Dauntless: A Divergent Inspired Story

Chapter 10

I shot up from my bed dry heaving. I clutched my stomach and looked down only to see intact skin and no blood. I sighed in relief and glanced at the clock in my room.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!" I screamed. It was 4:30 am which meant I only had an hour to get ready. I threw my blankets off of me and ran into my bathroom to take a shower. I scrubbed down my entire body with my vanilla apricot body wash and quickly shampooed my hair with my vanilla apricot shampoo and conditioner. By the time I finished my shower and finished drying my hair, it was already 5 o clock. Since the choosing ceremony was in Abnegation it was about a 30-minute drive which only left me 30 minutes to get ready. I sprinted to my vanity and applied my makeup in record speed. After finishing my makeup I put my hair up in an intricate up-do with pearl ended pins sticking out of it to hold up my hair so the back of my dress would be shown off. I quickly put on my outfit and ran downstairs. I checked the clock in the kitchen and saw that it was 5:20 am. I breathed out a deep sigh of relief and took a moment to catch my breath. That's when I saw a note on the counter.  I picked it up and read

Dear Natasha, 

Your mother and I had to get to Abnegation at 4 o clock to help set up for the ceremony. We will see you there at 6 o clock sharp. Do not be late. 

Cordially, 

           Your Father 

I rolled my eyes and went to the fridge to grab breakfast. I grabbed a bottle of peach tea from the fridge and a muffin from the pantry and ate the muffin quickly. I glanced up at the clock again and saw it was 5:25 am. I closed the lid on my tea and grabbed my car keys before heading out to my car. I got in the driver's seat and kissed the steering wheel. 

"If I don't stay in Erudite, I'm going to miss you so much baby" I whispered to the car before turning on the engine. I pulled out of my driveway and put the car in drive and sped out of my neighborhood. I was going at least 30 over the speed limit the entire way to Abnegation but I didn't really care, everyone would be at the choosing ceremony so no one would pull me over. Besides, even if I did get pulled over the dauntless officer wouldn't keep me there because everyone knows how important this ceremony is. After some time I pulled into a parking space at the front of the building where the choosing ceremony was held. I looked at the clock in my car and saw that it was 5:55 am. Right on time. I exited my car and chugged down the last of my peach tea, throwing it away in a trash can as I walked into the building. As soon as I walked in my parents rushed over to me. 

"Good. You're on time." my father spoke emotionlessly. "Give me your car keys. You will get them back after you choose Erudite." Reluctantly I handed over the keys and my mother and I walked over to the seating area to choose our seats. She looked down at my dress and smiled in approval before sitting down in a chair on the second row. I saw Luke walk in and he immediately locked eyes with me and plastered his signature goofy grin on his face. He made his way over to me and sat down next to me with his mother and father sitting down next to him. We both rested our arms on the armrest so that our arms would be touching but it wouldn't look affectionate. The clock struck 6 am and a loud gong sounded which made everyone scramble to get into their seats. The leader of Abnegation, Jonathan Russell, took his spot at the center of the stage behind the bowls and started speaking.

"Welcome," he says. "Welcome to the Choosing Ceremony. Our dependents are now sixteen, and it is now up to them to decide what kind of people they will be." Jonathan's voice booms evenly throughout the room. "Decades ago our ancestors divided into factions that sought to eradicate those qualities they believed responsible for the world's disarray. Those who blamed aggression formed Amity, those who blamed ignorance became the Erudite, those who blamed duplicity created Candor, those who blamed selfishness made Abnegation, and those who blamed cowardice were the Dauntless." Jonathan paused and formed a small kind smile on his face before continuing.

 "In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life. Apart from them, we would not survive. Therefore this day is the day on which we receive our new initiates, who will work with us toward a better society and a better world." He finished. The entire audience starts clapping and cheering and before I knew it, Jonathan starts calling out the names of those choosing. 

"Aaron Baine Adamson" Jonathan announces. The order of the names called out alternates each year from A-Z to Z-A. This year it was A-Z which means that I will be one of the last to go. Aaron, a boy from candor dressed in all white, walks up onto the stage and grabs the knife and slices his palm. He winces from the pain of the blade and then confidently holds his hand above the shards of glass and lets his blood drop in the candor bowl. The candor section cheers with approval and Aaron takes his seat. A few more people make their choice to stay with their faction of origin before the first transfer happens. 

"Cynthia Elaine Brooks" Jonathan calls out. The tiny girl from amity walks up to the bowls and lets her blood fall in the Candor bowl. Cheers erupt from Candor but Amity is dead silent. Slowly, Jonathan makes his way to the end of the alphabet and gets to Luke. 

"Lukas Xavier Vanderwaal" Jonathan speaks. I look at Luke and press my finger against his as a sign of encouragement. He smiles at me and stands up to walk to the stage. He was wearing a Royal blue blazer with a black button-down shirt underneath and royal blue slacks. He looked insanely handsome. Luke grabbed the knife off of the table and sliced into his palm not wincing in the slightest. He stood in front of the Erudite and Dauntless bowls which were placed side by side and without a doubt he held his fist over the lit coals and let his blood drop. The sizzle from the coals was heard and the entire dauntless section cheered while Erudite stayed silent. I turned to look at Lukes parents and I see sadness in their eyes but a genuine smile on their faces. I turn to look back at Luke and he makes eye contact with me and flashes me a smile before sitting down in the Dauntless section. Two more people go in front of me before it's my turn. 

"Natasha Blair Wellington" Jonathan announces. I stand up shakily and make my way onto the stage. I pick up the knife off of the table and slash my palm far deeper than I need to, but I don't wince. The pain pushes me forward. Blood starts pooling in my palm and I know I have to make my decision. I look at my father and he fixes me with a stern glare and nods to the Erudite bowl. I hold my hand over it for a few seconds before moving it to be above the Dauntless bowl. I look up and see my father looking at me enraged. A smirk forms on my face and I tilt my hand allowing my blood to spill on the lit coals while maintaining eye contact with my father. As soon as my blood hits the coals gasps of horror are heard from Erudite and wild, animalistic cheering is heard from Dauntless and I can help but laugh. After all, it isn't every day where a faction leaders child defects. I turn around and walk to the Dauntless section sneaking a look at my mother. She kept her head straight and focused on the ceremony, refusing to look at me. I reach the Dauntless section and take a seat next to Luke. He slings one arm around my shoulder and I lean into him laying my head on his chest. My father turns and sees this and looks at me in shock. I smirk and shrug my shoulders at him after all, what can he do now. The ceremony continues and Thalia and Marcus make their choices, Thalia chose Erudite, and Marcus chose Amity. I felt happier than I have ever been in this moment. I was starting a new life and I was free to be myself.