Just Another Experiment

Chapter One

Chapter One

   

I slowly get up. My hands are shaking and my palms are covered in sweat. Yesterday we got a news paper from the city about the other "experiment". Everyone around us calls it that but I think it is a cruel name for us. I prefer the name a city like they call everything on the outside. We are one of the experiments that know why they have us captured in a small spot. I have always thought the experiment in Chicago would be good and last forever. But I guess I was wrong.

We are just like them but we have different names for each faction. I am in the one called Liberal instead of Abnegation. There is Stalwart instead of Dauntless, Rational instead of Erudite, Ethical instead of Candor,and Tranquil instead of Amity. I am just hoping that our city will never happen like that. Like them we have a Choosing Ceremony and Initiation Day. Today is the Initiation Day so I am nervous. I slowly get dressed in my everyday clothes which are gray.

    I walk toward the kitchen where my little sister and brother are at eating breakfast. My mom is eating with them."Hello Suzan." my mother says while pulling out a chair for me. I nod to her and sit. We have the same rules like everyone else. We aren't allowed to talk while sitting at the table only if our parents let us do. "Are you nervous Suzan?" my mother looks at me. Her eyes twinkle. I stumble on the words but I am able to let them come out. "No I am not. Thank you for asking." I reply. I have to lie to my mom. I can't let her know I am.

    I walk outside to the bus. I look for my friend Trance. I see him standing with his brother in silent by the bus stop. I walk up to him. He smiles at me. He doesn't look nervous but I could tell he is in his eyes. "Hi Susan. How are you?" I smile. "Fine and you?" He laughs. "What?" I ask. "I just don't understand why we always ask each other that question. We both know we are nervous today. Also we need to stop starting our conversations of like that." He is still laughing. I laugh myself. "I ask myself that question all the time." The bus comes up to us so we stop laughing. He lets me go in first. I always sit down in the front and he always sit in the back. I look out the window and the image of the article pops up in my head. I shiver and push the image to the back of my head. I close my eyes and relax. I already know my decision even if it is not the choice of the test.

    I walk out of the bus and look around. I spot the kids from Stalwart. They are jumping from building to building on the roofs. I don't know how they do that even when the buildings are seven feet away from each other. Someone runs past me and runs into my shoulder. I fall to the ground and groan. I can't see who the person is because of there hoody. He helps me up. That's unusual. Only people from Liberal do that. "Thank you." I say with my voice tight and squeaky. I wish it didn't. "Sorry about that. I am just taking the Initiates from Stalwart here." His voice is smooth and soothing. I nod. "It's okay." I smile at him. He pulls down his hoody. He has black short hair with brown eyes. He turns around and yells at one of the Stalwarts. "Come on Rachel! You could do better than that!" I look at who he is yelling at and she is a girl with short,black hair. "I'm trying my best Dare!" she yells back. He looks back at me. "I should be going now." I say while nodding at him. I turn around and walk in line where kids from my faction go at.

    I have to wait several times tell its my turn. I'm shaking when my name is called. I walk into a small room. I notice a guy with bushy hair and a tattoo on his forehead. He smiles at me. "Nice to meet you. Sit down please." I slowly walk toward the seat that is in the middle and try to relax. He presses several wires to me and pushes several buttons. All of a sudden my eyes close.

    I am in the city and a man walks up to me. "Give me your money." he whispers it into my ear. I shake my head. " I don't have any." I put my hands into my pocket. I feel change and dollar bills. Where did I get that money from? "You're lying!" he yells it. He pulls a gun from his pocket and holds me at gunpoint. I shake my head. I look straight into his eyes. "I am telling the truth. I don't have any." He pulls the trigger and then the scene changes.

    I am out in the middle of the ocean. Sharks are around me and I am bleeding. I breathe in and out. This is all in your head,its just a hullision. I close my eyes and think of a way out of here. I search my pockets. I find a bandage and place it on my wounded knee. The bleeding stops. I look around. I see a space between two of the sharks. I swim as fast as I can through the sharks while kicking them both in the nose. I remember reading that their nose is their most sensible spot on their bodies. I look through my pockets again while finding a raw chicken bone and a knife. I stab the sharks nose with the knife and slice up the chicken. I throw several pieces away from me. I keep swimming and the scene changes.

    I am back in the chair. I am shaking and I can't stop. Tears run down my face. The man clears his throat. "Will you excuse me for a second? I need to find your results." He slowly walks out the door. I wipe my face and lean upward.

    A couple minutes later he comes back in. "Sorry for having you wait. Your test results came inconclusive." I stare at him. We both know what that means. I am divergent. "I can't be. My mom was not..." Before I could finish he covers my mouth with his hand. It is dry and feels weird. He steps close to me and places his mouth next to my ear. "Never say that word. They are listening. They can find out." He whispers it. He slowly places his hand away from my mouth. I shake my head. "I am sorry but you are. Just never say that word and be careful." He steps away from me. "Can you at least tell me what factions that I got chosen for?" My voice sounds scratchy. He nods. "The factions that were chosen for you are Stalwart, Ethical, and Liberal. Just choose the right decision. If you chose wrong..." His voice trails off. We both know what will happen. If I chose the wrong choice I will die like the rest of the people that were divergent. I slowly get up and walk out without thanking him.

    I take a deep breathe when I get on the bus. Instead of sitting in the front I sit in the back. I look outside. I am divergent. I do not have damaged nerves like the rest. I space off for a couple minutes then someone sits next to me. I look over my shoulder and see Trance sitting beside me. "Why are you sitting back here?" I shrug. I go back to staring outside and Trance goes back to talking with his friends. One question roams through my head. Which faction will I choose?