Choose Your Own Adventure: Divergent

The Newspaper- 92

You push open the wooden doors to the dormitory and stride in. Dauntless initiates mingle with transfers. It's weird that you're all equals now, but also exciting- you can't wait to meet them. Suddenly, a voice rings out, and you see Peter in the crowd's center, waving a piece of paper above his head.

"The mass exodus of the children of the Abnegation leaders cannot be ignored or attributed to coincidence," he reads, raising his voice as Tris enters the room. She freezes, and you see her shaking, the way she does before she gets into a fight.

"The recent transfer of Beatrice and Caleb Prior, the children of Andrew Prior, calls into question the soundness of Abnegation's teachings," Peter continues, and before he can read more, Tris rushes over in a blur and tries to grab the paper.

"Give me that," she says coldly, holding out her hand, face bright red. 

"But I'm not done reading," Peter says, laughter in his voice. "However, perhaps the answer lies not in a morally bereft man, but in the corrupted ideals of an entire faction-"

Tris tries to grab the paper. He holds it away. You exchange an uneasy glance with one of the Dauntless-born.

There's a yelp of rage, and Tris rips the paper away from a cowering Peter.

"That's my father!" she screams, launching herself at Molly. "My father, you coward!"

Will jumps into action beside you, grabbing her and pulling her away, yelling, down the hallway. Peter brushes himself off. 

You follow Tris and Will.

"Good thinki-" you start, but are abruptly cut off as Tris shoves Will. 

"What?" she screams at him, and he stumbles backwards. "Did you think I couldn't defend myself against that Candor piece of trash?"

"No," says Will, standing in front of the door. "I figured I'd stop you from starting a brawl in the dormitory. Calm down."

Tris laughs spitefully. "Calm down? That's my family they're talking about, that's my faction!"

"No, it's not." There are dark circles under Will's eyes. "It's your old faction, and there's nothing you can do about what they say, so you might as well ignore it."

"Were you even listening?" Tris growls, cheeks flushed red. She spins around, gesturing and all but yelling at Will. 

"It's my turn to get tattooed," Christina announces loudly, stepping in front of them. "Want to come with?"

Tris smooths her hair, looking torn.

"Yes," you say emphatically. "Let's go."

***

Ahead of you, Will, and a still-sulking Tris, Al gives Christina a piggyback ride. She shrieks as he charges through the crowd. People give them a wide berth when they can.

Christina and Tris both got Dauntless shoulder tattooes, and you can see Tris gingerly rubbing her shoulder every now and then. You briefly wonder what persuaded her to get another, especially after she was so hesitant about the first. 

"I can't believe you got another tattoo," Will says, jogging alongside Tris and voicing your thoughts.

"Why?" Tris asks sharply. "Because I'm a Stiff?"

"No, because you're... sensible." Will smiles, teeth white and straight. "What were your fears today?"

"Too many crows," Tris says, shaking her head. "You?"

"Too much acid," Will retorts.

"Snakes," you add helpfully. "Scaly. Bite-y. Yuck."

"It's really fascinating how it all words," Will says, eyes drifting off. "It's basically a struggle between your thalamus, which is producing the fear, and your frontal lobe, which makes decisions. But the simulation is all in your head, so even if you feel like someone is doing it to you, it's just you, doing it to yourself, and..." Will trails off. "Sorry. I sound like an Erudite. Just a habit."

"It's interesting," Tris says distractedly, shrugging and looking around the chasm. You notice Four standing there, face bright red, a bottle in his hand. 

"Uh-oh," says Will. "Instructor alert."

"At least it's not Eric," Tris says wryly. "He'd probably make us play chicken or something."

"Y/N!" Four calls out, and Tris and Will exchange a surprised look. Four pulls away from the railing, walking up to your group. Al and Christina stop running, Christina sliding to the ground. 

Everyone is staring at you.

If you talk to Four, advance to 93.

If you talk to Will about the serum, advance to 94.

If you head back to the dormitory, advance to 95.