Those Five Words

23.

Chapter 23

FOUR POV

"The first thing you will learn today is how to shoot a gun. The second thing is how to win a fight," I say to the nine initiates standing in front of me. I pass the guns out as I am speaking. Trying not to let my emotions over Tris get the better of me. I need to focus on getting through training then I can worry about everything else.

"Thankfully, if you are here, you already know how to get on and off a moving train, so I don't need to teach you that."

"Initiation is divided into three stages. We will measure your progress and rank you according to your performance in each stage. The stages are not weighed equally in determining your final rank, so it is possible, though difficult to improve your rank."

"We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear. Therefore each stage of initiation is intended to prepare you in a different way. The first stage is primarily physical; the second, primarily emotional; the third, primarily mental."

"But what . . ." Peter yawns through his words. "What does firing a gun have to do with . . . bravery?"

Seriously this kid is going to get on my nerves. I flip the gun that is in my hand and I press it to Peter's forehead, and I clip the bullet into place. Peter freezes. Better than the Amity kid last year.

"Wake up," I snap. "You are holding a loaded gun you idiot. Act like it."

I lower the gun and I see Peter's eyes harden. I don't like the look, he is dangerous and he is going to have to be watched closely. He is the type of person we don't want here in Dauntless.

"And to answer your question . . . you are less likely to soil your pants and cry for your mother if you're prepared to defend yourself."

"Your ranking serves two purposes. The first is that it determines the order in which you will select a job after initiation. There are only a few desirable positions available. The second purpose is that only the top ten initiates will be made members. Anyone out of the top ten will be given the opportunity to work in the Dauntless retirement village. If this is the case and you want to stay in Dauntless then you will have to go through a special training programme we have devised."

"What do we do if we don't want to work in the retirement village?" asks Peter.

"You become factionless," I say. Sam and Bob wanted anyone out of the top ten to instantly become factionless. But we need staff for the retirement home. So Lauren and I devised a program that gives them the opportunity to become members and it gives us the staff we need. I don't think Peter would appreciate cleaning toilets but he will still probably find it better than living factionless.

"Work hard, it will be a lot harder to make it in the second time round. You can concede fights but it will lower your scores dramatically. Fights will be chosen by putting everyone's name into a hat. This isn't going to be easy but trust me it is worth it"

TRIS POV

I can't seem to take my eyes of Four. I know he is extremely good looking and so that makes him easy to look at but it is something else. I don't know why but I am drawn to him. He feels familiar but I don't know why. I haven't met him before yesterday, it's not like any one from Dauntless would be seen near someone from Abnegation.