Vic (a divergent fanfiction)

8

I wake up, sweaty and cold. All night I tossed and turned, drifting in and out of sleep. I dress in a black T-shirt and black leggings before leaving the stuffy room. I can hear my dad snoring on noisily. So much for catching the first train. I could wake him, but I still feel awkward around him after the fight, so instead I sprint forward. I don't know where I'm going until I get there. The tiny drops of water the metal bridge sparkle slightly in the dim light of the dauntless compound. The waterfall roars on as usual, tumbling away into the murky depths of the chasm. Moisture from the waterfall dampens my face, helping to rouse me from the clutches of weariness. I notice someone else, sitting on the metal bar and gazing silently into the raging water and endless blackness. Cal.

"Cal? What are you doing here? Don't you have to go to work?" I ask.

He turns round startled. "Vic! You gave me a heart attack! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Cal says. He seems scared, the way a rat is when they are being pursued. His eyes dart around nervously, as if he were checking for people that could of heard us speaking. Why does he avoid the other dauntless so? "Yes." He says finally, in a seemingly calmer tone, "normally I'd be at work but it's the choosing ceremony. We have the morning off. Me and Tori, I mean. Sorry for shouting at you. There were just these guys bugging me, calling me amity and stuff. I just-"

"You were afraid I was one of them?" He nods. "Cal, I thought you weren't afraid of anything. Why didn't you just fight them off?"

"I didn't want to pick unessessary fights. Hey, Vic I'm working on a letter t tattoo at the tattoo shop, maybe you could come and take a look at it after the ceremony? I know you'll be dauntless. Your a brave girl." Cal says. He gets like this sometimes, really more often then not. He becomes a peace keeper, and reminds me of the amity members. Why is he changing the subject?

"Cal, stop changing topics and tell me what happened! Why did you let them call you amity?" I shout, surprised by the sharpness of my own tone. I don't want to hurt my brother, but I don't want to lie about what I think. If everyone just told the truth, people wouldn't be hurt so easily because they'd be used to it. I'm starting to sound like a candor. I'm being honest with him and he knows it, but he still is slightly hurt. I should of said it nicer.

"Because it's true." Cal replies.

"What?" I ask confused, "What's true?"

"You asked me why I let them call me amity, and it's because it's true. My aptitude was for amity, not dauntless Vic. I just wanted to be with my family." Cal sounds ashamed with himself.

"Why didn't you say sooner?"

"I'm sorry Vic, I just didn't want us to fight. I didn't want to lie either, but I still did. You don't have to tell me the truth, because I didn't, but I'm not sure you got dauntless." he answers.

"Cal, I-I don't want to- I don't want to talk about-"

"It's ok. I understand, privacy and all that stuff. But Vic, I want to give you some advice. Don't just choose your family. Don't just think selflessly about how we'd feel about your transition into your chosen faction. Think about you. Today is all about you ok? Choose what will benefit you, because if you choose the way I did you'll most likely regret it. Choose for Vic. Not dad, not Cal, Vic. No matter what faction you choose, I'm still your brother." He says.

"Faction before blood." I remind him.

"Vic, I don't believe in that stupid rule. It's wrong. Blood before faction, ok? That's how I think of it." Cal states.

"Cal, I have a question for you."

"What is bothering you Vic?" Cal asks.

"How did you pass the dauntless invitation if your aptitude was amity? Aren't they opposite personalities?" I inquire.