3 Feet From Freedom

Chapter Two

Eric

I stumble into the bathroom with a hangover I could easily say is the worst I've ever had. I turn the hot water up until I can't stand the heat and just stand under the almost boiling water. Hoping it will wash away the pounding in my head.

Today is the day the next generation of citizens choose their future. Today is also the day I go back to my home faction and 'welcome' the new Dauntless to their 'new home' which I am already dreading.

Stepping out of the shower I grab a towel and slowly make my way back to my room. After I dry myself off I toss my towel to the side, pull on my boxers and head to the kitchen because if don't get some coffee soon I just might fall asleep standing up.

&$&$&$&$&$&

After all the Dauntless born idiots, I mean initiates, take their seats in the front the rest of us file into the back. Somehow I still ended up close to the front. Great, now I'll have a front row seat to all the screaming. Not that I don't enjoy standing up and yelling a big 'Fuck you' to all the other factions when someone chooses us over then but where I'm sitting the screaming never really dies down completely.

Jeanine Matthews finds a spot on stage after everyone has found a seat and starts the same speech I've heard what feels like a million times but now that I think about it, considering I'm only 22 I've actually only been in this place 6 times in my entire life.

After she finally finished her long agonizingly boring speech she calls the first name.

"Anna Abaddon"

A very short blonde Amity girl stands and walks up to the stage. Of course she decided to stay in Amity, most Amity do. Next is a scrawny boy from Candor who chose Abnegation and since his last name started with an 'R' I'm going to assume they are calling the names at random this year.

After about 60 names had been called only three of ours had left and 8 have joined. It's almost over and that I am thankful for. Jeanine pushes a new Amity off the stage as she prepares herself to call the next name.

"Sage White" she calls to the crowd.

That name. Where have I heard that name before. My eyes search the room for anyone standing. A girl with long wavy auburn hair in the Erudite region stands. She's so far away I have to squint to see her. Sage. Why does that name sound so familiar.
I watch as another Erudite, a boy, stands and escorts her out of the isle. She looks nervous. Very nervous considering she hasn't looked away from the bowls center stage since she left the isle, not even to look where she's walking.

Jeanine hands her the knife and she takes it before quickly taking a large step back away from Jeanine, she seems skittish. I watch as she cuts her hand open without an ounce of hesitation. She holds her hand above the Dauntless bowl and I hold my breath as she looks back at the Erudite crowd behind her. I'm not sure why but I hope she chooses Dauntless.

She slowly turns her hand over dumping a massive amount of blood into the bowl, a feeling of satisfaction washes over me. I watch as the Dauntless idiots basically devour her in the crowd. Teen boy hormones are so thick in the air you can almost taste them. They see a decent looking girl and they go wild.

After she's been passed to about every Dauntless boy in the small crowd in front of me she looks up and smiles showing every pearl white tooth. And I swear she was looking right at me with those dark green eyes. Before I can even react some other boy scoops her up and spins her around, yelling.

"You couldn't have picked a better faction, kid"

Those eyes. Where in the hell have I seen this girl before. I swear it's going to kill me if I don't find out soon.

I turn around in my seat and watch as she avoids the Amity girl on the end. She pulls on her blue leather jacket, trying to straighten it out after those animals nearly ripped it off of her as another name is called. I didn't comprehend it since I'm to submerged in thought. She looks up, her green eyes suddenly worried and relieved all at once. I have seen that look before but where!

"Who are you?" I mumble to myself as a boy is passed by me.

_

______________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry guys I know this one is short but I just really wanted to somehow squeeze in Eric's point view of the Choosing Ceremony. Anyway comment if you have any questions and hit the little star at the top of the chapter if you liked this one and please stick around to see what happens next.