondering if we could talk about –”

“I just do tattoos.” Tori said dismissing her.

“Okay.” Tris pivoted and went towards the wall where the tattoo samples where displayed on glass plates.

After eyeing some different tattoos, Tris picked one off the tray and brought it to Tori.

“Uh, I’ll take this one.”

Three birds. One for each family member I left behind. 

Tris sat back in the chair as Tori did the tattoo. This reminded Tris of when Tori administered her testing serum.

“Can I just ask you–"Tris started.

"You made a mistake choosing dauntless. They’ll find out about you…”

“Who? Who will?” Tris quickly interjected.

“The people you’re a threat to.”

“Who? Dauntless?”

“No, society. If you don’t fit into a category they can’t control you.”

Tris shook her head not understanding what Tori meant by this. “I don’t get it.” she said.

She affirmed herself to Tori saying, “I’m dauntless. I’m going to be dauntless. I chose dauntless.”

“For your sake,” Tori said,“ I hope so.”

Tori finished the tattoo and Tris was on her way.

She spotted Christina and Will still flirting with one another on the sidelines. A Candor and an Erudite, interesting. She thought to herself. She looked at Thomas mingling with some of the other dauntless born, they seemed to be getting along well. She sighed with satisfaction that everyone was settling in to Dauntless. Everyone except me she thought.

She snuck away back to the dorms, put on her training uniform and headed to the gym. Four watched her leave, as he had been looking her way all evening, and he followed her at a close distance.

Four

Where is she going? To train? Now? Oh I like her. Alright Four… go after her. See what’s she’s up to–how you can help.

Four walked at a slow pace as he crept into the training room. There he saw Tris, throwing her body into every single punch. She grunted and winced at the pain in her wrists. He knew what she was doing wrong, but he admired her determination and she made a soft spot in his heart. Tris steadied the punching bag when she heard Four’s footsteps enter the room.

“Hey.” Tris said.

Four heard her, turned and walked out. Why didn’t you stay you idiot. You could have helped her. No. You have to let her figure things out on her own. This is Dauntless. Four was right. He thought that he should intervene, but for now he kept observing Tris’ progress and offering as little tips as possible.