Convergent

Chapter 3

"Elizabeth?" Marcus rapps on the door, my eyes open slowly.

"Yes father?" I sit up. Morning light streamed through the windows, I skipped dinner, how was a able to sleep for this long? Marucs opens the door, he doesn't come in but I can see a brief look of grief in his eyes before he composes himself.

"Are you feeling OK? you weren't down for dinner, you have been asleep since school ended." He looks at me like I had just committed a crime.

"I got sick from the test." I told him exactly what Tris told me to say. He nods and drops the subject, not wanting to start a fight on the last day he would ever see me.

"What are you doing in Tobias' room?" he asks me sternly.

I shrug and run a hand through my hair, "I dunno. I thought I would trade my room for his, the view of the neighbors house is fantastic, I can stare at them all I want" I hide a smirk, I had the best room of the house. My window viewed the back yard and a view of The main city which wasn't that much to complain about, it could be pretty some nights. I look over at Marcus, his lips press into a tight line, a sign of anger. His eyes flashed red before he looks away. I winced a little even though I know he knew better then to hit me on the day of the ceremony.

"Breakfast is ready. He turns around and walks downstairs. I get up and make his bed like he last left it, took one last look at his room before walking out to my own.

I get dressed in typical Abnegation color, the joyous grey color. Jeans, a blouse and a cardigan. I was able to put my hair in to a grey barrette. It came down in curls past my shoulders, it looked messy but it will have to do. I look in the mirror again. We're only allowed to look at it every third day of every third month. My father never needed it, nor did Tobias, so when my mother passed, I was able to keep the mirror in my closet. Abnegation women had to always look plain, anything else was self-indulgent.

"Elizabeth! Come down! You'll be late!" Marcus yells from downstairs. I slide on my shoes and run down the stairs to the kitchen

"Don't make so much Noise." He warns me

"Sorry." I shrug and quickly scarf down the eggs. And the two of us walk to the trains we just make it and we find a seat in the back. I get the window seat like always.

The ceremony switches every year from Faction to Faction. Again Abnegation will open it and read the names in alphabetical order. Marcus is reading the names. So that mean He'll see me transfer factions right in front of him. That thought sends a chill up my spine. His last tie to his wife and family will now abandon him in front of everyone, he'll read my name and then I'll no longer be bound to him. I feel like a traitor.

"Dad?" I look over at him. He doesn't Chastise me this time.

"Yes Elizabeth?" He looks over at me softly. He only does this when people are around. This will occasionally come about at home when I'm having a bad day. Even though he abused me. It's hard not to love him, he cared about me so much as a child. We were so close. I find it hard to break that bond between us.

"Hypothetically speaking, if I was to transfer Factions, would you hate me as much as you do Tobias?" I play with my hands not wanting to see his facial expression.

"Sure I would miss you." He nods. Avoiding the hate-topic. He will, I can tell. He was devastated when Tobias transferred, Marcus had only two emotions. Upset and angry. Upset that his only son left. Angry that he is gone, he is a traitor to this family. But to me, Tobias is smart. He knew what he wanted.

A part me doesn't even feel bad about that. We get off the train and walk to the hub, the place where this life will end, and a new one will begin. My father takes my hand like a small child as we stand in the elevator to go to the room. The last time he held my hand was when mom died. But then I was only six and could fit in his lap, I was still Naive to who he was. I feel oddly comforted by this. As if I was six years old again. Was this a way to make me stay in Abnegation? He would still want me here, he needs a punching bag, but, I won't be it anymore.

When we reach the twentieth floor and we depart ways. He to the stage and I to the group of 16 year old From every faction. We were not called members. You have to be initiated into the faction to be called a member.

We stand in alphabetical order. I stand near the front of course. Between Abigail Earley, a Candor girl and Philip Edwards, a Erudite boy who looked like he was checking me out. I roll my eyes and turn to face the stage.

On the table there are five giant bowls. Each one containing things that represent each faction. Grey stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, earth for Amity, glass for candor and coals for Dauntless. When we come to the bowls we must slice our palm with the knife Marcus will hand us. And then we sprinkle blood on the bowl of our chosen faction.

Families and members sit in circles in there factions. Not many come. But it's enough to make it look like a packed house. I scan the dauntless for any information I should pick up. While looking around I spot Tris and Tobias in the front row.

Tobias looked much different now. In all black, of course older, he looked more attractive now. No longer the awkward boy I would tease and joke around with. He looked hardened. His face lost the soft, friendliness, he glances over at Tris, and then it's back. The love and adoration that he used to have. He must really love her. Tobias was very quiet and introverted growing up. He wouldn't go to community events or over to the Prior's for dinner. I wouldn't either. I wanted to be like him, he was my role model.

Marcus walked up to the microphone and began the ceremony.

The intro states what each faction stands for and what we will do when we go to the center of the stage. He starts calling the 16 year-olds up one by one.

Mostly everyone stays in the faction they were born into. Some kids changed. The girl in front of Abigail, a dauntless switches to Abnegation. Abigail goes up and stays in Candor.

"Elizabeth Eaton." Dad calls my name and smiles warmly at me, to throw off people from who he really is. I take a deep breath and walk over to him. He hands me a knife and before I could think I said my last words to him.

"I love you dad." It was low so no one could hear it. But loud enough for him. I Probably haven't told him that since I was twelve.

I slice my palm and close my hand tightly so the blood will flow. Quickly and swiftly I stand in front of the lit coals and open my hand. My blood sizzles on the rocks. Suddenly, the audience starts to mutter and speak in hush tones. It's rare when an Abnegation member leaves. But when they do, everyone remembers. Tobias was the first. Tris and Caleb were next and now me. Without looking at my father I walk to where the other dauntless initiates are.

I can see the headlines now, questioning on why I left. Will they bring up the abuse Theory again, Or they'll think I did it to follow in my brothers footsteps? To be honest, that wasn't it, I just needed to get out of Abnegation and dauntless seemed more carefree, and perfect.

I just abandoned my father. Right next to him. I felt like a traitor, I shouldn't.

By the time the Ceremony was over there was 30 dauntless initiates, we all are running out of the ceremony. I look over at my father, his lips in a tight line like he would when he was angry, but there is no one to comfort him and for once I feel free from him. The chains have lifted. I smile and turn back around to keep up with the others.