Sequel to "You Make Me Brave"!! Please read that book first!!
Elsie and the gang have escaped the Maze! Now what? A city built on talent-and-behavior-fueled segregation and the mystery of it's lore and meeting their expectations is what.
As the gr...
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The Ceremony was hosted in a giant arena. The seats were full and the room was loud.
On the center stage there were five white bowls on white pedestals and one white pedestal off to the side with a knife and bandages on it.
Knife? Marcus didn't say anything about a knife. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Like something about this wasn't right.
Our group was seated on the front row of one of the five sections of seating. The people behind us all wore grey clothing. Robes and long pants and sleeves or long skirts for the women. Who also had their hair in buns and knots.
They looked- conservative. Yet kind. Was this Abnegation we were sitting with?
Marcus stepped up to the center stage and talked about the importance of the Factions and their purpose. Then he talked about Chicago and how it was still standing.
I wasn't paying attention. Until he started calling names.
One after the other, young people came up and chose their factions. They made a small cut in their hand and let their blood drip a few times into the bowl of their chosen faction.
Oh, so that's what the knife is for. It's like a blood pledge.
"Thomas," Marcus called out, locking his eyes on the boy two seats down from me. Thomas stood and jogged up the steps to the knife pedestal.
He gripped it tightly in his hand, jerked it across, and balled his hand into a tight fist as his blood dripped onto the bowl of what looked like burning coals.
I heard the sizzle from my seat and as soon as he turned around, an entire section of people dressed in punk-grunge style black clothes erupted into cheers and yells.
Whoah. So that's Dauntless.
Chuck was the next one called. Dory trailed up behind him, trotting along the floor with her hooves echoing around the silent room.
He struggled with the knife but managed and once he saw his Faction cheer for him, he had the biggest smile on his face and almost ran to them.
Thankfully, multiple people sitting around him pet Dory and gushed about how cute she was. My heart felt so warm. He's where he belongs.
Frypan was next from our group. Who was eager to join Chuck in their new Faction home. Clint and Jeff were next and they immediately started talking to their nerdy faction about their jobs as doctors in the Glade.
"Newt."
My heart dropped into my stomach as I watched my brother limp up to the stage. He had no issue with the knife and confidently let a few drops of blood drip onto the bowl of smooth grey stones.
The Factiom behind us clapped and cheered, happy to receive Newt into their group. Newt came back and sat next to me, tightly squeezing my hand.
"It doesn't hurt," He said. "The knife. Because it's so sharp. Plus. The way your Faction celebrates is worth it."
I couldn't help the small grin when he finished that last sentence. I didn't have time to react too much though because my name was called.
Gally watched as I walked up to the stage and grabbed the knife. My eyes scanned along the bowls, different factions. I remembered I could choose any one of them I wanted.
Now's the time. I could pick Abnegation if I wanted to and live with Newt. We could be together again as family like it used to be.
Marcus stepped closer to me and spoke quietly. "Choose wisely," He winked.
Why did he wink?
I sliced a small cut into the palm of my hand and dripped my scarlet blood onto the burning coals. The sizzle seemed to ring in my brain and echo around the room.
That was it. I'd just made the biggest decision of my life so far.
Dauntless exploded into cheers once again and welcomed me me into their section. They offered me a seat next to Thomas but I quickly turned that down and chose a spot in the front row.
Gally was next. He sauntered up to the pedestals and had zero hesitation cutting into his hand. He balled up his fist and shockingly... dripped his blood onto the burning coals.
My eyes widened as he came over to the cheering Dauntless and sat next to me.
"What are you doing?!" I whispered to him. He shrugged.
"Didn't like the sound of Candle or whatever it was. This group sounds like a hell of a good time."
Thomas was staring daggers into the back of Gally's head behind us. Little did I know, a rivalry was already brewing.
Soon everyone who was chosen to choose their faction was settled into their new congregation. We each stood up and everyone started leaving.
In a moment of desperation I tore away from Gally and ran through the crowds. He yelled after me but I didn't care. I had one target.
I shoved through people until I found Newt. He spotted me and opened his arms, so I sprinted into them and sobbed.
"I love you. I love you so much. I'll find you, okay? I'll find you!"
"I love you too. Elsie, they're gonna leave you. Go," He kissed my head and sent me off.
Gally waited for me at the exit and we left together, running after the crazy people that are our new home.
