Split Apart

Chapter 3

I looked down at the reflection of birds that flew on my collarbone, right above the neckline of the dress. No matter the position of the tattoo they would always be taking flight away from my heart.

The definition of the tattoo had changed since my time at the dauntless compound. I now believed it signaled the separation between my family and I. The distance that would continue until I truly left them and became a dauntless who put faction before blood.

At that thought, a shiver ran up my leg, under the respectable knee length dress. Almost automatically, I tugged down the hem of my black dress to prevent another cold breeze from climbing up my calf. This was a type of short clothing that made me continuously wonder how Christina had convinced me into wearing it. Looking straight into the mirror, I contemplated the change I had undergone over the couple of years. I saw a former transfer from Abnegation who had left her roots behind and switched it all for the cruel dauntless. The dauntless that ranked her at the top of her initiate class.

Now this dauntless ambassador was preparing to go to a celebration. A celebration her parents would not have approved of. They would tell her that they did not indulge in such things that resulted in waste of food that could be given to the factionless. But they were not here. They would not control this girl who had left them long ago.

A knock at my door tore me from my reverie. I took one last glance at the mirror and laughed.

Two years of being dauntless had made me vain.

As I walked over to the door, I spared a glance at the clock that hanged near my desk. It was close to the time Christina had said she would arrive to collect me for the celebration. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Will stood there with a quite rather exquisite charcoal tuxedo and a bored expression until he turned to me. He studied my attire a bit before finally speaking.

"Christina had not warned me that I would find a beautiful girl instead of Tris." he said with a sly smile. I could feel the heat rising up in my face.

"Thank you, Will." I said, "You look fine, too."

He gave me a nod as a thank you then, with a gesture to the hall outside, said, "Shall we go?" I nodded my head as I locked the door to my apartment and joined Will in walking down the hall toward the room in which the party would be held. It was a silent walk that I found uncomfortable.

"Why couldn't Christina come?" I asked trying to get a conversation going.

"She had to do some last minute preparations for the guests." Will answered, turning a corner. The silence from before came again, but luckily we had come to a stop at our destination. Many people were pouring into, what looked like, a large room, which surprised me considering that Christina had said that it would only be close friends.

A spark of curiosity lit within me, forcing me to ask Will for the answer to my question.

"Why so many guests?" I asked as we waited behind a group of people. "I thought it was only good friends."

"This was the last minute preparations." Will replied, trying to push through a crowd of people that looked familiar. "Christina decided to invite our entire initiate class for your sake. She didn't bother to elaborate."

"Oh." I said flatly.

The amount of people going in the room began to dwindle as Will and I entered. It was one of many I hadn't explored, yet.

A well furnished, gymnasium sized room greeted me with its magnificently looming windows draped with lace curtains. I gazed around the room to see that what Will had said was true. Before me were the initiates that had gone through thick and thin to reach where they currently were. Some, though, like Peter, were no where to be seen.

In my line of work I had seen Peter multiple times. At some moments he would send me scrutinizing looks since his position was more important than mine, but I would always be the stiff that beat him and all the dauntless, transfers included.

A person I had spoke to earlier took over my thoughts.

Standing near a table of food was none other than Four.