I trot down, to the Dauntless crowd. My sister and I's old friends stare at me in disbelief, their jaws agape, eyes wide. Isla only nods as I pass her, touching my shoulder gently as I am whisked into a sea of black.
Frank, my old friend, is there. But he does not acknowledge me when I stand next to him. I frown in confusion, but he does not turn his head.
The ceremony continues, and more people transfer, some stay in their faction of origin. The Candor boy who teased us earlier, the one with the shaggy brown hair, transfers to Dauntless as well. His name is apparently Declan Gellert. He casts several sideways glances at me. I mimick Frank's stone-solid facial expression and keep my features blank.
Soon, the Choosing Ceremony is done, and the Dauntless thunder down the stairs; not out of courtesy towards others who might want to ride the elevator like the Abnegation, but rather for danger. I am breathless and smiling when we reach the bottom. Declan Gellert is still watching me, and he gives a small smile.
"You'll fit in with them just fine," he says.
I roll my eyes at him and sprint off, savoring the feel of wind on my face and through my hair. The exhiliration, the adrenaline, the rush. I pump my legs even harder and realize that I, along with the other Dauntless, are running alongside a train.
They start jumping on, and I watch the locomotive, watch the techniques and movements of the Dauntless members. I leap at it, catching a handle as I do. I now hang half in, half out, and struggle to maintain my balance. A strong hand grabs mine and hoists me into the bullet-fast train, and my eyes travel up the arm to see who it is who has helped me. A boy with dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes grins at me. He wears the black and white of the Candor.
"I'm Tyrone. Call me Ty," he says, extending a hand.
I smile back at him and shake. "I'm... " Am I Elysium? Am I Ellie? I do not now. "I'm exhausted."
Ty gets a funny look on his face. "Well, Exhausted, I hear it's a long ride to the Dauntless compound. You should sleep."
And I do, curled up in a corner, with Ty standing over me.
I open my eyes to loud voices. As I blink sleep from my vision, two figures stand over me, arguing. I stretch and roll my neck.
"Look, Sleeping Beauty's finally awake," someone says. "Have a nice nap?"
I cock my head and look up. Declan Gellert, who said I'd fit in fine with the Dauntless, Declan who called out to me and my sister on Aptitude Day.
"I did," I say and stand. "But I had a horrible dream about a faceless boy intent on following me. He was quite annoying." I glare pointedly at him.
"Oh, Elysium," he says.
Ty glances at Declan. "Man," he says to me, "you told him your name but not me?"
I roll my eyes. "I did not tell him my name. Must've heard my sister or Taylor Carson say it."
Declan, Ty and I stand like this for a while, unsure of what to say. "How long have I been asleep?"
Ty shrugs. "Ten minutes." I groan and walk to the opening of the car and gaze outside. I lean out, slightly, and let my hand extend to the wind. I hang on with the other.
A girl joins me, and my eyes dart sideways to see flaming red hair billowing in the wind, occasionally tangling with my brown waves. "Hey," she says softly. She wears red and yellow. "Boys are so troublesome you have to almost fall out of a train to get away from them?"
