3 Feet From Freedom

Chapter One

The Choosing Ceremony

I sit in between Nana and Michael as the other factions file into the aisles of the Hub. Our small group of friends crowd around us. I clutch my mother's necklace and try not to think about leaving Nana.

This year it's Erudite's turn to host the Choosing Ceremony. Dad said I had to be on my best behavior, as me and all my friends represent the next possible generation of Erudite. Sadly my father couldn't be here on the most important day of my life, instead he's currently at a job interview he said he absolutely 'could not miss' even though I'm 96.7% sure almost the entire faction is here since Erudite is hosting.

The roar of the crowd dies down as Jeanine Mathews finally takes her place center stage and begins one of her famous speeches. After a few minutes of listening to her ramble on about how important the factions are she starts calling names.

The first to be called is a girl from Amity. She's short, shorter than me and has Sun bleached hair. She seems nervous considering she's gripping her faded red Sun dress so tight I can see her white knuckles from my seat. Jeanine hands her a blade and she hesitant to take it but after a moment she slowly lifts the knife from her hands. I see the girl squeeze her eyes tight as she runs the knife across the palm of her hand. She choose Amity and quickly walked back to her seat as her faction applauded her for her decision.

The next is a boy from Candor and then another from Abnegation. More are called but I don't pay much attention to them, I zone out wondering which faction fits me the best. Tori said I definitely wasn't Amity, which I don't really mind. I know I'm not the nicest person. And that Candor is very unlikely which makes me feel relieved. I hated the Candor anyway, they are too honest in my opinion. Most are stuck up anyway. I'm almost 100% certain I wouldn't make it a day in Abnegation, I can't live without a mirror and I know for a fact I wouldn't be aloud to play my music in their territory without getting arrested.

So my only options are Dauntless and Erudite

Before I know it my name is called. "Sage White" Jeanine's voice booms from the side of the stage. Suddenly all eyes are on me and I freeze. My nervousness takes over and I can't move.
I feel a hand squeeze mine. I look up to see Michael smiling down at me as he mouths the word "Breath" with a nod. I nod back and he stands to let me out of the tight row of chairs, pulling me up with him. He lets go of my hand and I step out into the isle.
I focus hard on my breaths so I don't think about the thousand people waiting for me to choose.
I step down on the flat surface and meet Jeanine Matthews with a smile plastered across her face. I stare at the floor as she hands me the knife with a quiet whisper.

"Choose wisely child"

My stomach turns as I look up at her. Her pleasing smile has turned into a stern smirk. As if she knows what I'm thinking. I quickly take the knife from her hands and fake a small smile as I take a big step away from her.

I stand in front of the five glass bowls. None catch my eye as much as the Dauntless coals and the Erudite's blood stained water. I squeeze my eyes shut and run the blade over my palm and hold it out in front of me. Which ever one I choose sets up the course of my life. Do I want to work in an Erudite lab or run with the Dauntless.

I hold my hand out above the Dauntless bowl when a sudden thought crosses my mind. My friends are my life, I literally can't live without them. I look back over my shoulder at my friends sitting all in the same row together. They're all smiling waving me on. Nana meets my gaze and gives me a nod just before Michael wraps his arms around her shoulders, smiling widely he gives me a wink.
Their reactions give me the confidence to do what I did next. I turn back around to see my hand filled to the rim with my blood. I take on last deep breath and close my eyes as I turn my hand over. Hearing the liquid sizzle on the Dauntless coals just before Jeanine calls out my decision to the crowd.