DIVERGENT: Tobias (Watty Award Winner 2013)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

 After I left Tris and her mother, I headed over to the training room. Today is important. Today four initiates will become factionless and their fate lies in my hands. I will calculate the rankings, for the transfer initiates only. Nine people. Nine teenagers. Will nine turn into eight? Or maybe seven or six? Or even five? 

I sigh as I walk into the training room, ready to spend my entire afternoon evaluating each initiate individually. The first initiate that comes to mind is Edward. Given the fact that he won every fight and exhibited exceptional combat skills, I would have to say that Edward is superior to the other initiates. He's definitely going to be ranked first.

I try to think of another initiate that was any good. Even though I hate his attitude and hate him even more, Peter should be ranked second. I really hate to admit it, even if it is just to myself, but Peter picked up all of the skills quickly and lost only one fight. And that was against Edward. It's only fair that Peter is second.

Who else comes to mind? Christina, the loud mouth. She is from Candor and she is extremely annoying, but, overall, she has potential and determination. I wouldn't rank her third, though. She did lose two out of three of her fights. Maybe fourth or fifth? But who could I rank third? Then it hits me! He won two of his fights, his aim is pretty good, and he knows how to keep his mouth shut. Will should definitely be ranked third. And that would make Christina perfect for fourth. 

Molly. Molly isn't great in combat and she's okay at aiming. She beat Christina, but Tris beat her.....easily. Tris outsmarted her. Tris thought about what she should do. Tris acted based on careful observation. Tris was..... Wait! I need to focus. I need to finish the rankings before the initiates show up and Tris is distracting me... again. So fifth place. Molly or Tris? I know who I want to be ranked fifth, but I have to be rational. Molly did better overall. Molly is fifth. Tris is sixth.

That leaves three initiates. It takes me a minute to remember their names, but then I do. Al. Drew. Myra. Ranking these three will be easy. Myra is ninth. No doubt about it. She showed no skill and lost every fight. Al and Drew. Drew, though not really that good, outranked Al. By a long shot. So Drew is seventh and Al is eighth.

I leave the training room and quickly run over to the dormitory to explain everything to the initiates.When I get to the dormitory, it is empty and I notice that it is still a little early. I took more time calculating than I realized. I write the ranks on the blackboard quickly. I have to wait for the initiates, but not for long. A mere ten minutes later the initiates start to fill up the dormitory. And I absentmindedly drone on about how the rankings are determined. When a few more initiates shuffle into the room I speak up again.

"For those of you who just came in, I'm explaining how the ranks are determined." I say. "After the first round of fights we ranked you according to your skill level. the second number of points you earned depends on your skill level and the skill level of the person you beat. You earn more points for improving and more points for beating someone of a higher skill level." I tell them and then decide to add something. I glance over at Peter as I say it. "I don't reward preying on the weak. That is cowardice." My eyes leave Peter quickly and I continue with my little speech. " If you have a high rank, you lose points for losing to a low-ranked opponent." As I say this, Molly lets out a sound resembling a mad pig. 

"Stage two of training is weighed more heavily than stage one, because it is more closely tied to overcoming cowardice. That said, it is extremely difficult to rank high at the end of initiation if you rank low in stage one." At that I think of Tris and how she must make it through initiation. My eyes search for her and can't find her until she appears, shifting her weight and coming into my view. Our eyes meet for a swift moment and then she looks away. What can that mean? Does she really hate me? Before I can think too hard on the subject I continue with my speech.

"We will announce the cuts tomorrow. The fact that you are transfers and the Dauntless-born initiates are not will not be taken into consideration. Four of you could be factionless and none of them. Or four of them could be factionless and none of you. Or any combination thereof. That said, here are your ranks." I say and hang the board so they can see it.

The room is silent for a while. But the silence isn't comforting. It's uneasy. Many of the initiates show unsatisfied looks on their faces while others remain blank-faced. And then the silence ends.

"What?" Molly screeches and points a finger at Christina. "I beat her! I beat her in minutes and she is ranked above me?"

Christina answers with a smug smile. "Yeah and?" She says.

Then I explain her rank. Harshly. "If you intend to secure yourself a high rank, I suggest you don't make a habit of losing to low-ranked opponents." At that I walk past Tris and head for the door. As I am about to leave, though, I hear Molly.

"You. You are going to pay for this."

My heart sinks. Tris. She is talking to Tris. I just put Tris in danger. Again. What am I supposed to do? How can I protect her when I can't protect her? If I showed any emotion towards her, Eric would find out and then she would be in even more danger. I can never win. She will never be mine and I will never be able to help her. She would never want me to help her. I want to help her. I want her to be mine. I want to protect her.

Tris. The only one that has ever meant anything to me. And I mean nothing to her.

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How was that chapter? I know it's a little shorter! I usually go by the chapters in the book and this chapter didn't have much Four action.

Anyways, please please please comment!

Thanks

-Amanda :)