Dauntless Rising

Choosing

Anastasia's POV

I wanted to tell Arabella so badly, but I just couldn't. I don't know why. I felt so guilty because she told me she was divergent. But guilt wasn't the only reason I couldn't sleep that night.

The next morning I got out of bed, more tired than I ever had been in my life. I didn't sleep at all. At least I didn't have any nightmares.

Arabella woke up just as I was getting out of bed. Her long brown hair cascaded onto her shoulders as she took it out of her messy bun. I had always been jealous of her beauty. It didn't really help that we looked nothing alike.

"You ready?"

"No," Arabella said, chuckling softly.

I sighed. "Me neither."

She smiled, but she had a look of sadness behind her eyes. I hadn't even thought about the fact that this may be the last time we ever see each other. She may always get in trouble and break the rules, but she is the most compassionate person I know. And I had a feeling she needed me just as much as I needed her.

She squeezed my hand. "It's gonna be okay. We can do this."

I gave a halfhearted smile and squeezed back. It was time to go.

We sat with our parents and the rest of Erudite. Arabella stood out, wearing a blue dress with a rebellious streak of black across the middle.

We sat down and, after a brief introduction, they began calling names.

"Evangeline Ainsworth." A Dauntless girl with long blonde hair marched up to the stage and cut her hand, immediately dropping her blood into the Dauntless bowl.

"Dauntless!" A cheer went up in the Dauntless section, and once it died down, the second name was called.

"Melody Atkinson."

A Candor girl nervously walked up to the stage. Ugh. I despised Candor. I heard a sizzle.

"Dauntless!" Another cheer.

After that I kind of tuned out, until I heard a name that pulled me back into reality.

"Arabella Mason." My sister squeezed my hand and walked up to the stage and I heard the sizzle of hot coals.

"Dauntless!" My head spun. She didn't even hesitate. She knows I wouldn't last a day in Dauntless. So why did she pick that?

"Anastasia Mason." I was shaking. I couldn't see straight. I'm pretty sure I almost passed out trying to make my way up to the stage.

Once I arrived and picked up the knife, it finally sunk in that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I don't belong anywhere. Should I stay with my parents in Erudite? Or join my sister in Dauntless?"

Choosing what I did in itself proved I was worthy of the faction.

"Dauntless!"