The Choosing

Chapter Four

"I'm sorry, what the hell did you just say?" demands Kaelyn.

"You," he points at Kaelyn, "have got to jump, into a freaking train!" He shouts.

Kaelyn rolls her eyes. "Don't you think he's a little, I dunno, intimidating?"

"Nope" I reply. We get closer to the moving train. When I'm about 10 metres away, I close my eyes, and jump.

I feel nothing for a few seconds, and then-- WHAM-- I smash into the hard tin floor of the train. As I slowly open my eyes, my head pounds with pain. I hear Kaelyn and other transfers laughing.

"Woah Ronnie! How awesome was that?!" she giggles. I force a fake smile. "Yah, I guess..."

We come closer to a large grey stone building. Dauntless Headquarters. "On the count of 3, you all jump, OKI?" yells Jeramiah over the loud screeches of the train. Everybody nods. "OK, 1...2...." he says 3 very soon. I jump straight away and feel a cool breeze blow over my face. I land on a grassy patch, on my feet by the way, and then stumble, then face plant. I hear Jeramiah's laugh, and then the warmth of his hand helping me to my feet. "You OK?" he asks, coolly. "Apart from lading jaggedly on my feet and then face planting? I'm fine." I say sarcastically. "Hurry up. It's time for the second test of Dauntless initiation." he says. Jeramia and I, along with the other Dauntless born and transfers walk across an old and ricketty bridge, connected to the top of Dauntless Headquarters. "Your next test," Jeramiah starts, "is to jump."

"Into what?" asks a plump Amity girl with curly brunette pigtails.

"Well, that's for me to know and you to find out!" says Jeramiah. "Who's first?" he asks. Everybody stays silent, somebody has to do it, and that somebody is me. "Me!" I shout as I raise my hand. "Well then," starts Jeramiah, "jump off this roof, down into that hole. Who knows what might be down there, a pit, a net...." he trails off, "nothing..." My heart races. I turn around backwards, smile at Kaelyn, then fall backwards...