One Choice {A Divergent Fan-Fiction}

Chapter Seven

               Author's note: Sorry this chapter took a while, thanks for waiting, enjoy! xx

        By the time I got to the dining hall that morning, it was already crowded. I usually am an early riser, but after everything that happened yesterday, I was in no rush to get up. My dreams were no help either. In my dreams, I imagined everything that could go wrong throughout Dauntless initiation and I wasn’t eager to wake up and see if they would become reality. I would have stayed under the comfort of my sheets if it weren’t for Terra who “enthusiastically” woke me up before breakfast at 7:30 am so that we wouldn’t be late for training. Plus, I really don’t want to know what would happen if we just so happened to be late.

            After getting dressed, brushing my teeth, and getting lost, I finally make it to the dining hall. There is a long table to the left side of the room with a variety of breakfast foods scattered across it. I make my way to the table and grab a muffin before searching the room for Terra and Jake. I notice them sitting at a square shaped table talking to each other and slowly walk towards them while avoiding flying pieces of cereal. When I get to the table, I sit down and take small bites out of my muffin as Jake tells Terra about one of his alien related dreams. She is just nodding carelessly and I can tell that she couldn’t care less about the aliens who arrived at the choosing ceremony 50 years in the future, but Jake continues as if he has the whole world’s attention. 

            Terra notices me being here and stops Jake from talking, “Morning pillow head.” She says as I force myself to finish the muffin. I nod and rest my head against my arm.

“Incoming...” Jake warns, staring behind me. I turn my head to see Cory and Ian walking towards our table with goofy smiles on their faces. Before I could do or say anything, Cory takes a seat to my left and Ian sits to my right.

“Hey guys, did you enjoy your first night at the Dauntless resort? If you have any complaints, please feel free to write a note and put it in the complaint box.” Cory says, attempting an accent I’ve never heard before.

“We don’t have a complaint box…” Says Ian.

            “Right… Well then you’ll just have to deal with it.” Cory replies looking smug.

            “It was great.” I say sarcastically.

            “Oh come on, it couldn’t have been that bad… Especially since you guys have the best company in the whole compound.” Says Cory as he slides closer to me on the bench until I’m smashed against Ian.

            “What was that for?” Ian says. He starts pushing me against Cory until I’m smashed between the two of them.

            “It wasn’t me.” I say trying to squirm free. “Now, ergh, stop, ow, squeezing ugh, meee.” I say, looking at Terra and Jake for help. The both of them are just laughing.

            Finally, Cory and Ian stop and start laughing with Terra and Jake.

            “Ow.” I say, massaging my arms. “I think you almost squeezed me to death.”

            “And I think we just made our first Dauntless sandwich.” says Ian, high-fiving Cory.

            “Dauntless sandwich?” questions Terra.

            “Yeah, it’s sort of a tradition even though it’s completely stupid and random.”

            “You got that right.” Jake says, smiling.

            I wanted to smack both of them, but before I could the initiates started to stand up and walk towards the door.

            “Is it time already?” I ask worriedly.

            “Yup.” says Ian. “Good luck.”

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            Lauren leads us away from the pit into a large room about the size of a football field. In the center are various machines, weights, punching bags and weapons. Wrapped around the large cavern is a gravel track going in a circle around the arena.

            We follow her to the center of the room until she stops and turns around.

            “The first thing you will learn is how to increase your endurance. There are a variety of ways in which you could do that, but most of it is up to you. The first part of initiation is based on your choices. You must train yourself based on what you think is best. Of course, I will guide you, but it’s up to you on how much you want to learn from each lesson. Make sure to not waste your time because when I say its time, you will have to fight each other, and if you want to stay in Dauntless I recommend getting good results. In the afternoon, I will teach you some fighting techniques and you must pay close attention. Any questions so far?” asks Lauren.

            “No? Good.” She continues, “There are three stages of initiation. The first part of initiation is mostly physical, the second emotional, and the third is mainly mental. Now, you are dismissed. We’ll start with the track.”

            Lauren starts leading us to the track and as soon as her feet touch the gravel she’s jogging with no effort. I never had an interest for running even though some of the people in my faction do it for fun, but I focus my attention on Lauren and try to keep my breaths even. By the time we’re half way around the track, Jake and the two Candor boys are close behind Lauren, with me, Terra, and the two other Candor girls close behind. Behind us, the boy from Abnegation and the girl from Amity.

            My throat starts to become dry so I close my mouth and take deep breaths from my noise and breathe out with my mouth. I remember some techniques I learned about running in a book and try to keep an even pace. The two girls from Candor start to lose speed and I pass them ignoring the pain in my feet. I hear their heavy breaths, and start to feel triumphant. They hadn’t kept an even pace and that’s why they fell behind.

            When we come to a stop, I feel like collapsing. My heart is racing and my throat feels like sandpaper because of the running. I put my hands on my waist and take deep breathes as we make our way to the water. I grab a cup and drink it all in less than 10 seconds.

            “Gee, first day and I feel like quitting.” says Terra between breaths.

            “At least we weren’t the slowest.” I say referring to the Candor girls who I notice shooting daggers at us from across the field.

            “Huh, they look grumpy.” says Jake popping out of nowhere.

            Terra elbows him in the ribs, “Since when could you run?” She asks curiously.

            He smiles with delight, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Miss. Walker.”

            “Well then, enlighten me.”  Replies Terra.

            “Uhh guys, we’re not done yet.” I sigh as I notice Lauren going over to the weapons.

            “Ooooh, this’ll be fun.” says Jake as her makes his way over to the center of the field were the targets and weapons lay. We follow behind him.

            “It’s time you all learn how to use and aim a gun. Pay close attention.” Lauren says as she grabs a gun walks in front of a target. She puts both hands on the gun and shoots, making a mark right in the center of the target. My ears are ringing because of the sound. Then she demonstrates again and gives us each a gun.

            I feel the gun in my hand and move it around till it fits right. It feels dangerous and powerful, but I make my way to a target anyways. Some of the initiates already started shooting and the sound echoes throughout the whole room. I raise my gun cautiously with both hands and try to aim in the center of the target. I was about to press the trigger when I heard a gunshot and Terra’s painful scream. 

Author's note: Cliffhanger! Oops haha I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, please comment, vote and fan! Thank you :)