Erudite's Experiments

The Aptitude Test

POV Rosalie

Fourteen Years Later

I hate Erudite with a deep burning passion. I hate that I have to wear glasses that I don't need. I hate that all I can do is study. I hate that Erudite encourages experimenting for the sake of experimenting. I hate that Erudite seems to care little about humane limitations. I hate my mother. I try to hide it, but I can't stand her. She's the epitome of 'one way in public, but different at home'. She's not abusive, but she is cold and calculating. Whenever I do something she doesn't approve of she purses her lips and narrows her eyes at me. When I was ten she told me how I had come to be and said that she will knock the Abnegation out of me if it is the last thing she does. If only she knew that I don't want to be Abnegation or Erudite, but I want to be able to fight back. You can't fight back in Erudite.

On the day of my aptitude test I am more than ready to just be out of this hell hole. I feel like I'm going to tear my hair out any second because I'm stuck here. I suck in a deep breath and braid back my dirty blonde hair before twirling it up into a bun. I pull on navy slacks, a white blouse, and a navy blazer.

"You look presentable." My mother says when I come down the stairs. That's the best compliment I'm going to get out of her.

"Thank you, mother." I say, sitting at the breakfast table.

"Are you nervous about today?"

"Were you, for your test?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"I knew where I belonged. The aptitude test was merely a formality." She says and I nod my understanding. "I know you feel torn due to your hybrid genes, Rosalie, but you are a bright, headstrong young woman. I know you will choose correctly."

"Correctly by your definition or my own?" I dare ask and she sighs.

"Are you really that unhappy in Erudite that you would defect?"

"Yes." I say without hesitation. "Excuse me, I need to get to school."

"Rosalie Esme Matthews-Prior!" Mother calls after me, but I continue walking out the door and into the morning air.

I take the long way to school hoping to actually be a bit late.

"Hey, Rosie!" A familiar voice says in my ear just as I'm approaching the school. I can't help but smile at the sound of the voice as I turn to see Miles Gunner, another child that came from my mother's experimentation. He's also one of the most attractive men I have ever seen.

"Hello, love." I say. I look at his arm, grab his wrist, and begin to trace the tattoo that runs from his wrist up to the inside of his elbow.

"Rosie?"

"I told you I'd see it before the Choosing Ceremony." I say smugly before walking off. I laugh as he catches me around the middle and spins me around a few times. He kisses my temple before letting me go. He walks towards his class, winking at me as he walks off before turning back around.

"If I swung that way, I'd hit that." My best friend says as he meanders to my side.

"Jeremy." I whine.

"I'm just saying, Miles Gunner is a very attractive specimen. How did a Nose manage to grab him anyway?" He asks as we walk to class.

"Are you saying I'm not attractive?" I tease.

"I am so not answering that. Not when your boyfriend can currently crush me with one hand. That will be changing though. Soon."

"So you are still set on Dauntless?"

"Aren't you?"

"If you think I'm staying in Erudite you've lost your mind. I'm not selfless enough for Abnegation, I can't stand loud-mouths, I'm not passive enough for Amity, and I have a lot of aggression that I need to let out and learning to fight back could actually be helpful."