Invergent

Chapter Nine

McKell's Perspective:

Once all the initiates have landed safely at the bottom, Three, Erin, and a Dauntless girl who tells us her name is Lorelai lead us down a stone tunnel. We walk for what feels like ages. In the long spaces in between the light sources, it's almost pitch black. I hate the dark. I clench Parker's hand like a life line every time we leave the warm comfort of the light.

Eventually, the crowd stops at an intersection, the three Dauntless leaders standing in front of us. "This is where we divide," Lorelai says. "The Dauntless-born initiates are with me. I assume you don't need a tour of the place." She walks away into one of the tunnels, the Dauntless-borns close on her heels. Erin goes with them, as well.

Three steps forward, his arms folded. "Most of the time I work in the control room, but for the next few weeks, I am your instructor. My name is Three."

"Three? Like the number?" Chrissy asks from behind me.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"No."

"Good. We're about to go into the Pit, which you will someday learn to love. It–"

Chrissy snorts. "The Pit? Clever name."

I groan inwardly. Growing up in Candor, I'm used to this kind of behavior, but we aren't in Candor anymore. I can tell by the anger flashing in Three's eyes that Chrissy is going to regret back-talking him.

Three walks up to Chrissy and leans close to her. "What's your name?" he asks in a quiet, dangerous voice.

"Chrissy," she squeaks. I can tell she now understands the situation she's gotten herself into. She's going to have to learn how to keep her thoughts to herself.

"Well, Chrissy, if I wanted to put up with Candor-smart-mouths, I would have joined their faction. The first lesson you will learn from me is to keep your mouth shut. Got that?"

Chrissy nods and Three turns around. He walks down the tunnel and the initiates are quick to follow.

If there's one thing I learned from this little incident, it's to stay on Three's good side. He may seem calm on the surface, but beneath that, he's an explosion just waiting to happen.

Three pushes open a set of doors and leads us into the Pit. It's a stone cavern stories tall with ledges holding stores and restaurants. Narrow pathways criss-cross above us, connecting the different sides. There are people everywhere, all dressed in black, shouting and waving at each other. I notice there aren't any railings to stop them from falling off the edge. Thank goodness I've never been afraid of heights.

I look at Parker and smile at the awed expression on his face. His neck is craned back, trying to see it all. "This is amazing," he says.

"Can you believe we're actually here?" I ask breathlessly.

"It feels like a dream."

"If you'll follow me," Three says, "I'll show you the chasm."

We walk to the right side of the Pit and see an iron railing. I grab it and peer down. Several stories below is a river, the water churning and white. I think I can feel the spray on my cheeks, although that might just be my imagination.

"The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy!" Three shouts over the roar of the river. "A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again. You've been warned."

I can't seem to take my eyes off of the turbulent water, fascinated by the way it moves. It never stops, never rests. Rocks are merely a minor annoyance to it, easy to go around or over. This raging river is strong enough that it slowly carved its way into a mountain, chipping away at the stone year after year.