Divergent (Fanfic)

Chapter 6

The ceremony takes place in The Hub. We had to climb twenty flights of stairs to get to the seats where we would sit during the ceremony.

The room was arranged in concentric circles. The sixteen-year-old's of each faction sat in the section designated to their faction. In the inner circle, there were rows of chairs where the families sit. The last circle contains five metal bowls, each containing a different substance to represent one of the five factions - soil for Amity, water for Erudite, grey stone for Abnegation, glass for Candor and lit coals for Dauntless.

We sat down in alphabetical order. I stood between Chelsea and an Abnegation girl. Not everybody attended the ceremony - today, it was hosted by the Abnegation. Every year, the Ceremony was hosted by a different faction. The whole of the hosting faction usually appears, but the other four factions usually only send representatives.

The Abnegation representative was named Marcus Eaton. I recognised him - his son, Tobias Eaton, was the only Abnegation to transfer in a very long time, and he transferred to Dauntless, of all places. Abnegation and Dauntless - selflessness and bravery.

I suppose those traits weren't too different.

Marcus finally stood up and began speaking a lesson on history. 'Our dependents are now sixteen. They stand on the precipice of adulthood, and it is now up to them to decide what kind of people they will be.

'Decades ago our ancestors realized that it is not political ideology, religious belief, race, or nationalism that is to blame for a warring world. Rather, they determined that it was the fault of human personality-of humankind's inclination toward evil, in whatever form that is. They divided into factions that sought to eradicate those qualities they believed responsible for the world's disarray.

'Those who blamed aggression formed Amity.' The Amity exchanged smiles. They were dressed comfortably, in red or yellow. They were kind, loving people who's initiation was simple. It would be easy to join Amity.

'Those who blamed ignorance became the Erudite.' Of course, I would fit into Erudite, too. I knew that - I have known that for sixteen years.

For sixteen years, I had thought that this was the place in which I belonged.

For sixteen years, I had known that I didn't want to be restricted to one way of living for the rest of my life.

'Those who blamed duplicity created Candor." I already knew that I wouldn't ever be able to fit into Candor.

'Those who blamed selfishness made Abnegation.' The Abnegation were so selfless. I do know how I have aptitude for Abnegation.

'And those who blamed cowardice were the Dauntless.' Dauntless... Bravery. I wondered if I would be able to live up to their standards.

'Working together, these five factions have lived in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of society. Abnegation has fulfilled our need for selfless leaders in government; Candor has provided us with trustworthy and sound leaders in law; Erudite has supplied us with intelligent teachers and researchers; Amity has given us understanding counselors and caretakers; and Dauntless provides us with protection from threats both within and without. But the reach of each faction is not limited to these areas. We give one another far more than can be adequately summarized. In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life.' Faction before blood. That was the motto. Our factions were where we belonged, even if it meant leaving our family. 'Apart from them, we would not survive.' The silence that followed these words was heavier than a usual silence.

'Therefore this day marks a happy occasion-the day on which we receive our new initiates, who will work with us toward a better society and a better world.'

The room in The Hub exploded with applause.

Marcus began reading out the names of the sixteen year olds whom would soon become Initiates, and then Members, in reverse alphabetical order.

Now I was panicking. Where did I fit? When my name was read out, I would descend into the middle circle, and Marcus would hand me a knife. Then, I would cut my hand, and drip blood over one of the bowls.

Coal, water, soil or stones?

'James Tucker.'

A Dauntless boy stumbled down the steps towards the bowls. Marcus handed him the knife, as he looked from the glass to the coals. Candor or Dauntless.

He cut his hand, and his blood dripped over the glass.

The first faction transfer.

A week and a half from now, his family could visit him, on Visiting Day, but now, they would see him as a traitor. He left them.

'Caleb Prior.'

The Abnegation boy standing to the girl to my right's other side stepped down. They must be brother and sister - I could see the resemblance.

He became the first faction transfer to Erudite. Chelsea and I joined in the Erudite cheers and applause. The girl looked shocked.

'You okay?' I said to her.

She shook her head to say no, as Marcus called out for silence.

'Beatrice Prior.'

They were brother and sister, then.

She stepped down shakily, and took the knife. She was too nervous - the cut in her hand ran too deep.

Her blood dripped over the hot coals.

She looked far away as she went to sit in the Dauntless section. When the room had quietened down, Marcus read out the next name.

'Melanie Parker.'

Suddenly it hit me.

This was the most important moment in my life. I would choose the place in which I belong, and where I would stay forever.

And I had no idea what I was going to pick.

'Choose right, Mel,' said Chelsea quietly, as I descended the steps.

Marcus handed me a clean knife. A new knife for a new Initiate. I took it, and drew it across my hand, quickly and cleanly.

My blood on coals. My blood in water. My blood on stone. My blood on soil.

If I chose Abnegation, I would definitely pass initiation. I would be able to live in Abnegation safely.

But I wasn't that selfless.

If I went to Dauntless, I could die in Initiation if I wasn't brave enough. What if I wasn't brave enough?

The fact that I had to think about it proved that I wasn't.

If I stayed with Erudite, I would be able to stay with my family and Chelsea. I knew that I fit in here - I knew that I was smart.

But I wanted to change something.

That left Amity. Amity. I would fit there. The Initiation was filled with banjo-strumming and singing songs. I loved music. And I loved my friends. Well, my friend. And I would love to live somewhere so relaxed and calm.

I choose Amity.

Of course, all of this had run through my head in a matter of seconds. I held my hand out above the soil.

'No!' I heard somebody gasp, almost inaudibly, and I span my head around to see Chelsea. I had betrayed her - I had moved.

But something had set into her expression - some kind of relief. My eyes widened. I turned around, but it was too late.

When I looked backwards, my hand had moved.

My blood on glass.