Dauntless Born

Chapter 8 The Dead Girl

The next morning was choosing ceremony day. I didn't necessarily want to go, but I got roped in since Uriah was choosing and so was Lynne and Hector kinda roped me in. I was sitting at breakfast when Hec ran up. We're leaving now. He said and Four frowned. You guys don't have school. Choosing ceremony. I said standing up. I turned to go but Four grabbed my wrist. I turned and frowned. Yeah? Just be careful. He said and I nodded some. He let go and I headed out. He was always paranoid somehow Marcus would find out who I was.

Four

I had found out through Eric that Marcus was the one doing the ceremony this year. He mainly told me to gloat about the fact he still hadn't forgotten who I was. My anxiety raised as I thought about Kacie going and being alone. But I couldn't risk going and being recognized. What's the matter with you? I looked at Eric and he smirked. Ah, you're worried about Kacie and someone finding out. Just because you know, doesn't make you better than everyone. Don't worry I'm attending the ceremony, so I'll keep an eye out for her. It didn't make me feel better. Last year Eric had "accidentally" shot Kacie in the leg. Eric, if anyone finds out- Oh don't worry. No one will. He said before walking away.

***
I was heading up the stairs. Unlike last time I didn't have much of an issue and was able to keep up mostly with my party. The only time I really fell behind was because I tripped. I fell into a kneel but got shoved up. Come on. Eric said almost dragging me. He didn't let go until we got to where we needed to go. I frowned at him but went in and he pointed. Your group is up- he stopped as we both saw Marcus. Go that way. He said turning and shoving me. Eric wasn't a nice person. But for some reason he wasn't being terrible. He probably wanted something. Hana turned as she was doing a head count and saw me. 5, thank you. She said taking my hand and sitting be by Hector. Hec's mom was there but on the other end as they had us kids in the middle. Eric walked away and down a couple more rows near the other leaders.

I watched and waited. It got to Uriah's turn and he strutted up. He tripped a hair on the stairs, Hector snorted some. Five credit says he trips on the way down. Nah, I five says he trips on the way up to the bowls. You're on. He muttered. We watched, I smirked as he did in fact trip on the way to the bowls. I sorta lost interest, that was until Caleb Prior got called up to the stage.

Like it was stated before, Abnegation is one of the most loyal factions. It was rare for people to transfer out, they also had the lowest numbers of Factionless turn over. Meaning if you wanted an easy faction you knew you'd make it in, go to Abnegation. I frowned perplexed at the fact he chose Erudite. Not only did he just leave his faction, but he left it for the one that was currently stabbing them in the back. I leaned forward as his sister, Beatrice was called up. No way would they both leave.

She looked between at least three bowls. Erudite, Abnegation, Dauntless. I raised an eyebrow. DAUNTLESS! I sat back into my seat, hard enough I feel the bar under the padding digging in between my shoulder blades. The last Abnegation transfer was two years ago. I trained my eyes on the ground and swallowed hard. There was no way to warn Four on the matter.

***

We move out as soon as it ends. There is always a weird air about the end of the choosing ceremony. Betrayal. Kids looking back at their families knowing this is the last time they will see them. I sprint down the side of the road, going up the hill. I was struggling to get up to the cart with Dauntless members. The first two carts were Dauntless members, the cart behind that was the initates.

PUMP YOUR ARMS KACIE! I glanced up at Eric, who was hanging out of the train. I DO NOT NEED HELP! Course not! He said before reaching out grabbing me around the upper waist. I promised Four I wouldn't let anything bad happen to his sister. I didn't need help. I snapped sitting down and he nodded some. Right. He said before sitting against the train wall.

***
I stood up as we were jumping Eric ran and jumped out, I followed him out, landing a couple inches away from him. I was sitting up and brushing the gravel from the roof tops off when I heard this blood curdling scream. I stood and frowned, walking over to Hec who was looking down. Oh my God, it's Rita. I muttered as someone had fallen and hit the pavement, the girl who died was Rita's sister. I was staring at the scene. Did it hurt? Or, was she already gone by the time she hit?

Uriah pulled me away from the edge and turned me towards Hector. Some of the Dauntless members looked at me strangely. What is the matter with you? Hector muttered but I didn't answer. I just kept picturing Rita's body, bent in weird ways. It interested me, but also terrified me. I snapped out of it when someone spoke up. I saw grey walking up to the edge. No way the stiff jumps. Hector muttered and I shook my head. Four was about to find out. She stepped off and my stomach twisted.

Everyone else went. Max looked over. You're up Kace. Kacie. I said stepping up on the edge. I let a sharp breath out, before just stepping off the edge. I didn't make a sound. I hit the next and bounce up some, and landed hard against the net. I rolled and flipped myself out of it, my feet hitting the concrete hard. My feet should have stung but it didn't. My next step: find Four.

***
It was dinner time, I hadn't seen him, he wasn't home when I got there either. I walked over the Chasm and down through the pit. I got to the mess hall and walked in, Eric was walking past. Well, knew you couldn't he that far behind. He said and I looked over at Four. See you around Kacie. He said before walking off. I came up to the table. Four. Kacie. He said as I sat down Tris frowned some. I know you. I frowned up at her. You're the girl who fell last year who broke her ankle.

I looked at Four and back at her. Yeah and? Four sighed. Kacie this is Tris. Ah the first jumper. I said and Tris frowned. So you two know eachother? I looked over, did she know who he was since they both were Abnegation? He didn't seem like anything was different, and I was sure he'd be acting a lot different if someone knew. Yeah he's- Same Faction, of course we KNOW eachother.

I stopped moving. I swallowed hard. I was swallowing anger down. I stood up and walked out of the mess hall. My head was reeling with emotion and thoughts. Why did he deny knowing me? If she didn't know who he was, he shouldn't need to hide who I was. Then maybe she did know him?

I stopped over the Chasm and leaned against the railing. I heard someone walk up. Why, did you lie? I snapped out my voice shaking. Half of Dauntless doesn't even know. Is it because she's from Abnegation?!? Did she recognize you?!? I snapped looking at him. No. Then why did you lie?!? Because, if she ever does recognize me as Tobias Eaton she can't know because- because I'm dead.

Those words spilled out of my mouth and it hit him. Because Kacie Lynne Eaton doesn't exist. Kace- I shook my head some. Right, I'm just a child of Dauntless. I said backing up nodding. Good talk. I said before turning and walking off to the apartment. I didn't know which hurt worse: hearing my brother deny even really knowing me, or basically being told I was never going to really exist as his sister.

The image of the dead girl played into my head again. She was dead but had lived. People knew her, knew where she came from, who her family was. Me? No one knew where I came from, no one really knew my family, and no one really knew me. I was as good as a corpse. I was living, but I was just as dead as Hel.