Transition - a fanfiction (Divergent)

Chapter 8 - Genesis

All of the factions behind me cheer, but I only hear the slight sound of it due to shock – the shock of realising that I’m now fully independent.

A wave of emotion passes through me. I feel guilty for leaving my family, but that’s okay, because they will be able see me again on Visiting Day.

On the other hand, I finally feel free from Candor, free from insensitivity.

The one thing I cannot change is the situation with Mel: I may see her again at some point in my life, but it could be years, maybe even decades. We may not even recognise each other then.

I turn around and head to the Dauntless section. I see Tobias staring at me, smiling, and sure enough, there’s an empty seat next to him.

“Hey,” he says when I sit down.

“Hello, Tobias. How are you?”

“I’m much better after finally getting a chance to escape Abnegation, you?” he replies quietly.

“I’m… I don’t really know how I feel right now.”

He gently takes hold of my hand and squeezes it tenderly. It calms me. “Thank you,” I whisper.

I earn a smile from him, and we both focus back to the rest of the Choosing Ceremony.

-

The Choosing Ceremony finally comes to an end, and all of the factions begin making their way outside. I look for my parents in the Candor section, and sure enough, they are looking my way. But when I look at them, I don’t see my mother and father in tears. I see them smiling at me proudly, proud that their daughter could make a consequential choice like this herself. I think they expected it, especially my mother. They know they’ll be seeing me on Visiting Day too. I smile back, hoping they’ll see it.

“Come on, everyone is heading to the trains!” Tobias grabs my arm and literally drags me outside.

We sprint to catch up with the rest of the Dauntless, and everyone begins climbing up posts to the train track.

I find a post to climb up and Tobias finds his own somewhere else. For a moment I panic because he’s not in my sight, but I have to concentrate on getting onto the train for now. I climb and climb and climb, but it’s hard work as I’m not used to exercise like this.

Finally, I make it to the top. That was just the easy part.

Now I have to jump onto a freaking train.

I hear the train in the distance, and all of the Dauntless are running alongside the train track, ready to jump on when they get the chance.

The front of the train finally comes around the corner into view, and everyone begins to start running slowly as it catches up.

I follow them all, completely copying the Dauntless’ actions, and see the handles on the side of the train. I immediately know that’s what I must grab onto if I want to get on that train.

It’s right behind me now, and I begin speeding up my pace to try and match the train’s pace, but I know that probably won’t happen.

It goes past me, and the first person grabs onto one of the handles, presses a button, and the doors open, allowing them to jump on safely.

Please make it, please make it.

There’s a handle a metre behind me now, and I speed up even more, running the fastest I’ve ran in a long time.

My hand grips onto the handle, I press the button, and jump safety onto the train.