The Chasm

Chapter Six

For the rest of next week, I continued to work with the initiates on their fears over and over again. I knew they were all gonna make it, just not in what order.

On Friday, the entire faction was in an upright tension, waiting for later when the ceremony would begin. As nervous as I am, I'm also filled with the excitement of what will become of these new members.

Reaching for the door of the fear landscape room, I am right on time to see all of the initiates to go through their fears for the last time. They are all lined up, waiting for max to call their names.

"Zeke."

"Shauna"

"Four."

"Eric."

The list goes on until the last person gets called, the amity girl named Mia, whose cheeks are streaked with tears.

"Well how was that for a first time?" Max says, as I feel his hand collide with my shoulder blade.

"It's not as intimate as I would think it would be." A short laugh escapes my mouth, as I smile.

"Well you'll get used to it don't worry."

He walks away and I feel a sense of pride as I made it through my first year of being a leader.

Later on, I head towards the pit where many members of dauntless are standing. My eye catches some of the initiates as well, all tensed up, waiting for the results. I step onto the podium with the other leaders as Max quiets the crowd down and starts his speech. But I barely hear him over the beating of my own heart.

The screen lights up with the names of the initiates. Eric is second, with four taking the number one spot. I clap along with everyone, joyful that all of the initiates have made it all into dauntless. 

As I step off the podium I can see out of the corner of my eye that someone is catching up to me. I turn around and there is Eric, walking up to me, with fresh piercings above his eyebrow.

"Hey Delilah," he says casually, like he isn't excited about passing initiation.

"What job are you thinking of for tomorrow?"

"Leadership."

"I could see you doing that."

"Max says I'm a good candidate."

"Good for you." 

"Why are you being so snippy with me right now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean youre gonna have to talk nicer to people if you wanna make friends."

I search my thoughts, that last line sounded familiar. Then it hits me, I told Eric on the first day that I would be his friend when he passes initiation.

"Ah you want me to be your friend now huh?" I say.

"That's what you said to me as I recall," he says, twirling his piercing.

"Well the answer to that is no."

"What the hell do you mean no?" I start to walk away from him and he follows a step behind. "You told me you would be my friend!"

"I'll think about it."

"Give me an answer now!"

I turn back to him, my anger starting to boil inside. "Don't you dare try to disrespect a leader like that."

"Fine then. Have it your way. If you want to be mean so be it." He walks away as I stand there, contemplating my choice. He's cocky and very smart to get into dauntless. But I won't settle for that as a leader.

I try to change the situation as my parents come up to me.

"Hi honey, why aren't you with the other leaders?" Mom asks. She points up to where two of the leaders are still standing on the podium, talking to each other. But I don't see any sign of max.

"Max is the one that I frequent the most to. And I don't see him up there so there's no reason to be withe them."

"Well still, you are a leader after all." She rubs my shoulders, attempting to deprive me of any thoughts of Eric and how he treated me.

"Are you going to recruit any leaders next year?" Mom asks.

"Yeah we have a few good candidates." I say smiling.

"We will let you get back to your friends then," mom hugs me and dad gives me a hug as well. They walk towards one of the dark hallways and then they're gone, like all my thoughts as they slip into oblivion for the rest of the night.