Indomitable ~ Peter Hayes

Chapter 3

Surprisingly, when I got back home, my father was nowhere to be seen. Deciding not to test his patience, I started to do the laundry. He was probably off on some government thing which I would never understand.

Once I had finished doing the laundry, I tidied my room. Whilst cleaning out my drawers I stumbled upon a picture of Tobias and me when we were younger.  We were hugging, obviously still young. The photo was probably taken when our mother was still alive. 'I love you, so much. And I will find you in Dauntless.' I thought, letting a silent tear fall. I hid the precious photo underneath my mattress so that he would be with me. I would hopefully be with Tobias tomorrow when I leave for Dauntless.

My scoundrel of a father came home at around 11 pm. I was fast asleep by then and was thankful I left his portion of dinner out. For once, he didn't stomp up to my room and drag me out of bed to beat me. He must be happy.

But he's never happy. Not since mother died. Not since Tobias left.

I awakened at 7 am, a regular body clock had already made itself known and so I had no trouble. While making my bed, I stumbled across the photo I had hidden under my mattress. I inconspicuously slid it into my pocket and trudged down the plain grey stairs. Whilst eating breakfast, I thought about the house. I would miss it. It held many good memories. A lot of bad memories too. 

Slowly, I opened the door to my father's room, wincing whenever the ancient door groaned and creaked. To my surprise, the clean grey bed was empty. 'He must be doing something with the Choosing Ceremony.' I thought. 'It would be hilarious if he was watching over it and sees his own daughter go away. Would take the disgusting smirk right off his disgusting face.'

Once I had dressed,  I ate a large breakfast seeing as my father wasn't there to scold me and I would definitely be doing some exercise today with the Dauntless.

I did the same routine this morning as I did yesterday, collecting Megan and walking to school. Our walk was almost silent, neither of us knew what to say.

"What are you going to pick?" I asked.

"I don't know, maybe Amity. You?" Megan replied

"Dauntless probably," I said."Hey, let's not get weighed down by each other. We need to pick the faction that's best for us. We can't change it anyway so what's the point in picking a bad one just for a friend?"

"You're right Tay, I just don't want to leave you."

"Me neither."

"Let's just agree to meet up sometimes, yeah?"

"You bet."

++++

We had taken our seats in the auditorium. I sat with Megan's family as my father was nowhere to be seen.

"The faction system is a living being,"

Jeanine Matthews had taken it upon herself to start the speech.

"Composed of cells. All of you. And the only way it can survive and thrive is for each of you to claim your rightful place. The future belongs to those who know where they belong." she finished. She then continued to talk on about how the factions were formed and God knows what else she said.

My father walked up."When we leave this room, you will no longer be dependants but full-fledged members of our society. Faction before blood."

"Faction before blood," we all chorused.

"Jonathan Ziegler," a short Erudite boy walked up to the bowls containing soil for Amity, glass for Candor, water for Erudite, stones for Abnegation and sizzling coals for Dauntless. He cut his hand with the sharp knife and placed his hand above the water. His blood dropped in.

"Erudite," my father called out. 

"Jeffery Yates," the Dauntless boy did the same but put his hand above the coals. "Dauntless." A Candor boy transferred to Amity. I looked at the Candor section and saw a crying woman: his mother. 

Caleb Prior was called up, an Abnegation. Shockingly, he had made the controversial decision to transfer from Abnegation to Erudite. Abnegation and Erudite despised each other, for the reason that Erudite wanted to be in control of the government. His sister, Beatrice was called up next. She cut her hand and moved it from the stones to Dauntless. Well, at least I won't be alone. 

The spew of names carried on until my father got to a name I knew very well.

"Megan Ennis,"

Megan got up, hands visibly shaking. She muttered an 'I love you' to her parents and brother before walking down the steps and up to the podium. She cut her hand and placed it above a bowl.

"Amity."

I sighed in relief. She had always loved farming and was the kindest person I knew. She was going to be safe with the Amity, I knew that. One more name was called. An Amity boy was called up next, transferring to Dauntless. A brave choice but maybe not the best one.

"Taylor Eaton,"

A deadly silence fell over the room. I knew what they were all thinking, 'Is she going to transfer?' and I was about to present them with an answer. I walked confidently down the steps and up to the podium. I cut my hand, the pain was minute. I shoved my hand over the Dauntless bowl and looked my father in the eye.

"D-dauntless." my father choked out. I turned on my heel and walked over to the Dauntless section.

I had done it.

I was free.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN she's freeee my little baby has flown the nest! :D

QOTC= Hottest transfer to Dauntless? ;) (I know who I'm choosing)