A Hard Life

A Hard Life: Ch. 10

I stand uncomfortably in the room next to my sister and an Amity boy. I feel uncomfortable because I secretly put on a pair of short blue jeans and a blue tank top under my dress. I feel so awkward.

"Why are you wearing that?" the boy beside me asks.

I turn to him, "Oh, it's my birthday and my mom thought it was a nice idea."

"Happy birthday!" I think he was about to start singing but luckily, Jeanine, the Erudite leader, spoke up.

"Welcome. Today you make a choice, to decide which faction you belong in. And remember, the future belongs to those who know where they belong," she smiles. I don't care if she's our leader or not, I don't trust her.

After about maybe 30 people (I lost count), I hear, "Mackenzie Blossom."

Walking up as quickly as possibly in the preppy dress, I climb up the stairs. I take the knife handed to me by Marcus Eaton, an Abnegation leader. I slit my hand, and look at all the bowls in front of me. "You have the pick of the litter so it shouldn't be too hard," I hear Kane's voice say. I close my eyes and sigh, then throw my hand out in front if me and here sizzling. I've made my choice, I will join Dauntless.

My mother gasps, and my sister stands there dumb struck. When I walk past my mom to stand behind Dauntless, I take off the dress to reveal my other clothes and hand it to her. "I'm sorry..."

I walk away before she starts crying. I watch as my sister chooses to stay with Erudite and she stands next to our mother. Her mother. I don't deserve to call her mom anymore. Meredith shoots me a glare but I see sadness in her eyes.

After the other teens make their decisions, Dauntless leave first. I start dashing towards the train tracks with the other initiates and members. I look behind me, and see the blue petals leaving a trail behind me.