Kill Em With Kindness

Where do you go

Today is it. I find out where I belong, even if the test says I'm supposed to be amity for the rest of my life.

Walking down the street with mama Joe I hear some of the whispers

"Is that the orphan." "I thought she'd be less civilized. " "do you think she'll go back to where she belongs." This was followed by chuckles and cruel laughter.

"Don't you mind them, Riley, they haven't been raised properly." Shooting a shuttle glare at the other teens we continued to the building where they hold the aptitude test.

"So, how do you feel?" Joe asked with a tinge of concern in her voice. Taking a deep breath and really thinking about it I jokingly reply "yeah I'm not too worried, however when I go to erudite I think the tests will kill me."

She laughed quietly "well you better study soon." In all seriousness, I felt fine until we got in line and had to wait. That's when I saw them the kids from yesterday.

It would be just my luck that they could be transfers too. I turn my back to them and face mama. Hoping they would ignore us, their idle chat continued so I figured we'd be fine till the doors opened.

That's when we could see the train coming around the corner suddenly the dauntless flew out of the train some landing flat on there feet others rolling then springing up from the ground like newborn deer ready to run.

It was breathtaking to see how free they were. How alive they are, laugh and hollering while making a line at the door.

The bright colors of their hair stuck put from the all-black of there clothes. I couldn't wait to cut my hair and change my name.

That's when the doors opened and we all began to file inside the cement building.

Once inside there was a room filled with seats and a speaker at front patiently waiting for us to take our seats.

Most people leisurely made their way to their seats not paying attention to the growing irritation on the man's face.

Then his shrill voice broke the noise of the room "Everyone take your seats we don't have all day!" In the blink of an eye, they were silent and seated.

A dauntless boy sat beside me his dark skin mismatched with splotches of milky white. He wore a mohawk of dreadlocks that were dyed red at the tips.

Noticing that I was staring he introduced himself as Tore. " oh sorry I didn't mean to stare, you just have a very distinct look. I'm Riley by the way."

He shook with a firm hand "nice to meet you." We then paid attention to the speaker.

"One hundred years ago after the war, our founders created a system they believed would prevent future conflicts." He paused scanning the room for anyone who was oblivious to his speech.

"Create lasting peace, today aptitude testing, based on your personality, will assign you to one of the factions. While it is our belief that choosing the faction indicated by your test is the best way to ensure success within the factions."

Looking down and shifting from one foot to the other as if he couldn't decide how to follow up.

"It is your right tomorrow at the choosing ceremony to choose any of the five factions regardless of your test results... However, once the choice has been made there will be no change permitted."

With that, he waved us on to the next room where we would be told where we belong.

My stomach fumbled and I could feel the wetness of my palms. Once inside the sterile room, I could see a chair with an electronic head pice hooked up to a computer where there was a dauntless soldier.

"Come on amity we don't have all day." She glanced at me and her face flickered with remembrance. "Hey aren't you the kid who was trying to square off that candor and erudite?"

Giving an awkward smile and nodding she responded by grinning "that was badass, hopefully you're dauntless. We could use more like you."

Hearing that I felt as though I was on the top of the tallest city tower about to jump.

I know I'd be great in dauntless

She handed me a small glass with a clear liquid inside "drink this."

And so I did closing my eyes at the bitterness but upon opening my eyes
I'm no longer in the aptitude room.

Instead, I find myself in a lush forest full of greenery. Happiness flooded over me until something on the ground was hit by the sun and glinted in my eye.

After moving some leaves aside it was clear that this silver sliver was a freshly sharpened knife.

Picking the weapon up the world around me went dark like a cloudy moonless night I couldn't even see my hand right in front of my face.

It started to get hard to breathe, I'm panicking I need to clam down calm down DAMN IT JUST CALM DOWN!

I started to search my pockets doing so I find matches lighting the first one I can see my hand there nothing else no more leaves I'm not in the forest.

But the flam starts to dance then stops leaning toward the right that means there's a way out I follow the direction until the flame dies out.

Stopping to light another I pause, I can hear something. Like someone rubbing there hand against fabric.

No. It was breathing, something was here beside me. Carefully I take the knife in hand and reach forward with the other blindly trying to feel out the source of the noise.

Suddenly strong hands grab me pulling me out of a pile of clothes and I'm surrounded by dauntless soldiers with guns trained on me.

"Thought you could get away with this didn't you, well now you will pay for the death of the dauntless leader." A man with dark skin, neck tattoos, and hatred in his eyes growled at me.

"No! I didn't I would never!" I tried to yell out but was quickly silenced by a swift punch to the face

"Don't lie to me." His tone was deadly I need to be careful. If I'm not this false accusation could cost me my life.

"Take me to the candor they can prove it." They are responsible for all our trials and I know they will get the truth.

They pull me off the ground and shove me forward causing me to fall through the ground. Landing on a dirt floor hands tied behind my back.

In front of me was mama, with a gun to her head. I can't save her how could I. That's when I remember the knife in my pocket.

For some reason I was calm I think about that fast few minutes and it clicks
None of this is real.

Suddenly I'm jolted awake and the soldier starts removing me from the chair.

This is real I'm back in the aptitude room urgently she says "you need to go don't tell anyone that I sent you home early."

"What are my results?" I needed to know before I left "Amity now go."

I could feel my brow furrowing "your lying, there's no way." I could tell she was getting frustrated

"Fine you want the truth you were dauntless, and candor and erudite."

I was so confused "that's not possible, you cant be more than one."

Snapping at me she answered "it's possible it's just very rare they call it divergent. Now you need to go home don't tell anyone what you are and stay at amity where it's safe."

With that, she pushed me out into the courtyard where we had waited. mama was there I was excited to see her but also scared could I tell her would she protect me?

"Come on." She offered her hand to me "let's go home and you can tell me all about it."