In the Shadows - DIVERGENT HIGH

Chapter 6

Shout outs to: DoggyMoggy and special thanks to @TatumLeibrandt for voting and commenting. I know it's cheesy but you really have made my day significantly better :)

Tris POV

From now on there are 5 things I will do to become dauntless. No.1: wear makeup, No.2: gradually but convincingly lower my score so that my alabi of my pushy school is far more realistic. No.3: associate more frequently with the popular crowd and less with Susan. No.4: push myself and my body to be good at sports. No.5: go shopping for better clothes. Black clothes.

I steal into my mums room when she is downstairs watching TV and take out concealer, moisturizer, eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss.

I then creep back into my own room and set to work infront of my mirror. First I moisturize my face because I assume that's what it's for. Then I slap on some concealer beneath my eyes and anywhere in which my skin is discolored. I smudge ut out with my fingers like I would with charcoal on paper then move onto the eyeliner. This, undoubtedly, is the hardest step. I managed to chose a pencil so I draw a fine line along the rim of my eyes and blend it with my fingers. Then I take the wand of the mascara and run it along my eyelashes. It looks a bit pathetic and because my hair is blonde, it looks even worse because it creates a sort of ombre look. I then blink again and it clumps up my lashes miserably. So I wipe it off and then try again.

When I look at my full image, with a touch of the lipgloss in the centre of my lips, I look different, very different. Not pretty but noticeable. And different. I like it.

Then I get into my uniform and gallop down each uneven step until I reach the floor. Navigating my way around corners, I soon find out, is a task more difficult than it looks. I skid around one and bump into the next, scraping off half the skin on my leg. I wince a little and slow down, call out: hi mum and crash into the kitchen. I am in such a hurry because I didn't realise hiw long my makeup would take. I sigh a little and grab a quick oat nutrition bar. Then I scoop up my satchel and run out of the door.

I jog all the way up to school as training for PE. When I finally arrive at school, I check the time. I set off at around 8:23 and it is now 8:46 so it took me 23 minutes. Not bad but there is certainly room for improvement. I am breathless, my face is pricked with sweat, I have a stitch knitted into my taught stomach and my face is the colour of a pickled beetroot. I rip open the packet of my breakfast bar and take a bite. And another. Literally 2 bites later I have finished the whole bar so I power-walk to my tutor room and slump down on my chair. Susan comes up to me, as I am breathing in andd out deeply, and whispers: you look nice today, more Tris. But I can tell you ran here.
I whisper back: I know, and then I fall silent as the head teacher, Ms Matthews, strutts into the room. She really gives me the shivers and, even worse, she teaches me Maths! I cower behind my desk and sit as still as stone to blend into the crowd. Be brave Tris I think to myself as I remember that I need to be Dauntless. So I sit up again, confidence hitting me like a tsunami, and shake myself off (metaphorically). When she stares into the souls of every member of the class, my eyes are ready to be just as cold and emotionless as hers. I keep my eyes locked on hers and when her glare turns to me, I stare back, unfazed. She holds my gaze, daring me to give in but I won't break down. Eventually she gives in and adresses the whole class:
"As you all know, at the end of this year you will be able to chose your houses. This is a very important descision and not one to be taken lightly. Once your tutor has registered, you will all be sent to the main hall to take a test which should aid your choice. Of course, you ultimately get to chose but it is advised that you go with the result in your test."
"Then again some, very few, recieve more than one result. They don't get a choice of A levels, they take what they're given. It goes on their CV that they are out of the ordinary and good jobs are much harder to find because if you specialise in one area, you are more likely to thrive that way. This is called the Divergent."

My heart starts to accelerate but I try to calm it because that would surely be detected.

"Oh and one other thing. The test shows me who the divergent are. There is no way to hide or escape."

This time it is impossible to control the rate of my heart. It shoots off the planet and into orbit before my name is finally called and I reply that I am infact present in this class and not spinning around in the atmosphere.

I head off with Susan to the main hall, mustering a feeble grin, as behind my mask, my skin turns to ash, my eyes cloud over and I feel goosebumps prickle on the surface of my skin.

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"Beatrice Prior."
I gulp and slide into the room. I clear my brain and straighten my skirt. I tell myself I am dauntless and think like one. Then I look into the woman's eyes as she forces a clear blue liquid down my throat.

I am transported into a blank room with three options: a dagger, a piece of cheese and a bandage. "Choose one." A voice makes me jump. I rub my arms because they are cold and step towards the dagger.

I feel a tiny throb in the back of my head breathing dauntless, dauntless. What is dauntless? I reply. And then I remember. Without further hesitation, I reach out to feel the scratched leather beneath my palm and close my fingers over the hilt.

The scene materializes into an open field where I can see no one and nothing. A pool forms no more that 5 meters infront of me and out comes a greasy-haired dog, teeth bared, claws ready and barking like nothing earthly. Immediately, I yelp in shock and the realise there's a knife in my hand. So I breathe in, aim, breathe out and send the instrument sailing towards its abdomen.

As soon as the tip breaks the skin of the dog, I bolt upright in my chair, safe inside the examination room.
"Dauntless."
I feel a smile spread from the corners of my mouth, up to my eyes and walk out of the room. I giggle a little and strutt out of the room. I am dauntless. Even the test proved that I am doubtlessly dauntless. I am safe.

A/N I think I'll end it there for now.
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