Chapter Text
My hand throbbed, matching the erratic tempo of my heart as I watched the scenery flash by. The train was moving incredibly fast, well over a hundred miles per hour if I had to guess, and I couldn't help the way my hands shook as I thought about the fact that I had jumped onto the moving train. Granted, it had been going much slower at the time, but the fear lingered as I watched everything flash by, buildings a blur of color.
To my left, Peter stands, a smug grin on his face as he surveys the mixed clothing in our compartment. It's mostly black, a sea of Dauntless born eager to get back home, but there are a few other colors interspersed. He and I stand out, our blue a stark contrast to the darker hues. Next to Peter stands a burly Candor man, and further down the compartment I see another Candor girl and... a Stiff? Before I can question it, Peter loudly goads Al, breaking my train of thought. I elbow him sharply in the side, glaring up at his faux innocent face.
"Leave him alone, Peter. You're nervous, too."
At this, the Candor boy next time him lets out a little chuckle, but abruptly quiets when Peter turns his gaze on him. I sigh, patting him on the shoulder before peering out of the compartment. I stifle a gasp as I look towards the front, my eyes flaring wide. I knew what to expect when coming here - my mother had given me every book we had on Dauntless from the moment I could read, knowing exactly where my heart lay. Despite this, I still feel ill-prepared for the figures jumping out of the train onto the gravel rooftop.
"Get ready, Peter," I shout, hoping he can hear me over the howling wind. I don't look to see if he does, because before I know it, I've backed a few steps away and sprinted towards the open door, hurling myself into the air.
I had thought jumping onto the train was nerve-wracking. Despite my workouts at home, my arms had been tired by the time I had climbed the posts to the tracks, and I felt as though my legs couldn't move fast enough when I grabbed onto the side of the train, swinging myself in quickly as the open ground greeted my feet. That was nothing compared to the weightless feeling that seemed to stretch forever, gravity beckoning me to the could concrete below. After what felt like hours, but couldn't have been more than a second, I crossed the wall, curling myself into a graceful roll as I landed on the concrete. A piece flew into my neck and I hissed in pain as it dug in briefly before dislodging. I was thankful I had read about the jump, been able to practice it on stationary objects beforehand, because I knew if I hadn't my pristine clothing would be in tatters, and I would have a few more scraped to account for.
I look over in time to see Peter and the Candor he had been with flailing in the air, both of them landing harshly on the gravel. A few moments later, the other Candor and the Stiff land just as gracelessly, and I take quick note of their torn clothing, smirking as I look down at my own. I would have to get rid of them soon, no doubt, but I liked to think my initial presentation would be up to par.
A booming voice catches our attention, and we all make our way over to the man, standing atop another wall. He is tall, taller than any of the initiates, and his clothing cut an imposing figure. Dark black, tailored specifically to him, they hug his skin in a way that shows off defined muscle even underneath the layers. His hair is slicked back at the top and shaved on the sides, and I silently wonder how long it takes him to style it. As I step closer, his cutting grey gaze meets mine for a moment before darting away, surveying the large crowd of initiates around me. The Candor boy comes to a stop beside me, and I take a slight step away from him, noting the way his mouth quirks downward. It's nothing personal, of course; I've decided not to make friends until I can properly assess the group and determine who will be most beneficial to me.
"I'm Eric," the man begins, and I smile slightly, filing the name and face away. "I'm one of your leaders. If you want to enter Dauntless, this is the way in."
He turns and looks down, past the wall he's standing on, and I crane my neck in an effort to see what's below. Of course, I can't see anything other than the top of the other side, but my excitement seems to override logic in the moment as I desperately look past his form.
"If you don't have the guts to jump.... then, you don't belong in Dauntless."
Next to me, the Candor speaks up, and I cringe away from him - and all of the attention now directed at him. My nose crinkles as I look at him with apprehension, and I decide then that he will not be my friend. "Is there water at the bottom or something?"
"Guess you'll find out," Eric drawls, snapping my attention back to him. He nearly purrs the words, and a small smirk takes over his mouth, curling the edges in a way that seems imposing and deliberate. Once again, I silently wonder about my new leader - how many times did he look into the mirror to perfect that cheshire grin? "Or not."
We all stand silently for a moment, the gravity of his words sinking in. Logically, there must be something at the bottom - water, if it's not too far, but if it's past a certain depth, we'd be risking fractures or breaks and I doubt they want the new initiates to start with broken bones. A net, then? Something bouncy? I shake my head, the task looming ominously ahead, and despite knowing they won't injure us, the unknown aspect causes my heart to stutter. I've done too much jumping today.
"Well, someone's gotta go first." Again, his voice commands my attention, and I find my eyes snapping to his at the same moment they skate across my own. He seems to hover over me for a second too long, taking the time to look at my outfit before dismissing me, and I bristle slightly. I may be in Erudite blue, but I've made it this far, and I'm not quivering like the girl next to me.
Another tense moment of silence falls over us, and I quickly catch Peter's eye before surveying the rest of the group - all looking at each other, avoiding Eric's gaze like the plague. I finally lift my eyes back to him, startling slightly as I find his gaze once again on me, a curious look in his eye that I can't quite decipher. Before I have the courage to respond with a look in kind - or a word of daring - the Stiff speaks up, offering herself as the first jumper.
I stifle a cough of surprise as she steps up to the wall, looking down with a fearful expression. I can't blame her, but I do admire the way her hands don't shake, the way she doesn't curve in on herself like I would expect an Abnegation to do. She's got some guts choosing Dauntless, and while I haven't decided if her actions are brave or utterly stupid yet, I keep her face in my mind. If she turns out alright, she could be a decent asset. She just needs to work some of that Abnegation shyness out of her, and I don't imagine it will take her long.
From a few feet away, Peter jeers at the girl as she takes off her jacket, and I glare at him, willing him to shut up. She doesn't need the added pressure, and he doesn't need any attention on him yet. Thankfully, he stops, and I sigh as I return my attention to the girl.
Her fear finally begins to overwhelm her - I see the moment it happens, standing on the wall looking down. She doesn't seem able to move, and as Eric snaps something at her I can't quite hear, I make a reckless decision.
"You've got it. Don't think about it."
Those piercing grey eyes snap to me, and I see his brow lower as he glares, eyes raking over me once more. A bolt of fear creeps up my spine, but before he can properly assess what I've said, the Candor girl that had been with the Stiff speaks as well. "You've got it!"
The Stiff turns slightly, looking at both of us, and I can see the fear in her eyes abate slightly as she gives me a small nod of thanks. I simply stare back, keeping my expression neutral as I watch her decide what to do.
Without another second of hesitation, she jumps.
I can vaguely hear when she lands, and I mentally do the math in my head. Based on her descent time, I'd estimate the fall to be roughly 200 feet, and the lack of a splash tells me it's not water. A net, if I had to guess. I'll have to be sure to land on my back and watch my limbs, then.
Slowly, initiates begin to line up, and I find myself hanging back to watch. I gauge each of their reactions to the drop, noting which are Dauntless-born and which are transfers. I know I won't be with the Dauntless-born, so I pay less attention to them, focusing instead on the transfers and which have the integrity to make the drop without a fuss.
The Candor girl is near the front, and she screams the entire way down.
The Candor boy fidgets nervously with his clothing before stepping up, and I once again dismiss him. Too timid, too afraid.
Peter is cocky until he looks down. He lets out a small groan that I know signifies he is afraid, but he leaps quickly, and I can't help the fleeting smile as he jumps.
A few other transfers are in the middle of the pack, and I make note of them. Quite a few Candors, two Amities, and three Erudite that I don't know well. No other Abnegation have chosen Dauntless.
Before I know it, I'm at the back of the dwindling line, and I watch with growing apprehension as the last two jump, leaving me alone on the roof with Eric. He quirks a brow at me, something daring in his gaze, and I can't help the way my shoulders stiffen, the way my feet plant slightly further than my shoulders as I meet his gaze.
"Careful there, Erudite. If you look too hard, everybody is going to think you're plotting against them."
I scoff, moving past him as I reach for the wall. "If they deserve it, I won't have to plot against them."
He smiles then, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as he stares at me. From this vantage point, I'm at least a head taller than him, and it feels weird to be staring down at the intimidating leader. I smile back, my eyes flashing with something dangerous as I turn back around.
"Not many of them are, though," I call, before stepping over the ledge.
Once again, I'm left with the feeling of weightlessness, for far longer this time, though it feels much shorter. I take pride in the fact that I hold my scream in, and I twist my body so that my back hits the net. A puff of air escapes me as I make contact, but other than that, I feel no injury. I've landed correctly, then.
I roll off of the net rather gracelessly, coming to a stop in front of another man - not Eric, thankfully. Something about his stare intimidates me, and my walls are down enough right now that I know he'd see something unsavory in my eyes. Instead, this man looks kind. He's a bit shorter than Eric, and though his dark hair is cut relatively short, I can see the curls begging to break free. His hands come to my sides, gently righting me as I stumble onto the ground before he releases me quickly and does a quick scan of my body.
"What's your name?" His voice is kinder than Eric's too, lighter and a bit softer. I can't help but smile at him, the adrenaline causing me to feel a sense of euphoria.
"Thea," I respond. He nods, waving me off to join the group of initiates.
"Last jumper: Thea!"
Everybody cheers then, and I feel an arm snake around my shoulders before pressing me into a familiar side. I look up into Peter's smiling face, and I can't help but return the gesture, wrapping my own arms around him quickly.
I'm not surprised when the Dauntless born are sent away with another leader, but I am grateful to see that we'll be staying with the one who helped me off the net. Four, he says, and though my brow quirks at the name, I stay silent. The Candor girl - Christina - of course, does not. Candor apparently never teaches their children when to shut up.
"What, like the number?"
The silence is deafening, and I feel a spark of second hand embarrassment and fear for the girl as Four's gaze snaps to her, quickly taking her in. Sizing her up, I realize with a jolt.
"Exactly like the number." His response is short, and the smile on his face is anything but playful - I can see the dangerous edge to it, the way his eye twitches slightly.
Christina laughs for a second before cracking a joke, "What, one through three were taken?"
I stiffen at her words, watching as Four's eyes roll. I can tell his patience is already thin, can tell he doesn't want to have this conversation based on the way his spine stiffens slightly. He approaches Christina, stalking towards her carefully, and I cringe away, catching Peter's eye before turning back to the interaction. I can't hear what he says, but her now timid disposition tells me all I need to know.
He prowls away from her, and after a quick word, we all follow suit. I once again find myself at the back of the group, watching everybody interact amongst each other. It seems we're still broken into our factions, other than the Candors who have now flanked the Stiff. Peter is silent at my side as we walk, looking around at the cavernous ceiling and walls around us with admiration. My own response is more reserved, but I can feel the twinge of satisfaction at the gaping walls, already more at home in the dark than I had been in the open concept of Erudite.
We walk for a few minutes in relative silence before echoing voices start to carry through the halls. I feel my heart jump a bit with excitement as the light filters in, and the gasps of my class only spur me on.
In front of us a huge, cavernous space, carved from the stone with precision. The walls are lined with walkways and doors, and on the ground, people mill about with determination. I beam as I look down at the space, taking in my new home with loving pride.
Once the people notice us, they begin to cheer, waving at us with excitement. Around me, everybody huffs out a nervous laugh, but my gaze is glued to one figure, hovering in the back. His blonde hair is stark against the sunlight, and though it's too far to tell, I feel as though his eyes have met my own. I straighten my shoulders, lifting my chin slightly as I watch him. He stays for a moment longer before disappearing into the darkness.
-
The dorms are nothing worth seeing, and I grimace as we walk through them. Co-ed, of course, as are the bathrooms, and I wonder just how much of everybody I'm going to see by the end of training. My nose wrinkles in disgust at the thought.
As if my thoughts were spoken into existence, Four tells us to get changed. I look around at the group. before me, noting the varying looks of fear, and the sudden apprehension on the Stiff's face. I can't help the laugh that escapes me, but I quickly turn away from her so she doesn't think I was laughing at her.
"Alright then," I murmur, heading to a bed a quickly taking off my suit. Everybody else quickly follows suit, and before I know it, we're all in matching Dauntless outfits, a sea of black heading out to find our trainer.
As I suspected, our old clothes are tossed into a burn pit. I let out a small sigh of distress as I toss my blue clothing into the fire, taking a second to watch them catch. I had really liked that outfit.
We make our way into the Pit with little fuss, and Four soon abandons us in favor of food. As if on cue, my stomach growls, and I realize it's now been hours since I last ate. I quickly move into the line, grabbing a burger that looks somewhat decent and a salad before scanning the tables for an open space. I sigh in relief when I find an empty table, speeding towards it and perching on the end. The other initiates follow suit, and soon the entire table is full of chatter. One of the Amity boys sits next to me, and I'm thankful that he seems more focused on eating than striking up a conversation as I turn to observe my class.
Peter is sat across from me, stuck in an animated conversation with one of the other Erudite girls. The Candors have grouped together and integrated the rest of Erudite, and at the far side of the table the other Amity sits with a Candor boy. I watch with slight amusement as Four places himself near our group, and even more when the Stiff, Christina, and the Candor boy are forced to sit next to him. The conversation looks tense, and I'm glad I chose to sit as far away from him as possible.
That is, until I feel a large presence standing at my back.
I stiffen, turning my head until I see the hulking figure behind me. Eric's arms are crossed, and there's a dangerous glint in his eye as he cocks his head to the side, watching me with rapt fascination.
I clear my throat and swallow before swinging a leg over the bench so I can better see his face. "Can I help you, sir?"
He chuckles a bit, presumably at the formality, before responding. "No. I'm just observing. Have you found anything interesting yet?"
Down the table, I see Four sharply look up, taking note of the leader behind me with a worried look. He frowns in my direction, trying to catch my eye, but I ignore him. Eric seems to have a higher position than Four, and I refuse to disrespect leadership on my first day.
"We still seem to be sitting by faction - relatively - though that's to be expected. I imagine integration will come with time. Have you made any observations yet?" I hold his gaze steadily, refusing to back down even as something akin to excitement lights up in his eyes. I don't know why - I haven't said anything out of the ordinary, I've simply responded to his question with one in kind.
He grins at me, his eyes narrowing into slits as his eyebrow cocks once again - a habit he seems to be quite fond of - and he murmurs, "some of you seem to be very brave. Or very stupid, if that's how you'd prefer to look at it."
I nod at him, unsure of what to say, but he seems to have gotten what he wanted from our interaction. With a nod, he uncrosses his arms and begins to walk away. "I'll see you in training tomorrow, Erudite. I'm curious to see what observations you've made.