Dauntless Rising

Be Strong

Arabella's POV

We arrived at the Pit and saw everyone in Dauntless lined up in rows. I found Luke.

"What's going on?"

"I don't really know. They told us that everyone needs a tracker installed, for safety reasons. They didn't really explain, but no one's questioning it. But babe! Congrats on making fourth in the year! You beat me!" He laughed. "I tried to find you after they posted the rankings, but I couldn't find you. Where'd you go?"

"Oh, my sister was having boy troubles. We were just in the bunk room."

"Oh." He leaned in and kissed me. I pulled away when I saw James staring at me across the room.

"I should probably get in line," I said, walking back to Ana, my heart exploding with guilt.

~~~~~~~~~

I decided I would tell Ana what happened tomorrow. I couldn't take it if I told her right after it happened- I would probably break down again. And I especially didn't want to do it in front of everyone.

We got our trackers shot into our necks through syringes, and walked back to the bunk room after dinner. Ana looked extremely nervous the whole time.

We sat down on our beds. "What's wrong?"

She looked at me. "Ara-"

She was cut off by a Dauntless leader. "Lights out!"

She sighed. "I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Okay." I nodded and lay down. I fell asleep, thinking about James.

~~~~~~~

I woke up in the middle of the night to see everyone around me getting dressed. I looked at Ana, who was just doing the same.

"Ana-"

"Shh!" She cut me off.

"Ana," I whispered, "what's going on?"

"I think that 'tracker' that everyone got today was actually a serum that is controlling their minds. We're divergent, so it doesn't affect us. Just, try to act like everyone else."

"Okay." I nodded, trying to take it all in. Suddenly, my vision went blurry. My mind went blank. I suddenly started to get dressed without actually doing anything. I couldn't control my body.

Just as suddenly as it came, it stopped. Ana was staring at me and I started shaking with fear.

"What just happened?"

"You just slipped into the simulation. I saw it in your eyes." She paused, frantically thinking. She snapped her fingers. "You're only partially divergent! Oh, no, you're gonna go in and out of the simulation all day, or as long as it lasts."

Everyone started filing out of the room. Ana looked at me. "I know you're always telling me to be strong. But now I need to tell you. You need to try your hardest to focus and stay out of the simulation. Promise me!"

"I will!" I was so scared. I didn't think I was strong enough to do what Ana was asking me to do. But I had to be strong. For her.

And for James.