Dauntless: A Divergent Inspired Story

Chapter 3

"Father, mother, I'm home!!!" I yelled as I closed the front door behind me.

"Kitchen." I heard my mother say in her regular speaking voice as she considers it "unladylike" to raise one's voice.

I rolled my eyes at her pretentiousness and walked into the kitchen to see my mother and father sitting at the dining table. My dad at the head, and my mom at the foot.

"Hello father and mother, why are you guys home so early?" I asked slightly curious, but also slightly scared that they have found out about me sneaking out and partying. My friends and I cover our tracks really well but I always get hella anxious whenever my parents unexpectedly ask me to sit down and talk to them.

My mother gives me a small smile, which is shocking since she never smiles unless it's for a photo op. "We just wanted to talk to our daughter before her aptitude test, is there something wrong with that Natasha?" She asks, her left eyebrow forming into a sharp upward arch.

I shook my head rapidly from left to right. "No mother, I was simply curious." Trust me if I wasn't putting on my perfect daughter act right now I would have said something a little less proper. She knew I hated it when she called me Natasha but she and my father still do it every single time they talk to me without fail.

"Anyways Natasha, we just wanted to walk you through the process tomorrow." My father said to me.

I immediately sat down and started listening intently. My parents designed the test this year so they know whats on it and how it works. Technically they're not supposed to tell anyone about what is in the test, but I wouldn't put it past my parents to ensure that I do everything perfectly to get and Erudite result. I honestly wish that they would let me be free to choose what I want and allow me to be happy. I know that part of the reason they want me to stay in Erudite is because I am their only child and they don't want to lose me. Nobody outside of my family knows this but a few years ago before I was born my mother was pregnant with a son, sadly she had a miscarriage 3 months in. I know that the pain from losing him still sticks with my parents, but honestly, and this is going to sound hella bitchy, it kind of fucking sucks that they're being so clingy towards me as a result. Like I said, only part of the reason they want me to stay is out of love, the other part is that they don't want to be embarrassed by me defecting. That kind of bums me out because basically, they would rather uphold their "perfect Erudite family" image than let me be myself, and happy. Hearing my fathers voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

"You mustn't tell anyone what we are about to share with you Natasha," he said very strictly. "When you drink the serum you will automatically go into the simulation and your test administrator will be able to see into your thoughts. You will awaken in a completely dark room with one light lightbulb on that is hanging above a table. On that table, you will see a gun and a loaf of bread. You must choose the bread. Once you have chosen the lights will go out and when they turn back on you will be in a completely white room you will see an old woman holding a key out to you, she will be surrounded by 3 large vicious dogs. You must immediately break the bread down into many pieces and throw them far across the room in completely different directions to distract the dogs and then run up to the old lady and grab the key. Remember you must break down the bread immediately in order to prove you are an Erudite." He finished with a smile on his face.

I was disgusted. My own parents didn't think I was capable enough to get into Erudite on my own. If they don't think I am an Erudite then why try to make me stay here, wouldn't they rather have people that they truly believe in?

My mother seemingly read my mind and answered my question "We do think you are a true Erudite Natasha. We have no doubt in our minds that you belong here with us, however, we just wanted to take extra precaution to ensure with absolute no chance of error that you will get the result that you were meant to get, a smart result, a true result, and Erudite result. And of course, in return for obeying us, you get the piece of beautiful machinery that is sitting outside." My mother slides the keys to the Aston Martin across the table towards me. 

Normally I would be ecstatic to get my dream car but I bit my tongue and smiled a tight-lipped smile as I thought about how fucking insane and brainwashed my parents are. "Of course mother, I completely understand, thank you both for this very informative chat, I very much appreciated it," I said through gritted teeth. "May I be excused? I had a long day at school and am a bit tired." 

My mother responded with a blank stare, "of course, Natasha." 

 I grabbed my bag and the Aston martin keys and started walking briskly to my room. I froze when I heard my mothers voice call after me.

"Oh and Natasha, never wear that again, you look a bit, how do I put this, whore-ish. You're a Wellington. Dress like it." she called maintaining her blank stare.

I turned around and continued walking to my room at a much faster pace pushing back the tears forming in my eyes, refusing to let them spill down my cheeks. I close the door hard enough to make my parents aware that I was angry, but not hard enough to make them angry. I strip out of my clothes and throw on my dark navy blue silk pajama shorts, and a white plush sweatshirt with a royal blue E, along with my last name embroidered on it. I glanced down at the outfit I wore today, It wasn't even that bad. I was wearing a long sleeved royal blue crop top along with high waisted black shorts so my midriff wasn't showing. There are girls who walk around with their tits and ass out all day long and they don't get shit for it, but I wear normal clothes and I get told I look whore-ish. I skipped dinner and stayed in my room the rest of the day trying to decide if I should follow the instructions my parents gave me for tomorrow, or stay true to myself.