Inconclusive | E.C

Three - Choosing and Running

"Ow! Krissy, that hurt!"

"If you didn't roll around in your sleep so much, your hair wouldn't be so knotted."

"I do not roll around in my sleep."

"You're the reason why I'm covered in bruises," Kristian jested.

Beatrice sighed and crossed her arms tightly as Kristian began to spin her hair into its bun. Kristian was going to miss this the most probably, the feeling of her fingers in her little sister's hair, the little arguments and debates they had together.

The thirteen-year old frowned and said, "you're evil," as Kristian pulled away.

"Very evil, so very evil that I'm trying to make you look presentable just for school," Kristian said with sarcasm.

"Why can't I come? I wanna see the choosing," Beatrice whined as she turned around.

Kristian frowned, "because school is important," she said, moving some baby strands of hair out of the girl's face, "don't be late to class again, I heard what happened yesterday."

Beatrice went pink, "it was an accident."

"Sure it was."

The girl sighed, "you're gonna pick Abnegation, right," she asked suddenly, Kristian's blood ran cold as she continued, "you're gonna see us after school, right?"

Guilt just stabbed her in the heart as she murmured, "yeah... y-yeah I'll see you soon, okay? A-and hey, I'll even try and meet up with you afterwards and... and we can go get you something, okay?"

Liar.

Beatrice's eyes went bright, the girl nodded with the biggest smile on her face. The guilt began to tear Kristian's heart apart.

You liar.

Kristian watched with a forced smile as Beatrice jumped with excitement. What was she going to do when she was--

"Promise?"

Kristian's fake smile dropped and she stared for a moment. Beatrice looked confused but the girl snapped out of it, nodding silently.

"Mhm... I love you, Beatrice."

The thirteen-year old smiled even wider and ran out of the room. Kristian just stared at the floor as she realized what she'd done. She just lied to her sister, lied about a choice that would affect both of their lives. She even promised her.

Kristian didn't break promises.

But now I have to.

The girl flinched as the front door slammed shut. She looked up and around and took it all in. She was going to just... vanish. Vanish from their lives, defect and abandon them. Tonight the room she stood in would no longer be her and Beatrice's room, but just Beatrice's. The table downstairs would no longer have five places but four. Now there'd always be an extra chair, an extra plate, an extra everything.

She wanted to stay, but she knew if she did she'd become Factionless. Choosing Dauntless was giving her a chance at avoiding that fate everyone assumed for her.

Only she knew of this choice, so no one could stop her.

Kristian got to her feet and took another look around as she awkwardly dusted off the skirt her mother had asked her to wear. A sigh escaped her lips and she slowly backpedaled out. She watched until she shut the door entirely, part of her thinking it was all just going to disappear in front of her.

"Mom and dad are outside waiting," Caleb's voice suddenly said.

Kristian peeked down the stairs and she could see the boy at the kitchen counter readjusting his bag. What would Caleb think?