Finding The Courage

Part 2

I had always known I was not normal and this just proved it. I could fit in any faction and that made me a wildcard. I started the walk back home and noticed that Beatrice was also on her way home which was odd, she always waited for her brother. I had a sinking feeling that she was the other that Tori had been referring to but I was not about to put us both at risk by asking her.

I was greeted by my mother giving me an odd look when I arrived home early but when I threw up five minutes later she didn't care to ask questions. I was granted freedom from helping with dinner that night and since I had thrown up we ate a bland soup. I washed the dishes as was expected of me and made my way to my bedroom as my parents had already retired for the evening by the time I was done. I had just started to brush out my hair for the night when my mother entered my room. She was carrying a small box which she set down on the bed and took the brush out of my hand. She gently began brushing my hair like she had when I was a child.

"We know you aren't going to come back with us tomorrow.We have always known you were different but still so selfless and we had hoped that would win out as you grew older but I noticed you sneaking in early in the mornings. Did you really think I wouldn't notice the changes in your hair and skin color?" She asked me. I looked down, ashamed that I had been caught by my mother.

"I just wanted to be prepared." I muttered.

"Oh sweety I am not mad at you. I am proud of you." I looked up at my mother to find her smiling down at me, her eyes full of tears. "I have something for you. I know you're not supposed to take anything with you but I need you to have this." She set the brush down and brought the box to sit between us. She opened it to reveal a ring on a silver chain. I frowned at it. Abnegation were only allowed a watch, it made sense why she had it stored in a box but I couldn't figure out where she had gotten it in the first place. The ring itself was silver, a dainty design with a ruby flashing in the middle of it with a sapphire and diamond on either side.

"Listen to me closely, okay sweetheart? This will protect you wherever you go. You have to keep it hidden but if you are ever in danger just flash it to whoever is in power and tell them you are a descendant of one of the originals." I met her eyes, mine filled with confusion and I knew she could read the questions running through my mind. "I don't have time to answer all your questions but promise me you won't forget that. It will all make sense one day I promise." She kissed my forehead and braided my hair down my back. Everything she had done was very out of character for my mother and I tucked the unusual piece of jewelry into the collar of my dress and I tried to fall asleep full of questions.

I awoke the next day still confused about what had happened the night before but I was now settled in where I was going. My parents knew they were not going to get me back and that made leaving much easier. I placed my hair in the standard bun and was surprised to find a pair of tight grey pants laid out on my bed when I had come back from the bathroom. I slipped them under my dress and silently thanked my mother who seemed to have been able to read my mind. I met my parents in the kitchen, they both smiled at me and I could see the sadness in their eyes. I was not their only child but my older brother had left the same year I had been born. My father embraced me after we ate a small breakfast and my mother again kissed the top of my head. I was not used to the affection my parents were showing me but I knew they did not have another chance to raise a child and they were losing me too.

"Mom, what was his name? Where did he end up?" I asked as we made our way to the Hub for the Choosing Ceremony.

"He might have changed his name, but he chose Dauntless." She smiled down at me and patted my arm. "If that's where you choose to go you will know him immediately. You have the same face. You could be twins."

With that she put an end to the conversation. We went our separate ways as I joined the other sixteen year olds of my faction in our designated seating area. I sat with Caleb and Beatrice again, feeling safer with them than any other kids. The Ceremony began as Marcus Eaton began speaking, I tuned him out as I had so many times and before I knew it names were being called out in reverse alphabetical order.

"Beatrice Prior" I watched as the small blonde made her way to the stage, taking the blade held out to her and slicing her hand. I watched her hesitate and finally dropped her blood on the coals of Dauntless. I relaxed knowing that at least I would not be alone in my transferring to the warrior faction. Soon it was my turn. I made my way to the stage and followed in Beatrice's footsteps. Accepted the knife, sliced, and dripped my blood onto the coals. I took one glance back at my mother and I saw her nod her approval at my choice. I felt a weight lift off my chest at the small gesture. I sat with Beatrice as we awaited the final transfers to take place.

Soon we were running out of the building following the Dauntless born towards the train tracks. I had watched them enough times to know that they would climb up to the train and I wasted no time joining them, tucking the end of my dress into the waistband of the pants I had on and was suddenly glad I had taken the time to prepare for this type of thing. I did not look down to see if Beatrice was following me but I hoped for both our sakes that she had. I was the first of the transfers to reach the top and I saw the look of shock across the faces of many of the Dauntless born to see an Abnegation among them before anyone else. I smiled and as I heard the train I knew I was going to have to run for it. I saw Beatrice finally joining us and I looked at her.

"When you see others start to run, don't think, just follow them." I said to her, she looked taken aback but nodded at me.