Closer

Chapter 13

“Don’t itch it,” Jake swatted my hand away from my neck. My new tattoo itched like crazy and just sitting here in this hallway bored as hell wasn’t helping take my attention away from it. Today was the first day of phase two so both Dauntless-born and transfers sat together in this long narrow hall that had a metal door at the end of it. I had asked around about phase two, but nobody would give me a solid answer on what it was.

“What does it even mean?” Jake questioned. I smirked slightly at his curiosity. I got it last night when everyone was saying goodbye to their families. I kind of just got it on a whim, but it suited the occasion. Plus, I wanted to get my mind off my run in with Eric. The pain of the needles helped distract me for a little while, but that one single word bounced around my head all night.

“Family,” was all I said. T4E was tattooed on the back of my neck. Tobias ‘Four’ Eaton. The only family I have and will ever need. 

“Hm,” I could tell Jake was unsatisfied with my answer, but didn’t questioned it any further as he leaned his head back against the wall.

“So who’s ranked first out of you guys?” Adam asked, interrupting the silence that surrounded us. 

“That’d be me,” Seth raised his hand enthusiastically. To be honest, I was glad that I wasn’t first, that would have made me a target to people like Seth and Luke. We were told the rankings last night after dinner and to say the least I was surprised by my third place status. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the rest of the rankings though.

1. Seth 

2. Luke 

3. Alex 

4. Paul 

5. Olivia 

6. Mathew

7. Nathan 

8. Kristen 

I felt it was my fault that Kristen had just barely escaped being cut. A Candor boy named Lucas and an Erudite boy named Derek weren’t so lucky and became factionless. I didn’t really know them too well, but I was sad to see them go.

“What about you guys?” Kristen asked, her Erudite curiosity making an appearance.

“Jake,” Dean nodded in my best friend’s direction.

“Aidan gave him a run for his money though,” Adam chuckled. Our conversation was interrupted by the opening of the metal door at the end of the hall. Four appeared from inside the room.

“Nathan,” he summoned. I saw Nathan sigh as he got up and joined Four behind the closed door. I counted the minutes that ticked by till the door opened again; 15. “Dean,” Four called this time. This continued until me, Jake, Paul, and Olivia were the only ones left sitting in the hall. I only ever saw people enter the room, never exit.

“Alex,” I jumped at the sound of my name. I got up and began to walk towards my brother when Jake grabbed my hand.

“Good luck,” he gave me a reassuring smiled and I returned it before I continued to the room.

My heart dropped as I stepped inside the dimly lit room. There was a chair in the center, just like their was for the aptitude test. I heard Four close the door behind me and my heart began to pound. 

“Take a seat,” he motioned to the chair in the center of the room. I swallowed hard and complied. I sat down in the chair, but my eyes never left my brother. He stationed himself next to me, behind a computer that had countless wires attached to it.