Choose Your Own Adventure: Divergent

The Fence- 56

"Tomorrow," Eric says, lips pulling back to reveal sharp, white teeth, "you'll be going on a little field trip to the fence to learn about our jobs as Dauntless. Lucky, aren't you? You'll need to be by the train at 8:15. Any later, and we'll leave without you."

With that, he stalks out of the training room, leaving you all to go to dinner. Peter, Drew, and Molly pick at their dinner. There isn't a seat next to them, and Eric isn't behind the stairs like he usually is. Tris is in the hospital, and Will, Al, and Christina are with her. You bring them some burgers and stay for a bit, but by the time you get there, no one's really in a talk-y mood.

"Visiting day," Will explains quietly, nodding to you, and you nod back. No wonder everyone's somber.

It's not like you have anyone who could visit you, but they don't know that.

"Do you think your parents will come?" Al asks, looking up at you.

"Maybe," you say tiredly, dragging a hand over your face. It's a lie. You don't even know who your parents are.

***

You spring out of bed at 7. The dormitory is quiet and dark, all of the other initiates asleep. You hear Peter quietly snoring, Al tossing and mumbling something about bread. Tris holds very still, careful not to agitate her bruises.

They all had electric lights back home. Back in factionless, you were always awake with the dawn, asleep with sundown. 

Waking up at 8 is not a problem for you.

You sneak out to the cafeteria, scarfing down fruit- pineapple, it makes your mouth sting- and some salty hash browns. You race through the darkened halls, adrenaline flooding through you, waking up your body with energy for the day.

You burst out into the daylight, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. In the distance, you can hear the train's whistle. You stretch, waiting, as the initiates slowly stumble out into the day. 

The train roars past with a whoosh of wind, and you bolt alongside it, pulling yourself into the cab with a graceful ease. Four's already inside.

"Morning," you say, smiling at him.

Will is next, then Al and Christina and the Candor pack. Tris struggles to make it in, so Al helps her. She cringes, then covers it up with a smile.

"Feeling okay there?" Peter taunts, making a face at Tris. "Or are you a little... Stiff?"

They laugh, but Four silences them with a look, standing by the door of the train, pushing himself out so the wind flattens his shirt. 

"Follow me," Four says suddenly, jumping out of the train. You all hurry out, jumping and rolling. You shake your head to clear it, finding his figure and running after him. You're on a dry, cracked dirt road. You cough as the dust kicks up by your face, the sun beating down, the green of the far-off farms in your peripheral vision. 

"If you don't end up in the top five at the end of initiation, you'll probably end up here," Four says, slowing to a stop beside a silver gate. 

"What rank were you?" Peter asks Four.

He pauses, then turns to look Peter in the eye. "I was first."

"And you chose to do this?" Peter spits incredulously, gesturing at us. His eyes are wide, round, green. You feel a tingle run up and down your body as he looks at you, then on to the others. "Why didn't you get a government job?"

"I didn't want one," Four says flatly. He works in security, right? You can't remember. His long fingers drum along his side, and you nod to yourself. Long fingers are good for computer work, for typing. 

You think about your rank. Stage one is almost finished. You shudder, wrapping your arms around yourself. You hope you're doing well. You need to do well. 

There's a large CREAK of metal against metal that jolts you out of your thoughts, and you turn to see the Dauntless guards prying the gate open for a smiling man with a beard and a large straw hat on a truck. 

"Thank you kindly," he says, grinning easily and talking to the Dauntless guards.

The Amity sit in the back with the stacks and crates, surrounded by overflowing apples and wearing sun-kissed smiles. 

"Beatrice!" One of them yells, smiling brightly and running over to your friend.

That must be her whole name, you realize. A sweet, plucking sound fills the air, and you watch as an Amity girl starts playing a banjo, singing to the others as they laugh.

They look happy. You liked them at the Choosing Ceremony. You're not so sure you could be Amity, though- Dauntless is the place for you.

"The next train is here," Four shouts, and you're all running back and along the tracks, hoisting yourself into the train. 

The sky is growing dark, so you make your way back to the dormitory. You're already halfway asleep when Dauntless flood in, waving flashlight beams and whooping. 

"Everybody up!" Someone roars, and you jump up, throwing on a jacket. It's Eric, you realize. "You have five minutes to get dressed and meet us by the tracks. It's time for the real field trip."

You throw on the rest of your clothes, running behind Tris and Christina to the train tracks, pushing past Dauntless as you careen through the Pit. You skim your fingers along the wet rock as you run, a smile breaking onto your face and squeezing your eyes closed. Freedom. 

You make it to the tracks, to a black pile full of... guns? PAINTBALLS, the box next to the track reads, and you feel a thrill of anticipation. A paintball fight! 

"Everyone grab a gun!" Eric shouts, the most excited you've ever heard him. Everyone swarms the pile, and you grab a hefty looking gun and a box of ammo. It feels right in your hand, heavy, but powerful. You sling it across your back so the strap crosses your chest, and you resist the urge to admire yourself. You look Dauntless.

A circle of light appears on your left, the train roaring into view with wind that slams your hair forward. You cheer with the other Dauntless, swinging onto the train. 

"We'll be dividing into two teams to play capture the flag," Four says, smiling, once everyone's on the train. "Both teams will have a mix of Dauntless-born initiates and transfers. One teams gets off first and hides their flag, and then the other team does the same. This is a Dauntless tradition, so I expect you to take it seriously."

The train car sways, and you grab a handrail. 

"Four and I are your team captains," Eric says, smiling at you. "Let's divide up transfers first, shall we?"

Four nods. "You go first."

They start naming names, and you feel a prickle of excitement. You hope you're not chosen last, but you don't think you will be. 

If you have more than 2+ Eric points, advance to 57.

If you have less than 2+ Eric points, advance to 58.