♘ Be Brave ♘

XVII

I clench my teeth, fighting the urge to throw up. No wonder I fear heights. I'm airborne longer this time, making the experience even more terrifying. What if I fall face first on the ground? I'd die in seconds. What if... before I can make an even more grisly scenario up in my head, I slam into something.

A net! It's a net! I laugh, and someone pulls me out of there. "What's your name?" I look up to see a bald man staring back at me. "Uh..." I don't want to reveal my name. If I want to forget the Abnegation part of me, Marcus, and everything that hurt me so much, I have to hide my identity.

I know! I'll use my middle name. "Matthew. My name is Matthew." The man nods, and calls out, "Third jumper. Matthew!" Cheers surround me, and Zeke steps out of the shadows, along with a few other Dauntless members. The Erudite who shoved me earlier stands back, his arms crossed.

"Well done, Stiff." There's a puzzled look on his face, and I know he wants to ask me why I presented myself as Matthew. I slightly shake my head. "Not now," I whisper. He nods, and smiles at me. "I knew you could do it." He pats me on the back. Just then, we hear a scream.

Cassandra is making her way down to the net. As soon as she falls, the Erudite, Zeke and I practically race to help her up. Erudite Guy grabs Cassandra's arm, but she snaps, "Get away from me, Eric." So his name is Eric. I push him aside, and offer Cassandra my hand.

She takes it, but lets go as soon as she's upright. "What's your name?" The bald man repeats his question. "Cassandra. Cassandra Reyes." The Dauntless guy announces her name, and everyone cheers. Several more initiates come down, and each time it's the same thing.

Fall, get up, state your name, cheer. Last but not least, Rachel appears. The bald guy offers her his hand, but she ignores him, and gets out of the net by herself. "Okay, initiates. Dauntless-borns come with me, the rest of you stay with Matt."

Huh. The bald man has the same name I do. Weird. We separate, and get in line. As Cassandra walks past me, she stops to embrace me. I am taken aback. I don't know what to do. Before I can pull away, Cassandra whispers, "Thank you." I glance over her shoulder and spot Eric, who's staring at me. If looks could kill, I'd be dead by now.