The Other Side

Chapter One

It's the morning of the choosing ceremony. I stand in the mirror straightening my suit, straightening my hair, and most importantly, straightening out my life.

My mother appears in the doorway, a small smile on her face.

"Today is the day isn't it? How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. Don't worry about me."

"You do know what choice you are going to pick right?" Like most Erudite parents, they aren't really worried about me, just my thinking skills.

"Yes mother, I do."

"Well I can't wait to see what you choose." She says. "It's almost time to go, so meet me and your father outside when you get done."

"Yes mother," I say. I adjust my tie and take one last look around the room. The room that means nothing special to me. Books are still stacked high on my desk; the papers scattered around them.

"Goodbye Erudite," I say softly as I turn off the light and leave it all behind me.

Inside the choosing ceremony, lots of people have come to be here. Some with kids, some that are not. Almost all of the seats are taken and it is hard to find a place to sit.

"Now you know what to do right? When the person calls your name, just go up to them, take the knife and put your blood into the bowl." My father says. "The Erudite bowl."

"I wonder what Marcus's son is going to choose?" My mother says, gazing over to their section. I follow her gaze; Marcus's son, Tobias Eaton is sitting quietly next to his father, solemn gazes as they stare at the bowls sitting in the front row.

The Dauntless representative goes up behind the podium and starts. "Welcome to the choosing ceremony. Today you will choose your factions. Until this point you have followed your parents' paths, your parents' rules. Today you will find your own path, make your own rules. A long time ago, our ancestors realized that each of us, each individual, was responsible for the evil that exists in the world. But they didn't agree on exactly what that evil was. Some said it was dishonesty. Some said that it was ignorance, some aggression. Some said selfishness was the cause. And the last group said that it was cowardice that was to blame."

I look over to the dauntless section, where the Four other leaders are sitting. The newest one was last year. Delilah Marku. She became a leader last year. I never met her though.

But I will tonight.

"That is how we came by our factions: Candor, Erudite, Amity, Abnegation and Dauntless. In them we find administrators and teachers and counselors and leaders and protectors. In them we find our sense of community, our very lives. Enough of that. Let's get to it. Come forward and get your knife. First off, Zellner, Gregory."

Amity.

"Rodgers, Helena."

Candor.

Lovelace Fredrick. One of my classmates, and my best friend goes down to the bowl and lets his blood drip into the Erudite water, making the water darker.

I continue watching as each person makes their choice.

"Eaton, Tobias."

Marcus's son makes a slow entrance down to the bowls. Max nods at him, and he lets his blood drip into the coals.

"He did not pick Dauntless," My mother says in astonishment.

"He certainly did." My father replies. The dauntless welcome him with open arms, slapping him on the back.

"Coulter, Eric."

"Your turn son," My father says, letting me past him. "Make us proud."

"Goodbye son," My mother says.