Divergent (Fanfic)

Chapter 16

'What did you do?'

Just as Chelsea, Ross, Nathan and I had finished getting changed, Amy, Kristen and Alison appeared in the doorway holding the sack of makeup. It wasn't as full as it had been yesterday - they had taken out some foundation, eyeliner and lipstick, and out it on before they came into our room.

'I don't know,' I said. 'What did we do?'

'You stole our makeup!' Kristen shrieked.

'Yes,' I said, looking to the others, who were smiling. 'I did.'

'Bitch!' Alison squealed.

'Yes, I am,' I said, walking over to the bunk bed. I stood on Chelsea's bunk's frame and reached into the pillowcase, pulling out the eyeliner. 'Here ya go,' I said, throwing it to Amy.

The three girls just squeaked, 'Ugh!' And stormed off, leaving us to double over and collapse with laughter.

Once we had calmed down, we went down to breakfast. After we had eaten out toast, we went to he training room, as usual.

This time, though we were still split into transfers and Candor-born Initiates, there was one of the chairs and machines the same as the one in the room with the Aptitude test.

I remembered what either Tristan or Tom - I couldn't remember which one of them it was - had told us that we would be using simulations to generate scenes where we may have to lie or be lied to.

This was where they eliminated me - this was where they realised that I wasn't really a candor person.

I'd rather live in Candor than live factionless.

'Today,' said Tristan, appearing in the room just after Amy, Alison and Kristen, 'we are going to be using simulations to generate a situation where you must detect whether somebody is lying to you or not. Also, you will be put in a situation where you may be forced to lie. You have to remember which faction you are soon to belong to.

'Who wants to go first?'

Nobody stepped towards.

'Alright, then, I'll pick the order,' said Tristan. 'Alison, you're first. In the chair, go on,' Alison reluctantly went and sat in the chair.

'On this screen, you will be able to see the situation from Alison's point of view,' said Tristan, attaching an electrode to her head. 'You ready?' He said to Alison, producing a syringe of clear liquid.

'I guess,' said Alison, and he injected the liquid into her neck.

As Alison's eyes snapped shut, the screen next to her flashed on. She was standing in the middle of a field. It was very calm and relaxed. There were trees surrounding her - she stood in a meadow in a forest.

Alison twisted around quickly as the sound of footsteps came towards her. A man who must've been in his early twenties was running towards her. 'Please!' He panted, coming to a halt behind Alison. 'You have to help me!'

'What happened?' Said Alison.

'People... Chasing me... Through the forest...' He gasped between breaths. 'They're trying... To kill me!'

Just then, three more figures burst through the trees. 'There he is!' Shouted the one standing in the middle. The man turned and bolted.

The three men who had just appeared tripped, falling to the floor. Alison span and watched the man running away to the right of the meadow.

The three men, who must've been only a few years older to the one who was running away, approached Alison. 'Excuse me,' said the taller of the three, the one standing on the right. 'Which way did that man go?'

'Why should I tell you?' Said Alison, her voice shaking.

'He's our brother,' said the shortest one, the man in the middle.

'You're lying,' said Alison, sounding very nervous and scared.

The tallest man reached out and out his hand on Alison's arm. Judging by the squeak Alison let out, it hurt. 'Where did he go?'

'I don't know!' Alison squealed.

The man squeezed her arm harder.

'To the right!' Alison caved, pointing in the direction the man had ran in.

The screen faded, and Alison opened her eyes.

'Why did you lie to them?' Was the first think Tristan said, before removing the electrode from Alison's head.

'I thought it would save the man!' Alison replied, looking scared.

'One more mistake like that,' said Tristan, 'and you'll find yourself factionless. We are much softer on the transfer Initiates in stage one, but in stage two, if you lie more than three times, you fail Initiation. Who' sent?'

Nobody stepped forwards.

'I'll go,' I heard my voice say, and felt my legs propelling me towards the chair. I don't know why I didn't realise I was in full control of my body.

Tristan attached the electrode to my head and injected my neck with the clear liquid.

Everything faded away...