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"Everybody up! I need you in the training room in 10 minutes!" Four yells as the lights flicker on, pulling me from my sleep. My eyes struggle to lift as if they'd been glued shut. I rub my eyes and sit up in my bed, almost feeling nauseous. It took me ages to fall asleep last night; I couldn't stop thinking about my mom and how disappointed my dad must be. It didn't help that Al cried the whole night either. Despite this, I slept dreamlessly. I let my feet meet the cold cement beneath me as I push myself up from my bed. In a daze, I grab my training clothes from the storage space beneath it and start changing. The good thing about waking up this early is that no one is awake enough yet to cat call.
After tying my laces, I get up from my bed again, with much less difficulty, and head out. I'm one of the first to join Four, something I hope doesn't draw anymore attention to me than there already is. Myra and Edward, a pair of initiates, are the only others so far. They wait in an embrace, his hand on her hip---a couple. I'm certain it's linked to my Abnegation upbringing, but something about public displays of affection make me deeply uncomfortable. I face away from them, engrossing myself with counting the tiles on the wall across from me until Christina pulls me from my trance---a welcomed distraction.
"Hey, Tris," she greets me, "How'd you sleep?" she asks, a uniquely mischievous hint in her tone, like she already knows my answer.
"Not great," I chuckle, "I practically had to pry my eyes open this morning," I choose not to include either reason why.
"At least we're suffering together," she remarks with a teasing smile as Will approaches from behind.
"Good morning," he yawns, his voice deepened with sleep, "What are we talking about?" he asks.
"Oh, y'know, just about how much sleep we didn't get last night," Christina replies, earning a soft, almost weak chuckle from Will.
"I'd be surprised if anyone slept," Will remarks.
"I know Al certainly didn't; that'd imply he stopped crying for more than five minutes," Peter butts in as he walks into the training room, Drew and Molly at his sides. Christina's brows furrow as she starts to say something in Al's defense, but Four cuts her off.
"Listen up! Today is the first day of training," he starts. As he begins speaking we shuffle in, forming a crowd in front of him, "We'll start with a run, then some gun and knife safety, followed by target practice for each of them," he states with a glance around the room, briefly meeting the sleepless gaze of each initiate, some returning dazed nods. "Let's get started," he says with a start towards the exit.
We follow him to a door that leads out to a beautiful landscape of smudged grays and blacks. He looks around briefly to make sure he's got everyone, then starts jogging---the male initiates hot on his heals. Christina and Will run beside me, and no matter how breathlessly, Christina manages to talk the whole way. It's difficult to get used to at first, but I adjust pretty quickly and actually start to enjoy the run; it makes me feel athletic, and in a way, more Dauntless. Though, I know the other things we'll learn today won't come so naturally. It's hard to know for certain, but I think we run for about 5 miles. I jog towards the front of the pack while others stagger behind. Peter, Drew, and Will look as if they've been trained for this, while Christina and I keep pace at the middle of the pack.
