Hidden Truth [A Divergent Fanfiction] ON HOLD

IX

        Chapter IX

       Serenity

       Everyone files into the training room, some still overcome by sleep deprivation. Four is briskly writing something on the blackboard that I cannot read due to his height and broadness.

       "Aren't we being shown our ranks today?" Amy asks, pausing to yawn for a second.

       "Oh yeah that is today. I think the majority of us made it since stage one is supposed to be the easiest of the three. The fights really weren't that bad for—" Isaac stops as Kat cuts him off.

       "Hey Isaac, can you do me a favor?" Kat asks him, pursing her lips.

       "Yeah what?"

       "I know that since I was Erudite too I should be thrilled by your babble about the stages, but I have a headache so if you could tone down on the Erudite talk?" Isaac nods and leaves us to start a conversation with Nick.

       Last night after my parents had left the compound, Amy and I strolled around the empty halls, neither of us speaking. We needed each other's company to keep our heads up and prepared for the rest of initiation. We sat on a ledge for at least two hours, watching the sun set in the horizon.

       "We'll make it, yeah? We'll make it with them in our hearts." My twin half-smiled, slinging her arm over my shoulders.

       "Yeah, we definitely will." The perseverance is crystal clear in my words. Divergent or not, I'm becoming Dauntless.

       That would've been the ideal time to tell my sister that I'm an inconclusive freak who's a natural at simulations and doesn't fit into any of the factions. But I refused out of fear. I scowl at myself. I can't be a coward now. Not with all this goddamn pressure on my shoulders that could destroy me in a split second.

       "Alright, initiates this will only take a few minutes and then you can be on your way so I suggest you close your mouth and open your eyes." Four emphasizes the last part, causing Amy to jolt awake from her slumber against the wall. He stands in front of the chalkboard while he speaks.

       "You all were ranked first by your skill level as a fighter. Second, you were ranked by your skill level and the person you beat. Lastly, your rankings were affected if you lost to someone of a lower rank or you beat someone of a higher rank." He drones on and on until my brain manipulates his words to sound like this: "blah blah blah."

       "How much you accomplish in Stage Two and Three is weighed much more heavily than Stage One," Tris appears from a door in the back of the room. "So, if you rank low in Stage One then it will be fairly difficult to rank high in the next stage which complicates your rank for the third stage."

       Everyone just stares at her with droopy eyes and open mouths. She whispers something to Four and then claps her hands twice very loud, startling each of us awake.

       "Here are the rankings for Stage One." Four announces.  He steps away from the chalkboard,  leaving the ranks visible.

         I skim the names near the bottom, expecting to see my name but I don't. And where could my name be but right next to the second rank.

Aiden

Serenity

Nick

Amy   

Destiny 

         I blink twice to confirm what I'm seeing. Am I really in second place? Me, Serenity Foster, former Amity is second rank in Dauntless initiation?! This is nearly better than Visiting Day.