Divergent: A Retelling

First Kill

At dinner, Tris and Al join Christina, Will and I at our table, which, as Tris said, is uncomfortably close to Peter, Molly and Drew. I couldn't care less about Peter, but I can't stand Drew and I can stand Molly even less.

When the conversation reaches a lull, we can hear every word they say. Unsurprisingly, they're talking about their ranks. "You weren't allowed to have pets?" asks Christina, slamming her palm on the table. "Why not?"

"They're illogical." Will says matter-of-factly. "What's the point anyway? They soil your furniture, make your home smell bad and eventually they die, so what's the point in giving them food and shelter?"

I laugh a little. This sets me apart from Erudite. I love pets.

"The point," Says Christina, trailing off a little. She struggles for a minute.

"They're fun to have. I had a bulldog named Chunker once. One time, we left a whole roast chicken on the counter and when my mom went to the bathroom, he grabbed it off the counter and ate it, the whole thing. It was so funny." "You're a terrible Candor," I say with a laugh. "You've definitely changed my mind. Why wouldn't I want something that eats my food and destroys my kitchen." says Will, shaking his head.

"If dogs are so important to you, why not just get one after initiation? It can't be that hard."

Christina's smile falls and she pokes her food with a fork. "Dogs are kind of ruined for me, since the Aptitude test."

My heart jumps and my palms sweat. Luckily, I'm protected under the promise that we mustn't discuss our results, but it must not be the same for everybody else. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"It was killing the dog, right?"
Asks Will. That's right. Those with the Aptitude for Dauntless killed the dog. I have the Aptitude for Dauntless, Amity and Erudite, so I picked up both the knife and the steak. For some reason, I keep thinking someone will hear me, so I quit thinking about it.

I fidget again, twisting my fingers in my lap.

"Everyone did it, right? To be Dauntless?" Asks Will. Christina scans us. "Neither of you do it." Says Christina, eyes narrowed.

Tris and I look at eachother. Almost immediately, I know she's hiding something, like I am. "You guys are hiding something. You're fidgeting." "What?" Asks Tris nervously beside me. Of course, I already know 'what'.

"In Candor they teach us how to read body language, so we know if someone's lying or hiding something," Says Al next to Tris.

I wipe my palms on my lap and Tris scratches the back of her head. "Uh, well," "There it is again! Both of you!" Says Christina loudly, pointing at us. I turn red and stop all intentions of eye contact. My heart is beating loudly. How do I possibly lie? "No, I didn't kill the dog." Says Tris. I look at her. "Then how'd you get Dauntless?" Asks Will, narrowing his eyes like Christina. "I didn't, I got Abnegation." I eat my food slowly. "Well, what about you? Townes?" Asks Christina accusingly. I choke a little and cough. "I was going to kill the dog, but then. . ." I hesitate. "Then what?" "Well, I figured I could use the knife as a last resort, so I did. I waited until the dog calmed down and then. . ." "That's very Erudite of you." Says Will suspiciously.

"It's actually very Amity of me, and my result was Dauntless so if you think the tester put my results in wrong, go take it up with him."
I snap. "Okay, that was Dauntless." Says Christina, and we all laugh. She turns to Tris. "Even though you got Abnegation, you still chose Dauntless. Why?" Tris shrugs and smirks. "It was the food."
Christina launches into an explanation of our first day to Will, and Tris and I relax. Is it possible she could be Divergent too?