CONVERGENT - [Divergent] ADOPTED

Chapter Seven

[TRUDI]

We had to jump off the train. Fine, I knew that, fair enough. But wait, there's more. We had to jump off the train, onto the roof of a building, seven stories high. I think they're crazy.

Just don't think. Jump. Don't think. Jump.

"Now!"

Jump.

I was weightless for a few moments; I was glad to see that I jumped over the ledge of the building. I managed to keep my feet for a bit, but the sudden stop of motion, had me rolling on the ground.

I got up, and went to help Eliz-Ellie. I went to help Ellie. I took her hand, standing her up, I went to see if Kori was okay, but she was already on her feet.

Kori smiled at us. "Wow, that was awesome."

I laughed in agreement. That was pretty damn awesome.

There was an older Dauntless man, standing on top of the ledge. He beckoned us over.

"Listen up! Name's Max. I'm one of the Dauntless leaders, I'm here to congratulate you on making this far." I instantly thought back to the train, to getting on and the getting off. What if someone couldn't do it? Then they're factionless.

"Life in Dauntless is tough, we're here to see who has what it takes to be a member of Dauntless. You're first step, jump off of this building into the entrance to the compound seven stories below." He said it so casually, as if taking about the weather, not falling seven stories into the unknown.

"Those who are brave enough will not hesitate, I'll let the transfers have the privilege of going first." He jumped down and backed up a little. "Well? Who's it going to be?"

I didn't even think, I walked to the ledge, climbing onto it while peering down into the dark abyss. There had to be something at the bottom. They wouldn't kill off their initiates. Besides, this was the policing faction, the protectors, military. We have to take orders, without hesitation and without question. This wasn't a fun, fall of the building, 'hey let's go,' kind of thing. It was an order.

So I jumped.

I suppressed a gasp as I fell. I fell through a hole in the ground. The wind howled around me, but I didn't close my eyes, a little bit of panic rose but I pushed it down. I had to have faith. The feeling, although slightly terrifying, was amazing. I was just free-falling, and that's exactly how I felt; free.

My fall came to a sudden stop as I landed into a large net, I bounced down, the momentum springing me back up again, I laid in the net for a second, looking up through the hole, I saw the roof and little dots peering over the edge. I laughed a little. I did it.

I made the leap of faith, and survived.

The net suddenly moved, making me roll over to the edge.

A man was there to catch me, he was very muscular and his hair was slightly figures-through-the-hair, let-it-grow, wait-till-the-last-minute-to-cut kinda of hair style, with eyes that said so much, it was impossible to determine exactly what he was thinking.

"What's your name?" He asked, he has a deep and slightly rough edge to his voice.

After a moment's hesitation, I decided, this was it, I was no longer that Abnegation girl, but the Divergent, Dauntless initiate. It only made sense to change my name. I was no longer Gertrude – I was; "Trudi," I replied as confidently as I could.

"First jumper, Trudi!" People dressed in black stepped out from the shadows, hooting and cheering loudly, some calling my name. The rowdy, loud air filled me with a feeling of content and, dare I say, belonging, as if they were embracing me.

This was my new home. I'm not giving this up, for anything. My divergence, however, well, I shall embrace my bravery and suppress my selflessness – although I know it's not going to be easy.

"Welcome to Dauntless," he gave a quick smile, as a nervous laugh came from the sky. He turned to the net, to help Ellie out.

After she was on her feet, he asked her for her name. She smiled and answered.

"Ellie!" More hoots and woops came from the crowd as he addressed her to them, they stamped their feet and clapped so loudly it was a living thing.

Another man came over to guide us off the platform we were on, which was about ten feet off the ground. Together we waited for the others in silence – I was smiling the whole time. This was it. The beginning of our lives, our future, our destiny.

Kori jumped after us, there was eleven transfers altogether. Ellie and I from Abnegation, Kori and three others from Candor, three from Erudite and two from Amity.

When it was the Dauntless-born initiates turn, however, it was very different from the one-by-one jumpers, when the first one went to jump, he grabbed hold of his friend's shirt, pulling him down with him, there were a few that jumped in succession to each other, all landing in the net one after another, almost top of each other. The crowd laughed at their chaotic mess.

I lost count while trying to determine how many Dauntless-born there were, I think there's about ten or so of them.

When everyone had made the jump, the two men – the one who helped me out of the net and the one that led us off the platform – called us over to them.

"Welcome to Dauntless!" the second guy said, smiling. "Congratulations for making it this far! I'm K-9 and this is Ajax. We're your instructors during your initiation. We have a lot more to cover today, so keep it down and follow us."

They moved through the tunnels, and as we followed obediently behind, Kori leaned in to us. "K-9?"

"Yeah," I whispered back. "I was thinking that too."

"What do you think it stands for?" Ellie added.

"No idea," Kori replied. We fell silent, thinking through just why anyone would choose that kind of name.

The darkness surrounded, unfamiliar and cold seeped through the stone walls. A flash of unease came through me. This is your home now, a part of my mind said. Get used to it. I ignored the lack of light and sign of the outside world, instead trying to memorise the layout, hoping not to get lost in the labyrinth, stories below the surface.

We came to a fork in the walkway. "Alright," K-9 called out. "This is where we spilt up! Dauntless-born, you're with me, I'm giving you your tour."

Apparently, they didn't think it was necessary. "We live here!" I think it was Xand that spoke up.

"Yeah, yeah, shut your mouths and follow me, pretend you've never seen it before. Act surprised."

They still grumbled under their breaths, but followed behind K-9, anyway, into the darkness and disappearing from view.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry i kinda uploaded the wrong chapter... dont worry!! I noticed, so! here you are! :D 

Thanks guys!!

Lots of love, 

~wolf-gabby23 <3