the Lost One

Dauntless initiation

I stand outside the Hub where the choosing ceremony is being held. Eric stands beside me. Jeanine is inside watching the show. I look absolutely ridiculous, I'm in a blue blazer, and dark blue pants. I have a white pearl necklace on and a white pearl headband to match. I need to look as Erudite as possible so I stand straight, smiling at everyone who walks past. I refused to wear glasses so if someone questions my Erudite origin, it's all my fault according to Eric. Eric. How is Eric one of the leaders of dauntless? I bet there are more vicious, determined men in dauntless who could easily take his place.

"How come you're a dauntless leader?" I ask.

"How come your asking?" he replies.

"Well, I mean, there must be more capable men in the faction than you," I like making fun of people, my hobby you could say. 

He looks offended. "Because I was highest in initiation, that's how. You get the best jobs the higher you are in the initiation scores," he smirks but sounds unsure of himself. I don't question it, I guess I'll see.

I'm about to go in, to blend in with the transfer initiates who are going to dauntless. I sit beside a blonde girl. She smiles at me.

"What's your name?" she asks.

"Um," I hesitate. I'm not here to make friends.

"It's okay if you don't wanna tell me. I'm Sarah, I came from Amity. I'm guessing you came from Erudite?" she's really pretty. and really nice. How can I be so rude to her, she's just trying to make friends.

"Uh, yeah, I'm from Erudite," not exactly. "Nice to meet you, Sarah, I'm Jessica but uh, you can call me Jess," I stutter. Jess?  Where the hell did that come from?

"Nice to meet you, Jess! I hope we'll be good friends, that's what this is basically all about isn't it?" she laughs, still smiling. Why am I so surprised? She's amity.

"Yeah, I guess," I say, knowing that's not the case for me.

"Dauntless initiates!" Eric shouts. We're supposed to jump on the train. I've done it so many times, it's easy for me. But since I'm pretending to be Erudite I need to make it seem harder than it actually is. 

The train is coming, I can see it. Me and Sarah start running after it. I get up on the train with a few fake grunts but I see that Sarah is struggling. It's almost as if she can't run fast enough.

"Sarah, come on! You can do this! I Know you can!" I shout at her. 

She starts sprinting. It's working. I stretch my arm out in her direction but before I'm even close to grabbing her, another hand has already pulled her in. I look in the direction where the hand came from. A boy. Must be a transfer initiate because he's wearing black and white. Candor clothes. 

"You okay?" he asks Sarah.

"Yeah, thanks," she says, out of breath.

"Thank you for helping her," I say to him.

"No problem. I'm Joshua but you can call me Josh," he smiles. He's actually kinda cute.

"Hey Josh, I'm Jess and this is Sarah," I smile. Sarah waves at him, smiling as well.

"You guys are from, what? Erudite and Amity? Yikes. I'm from Candor. Don't get me wrong, it's not any better. To be honest, I just wish we could all live as a society together and not be divided by factions, you know?" he says.

"'To be honest'" I mock him.

"You candor's are always honest," we all laugh.

"I think dauntless could be a new start for me, you know?" I say