8

I wake up, sweaty and cold. All night I tossed and turned, drifting in and out of sleep. I dress in a black T-shirt and black leggings before leaving the stuffy room. I can hear my dad snoring on noisily. So much for catching the first train. I could wake him, but I still feel awkward around him after the fight, so instead I sprint forward. I don't know where I'm going until I get there. The tiny drops of water the metal bridge sparkle slightly in the dim light of the dauntless compound. The waterfall roars on as usual, tumbling away into the murky depths of the chasm. Moisture from the waterfall dampens my face, helping to rouse me from the clutches of weariness. I notice someone else, sitting on the metal bar and gazing silently into the raging water and endless blackness. Cal.

"Cal? What are you doing here? Don't you have to go to work?" I ask.

He turns round startled. "Vic! You gave me a heart attack! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Cal says. He seems scared, the way a rat is when they are being pursued. His eyes dart around nervously, as if he were checking for people that could of heard us speaking. Why does he avoid the other dauntless so? "Yes." He says finally, in a seemingly calmer tone, "normally I'd be at work but it's the choosing ceremony. We have the morning off. Me and Tori, I mean. Sorry for shouting at you. There were just these guys bugging me, calling me amity and stuff. I just-"

"You were afraid I was one of them?" He nods. "Cal, I thought you weren't afraid of anything. Why didn't you just fight them off?"

"I didn't want to pick unessessary fights. Hey, Vic I'm working on a letter t tattoo at the tattoo shop, maybe you could come and take a look at it after the ceremony? I know you'll be dauntless. Your a brave girl." Cal says. He gets like this sometimes, really more often then not. He becomes a peace keeper, and reminds me of the amity members. Why is he changing the subject?

"Cal, stop changing topics and tell me what happened! Why did you let them call you amity?" I shout, surprised by the sharpness of my own tone. I don't want to hurt my brother, but I don't want to lie about what I think. If everyone just told the truth, people wouldn't be hurt so easily because they'd be used to it. I'm starting to sound like a candor. I'm being honest with him and he knows it, but he still is slightly hurt. I should of said it nicer.

"Because it's true." Cal replies.

"What?" I ask confused, "What's true?"

"You asked me why I let them call me amity, and it's because it's true. My aptitude was for amity, not dauntless Vic. I just wanted to be with my family." Cal sounds ashamed with himself.

"Why didn't you say sooner?"

"I'm sorry Vic, I just didn't want us to fight. I didn't want to lie either, but I still did. You don't have to tell me the truth, because I didn't, but I'm not sure you got dauntless." he answers.

"Cal, I-I don't want to- I don't want to talk about-"

"It's ok. I understand, privacy and all that stuff. But Vic, I want to give you some advice. Don't just choose your family. Don't just think selflessly about how we'd feel about your transition into your chosen faction. Think about you. Today is all about you ok? Choose what will benefit you, because if you choose the way I did you'll most likely regret it. Choose for Vic. Not dad, not Cal, Vic. No matter what faction you choose, I'm still your brother." He says.

"Faction before blood." I remind him.

"Vic, I don't believe in that stupid rule. It's wrong. Blood before faction, ok? That's how I think of it." Cal states.

"Cal, I have a question for you."

"What is bothering you Vic?" Cal asks.

"How did you pass the dauntless invitation if your aptitude was amity? Aren't they opposite personalities?" I inquire.

Cal smiles, "You sure you aren't erudite?"

"I asked you not to talk about that."

"I know. I trained hard. I forced myself to fight even though I thought it wrong, and trust me Vic it wasn't easy. But I did it for you. For dad. The problem was I never remembered to think of Cal, before it was too late to. I don't want you to make the same mistake." He replies.

"Am I brave enough for dauntless?" I wonder.

"Of course. Let's go, you need to be at the ceremony for you to choose you know." Cal jokes.

"Any final advice?"

"Be brave, and more importantly, be Vic."

His words echo through my mind as we sprint through the complex. Be Vic. I thought my mind was made up last night, when I decided I was dauntless, but it appears it is not. Dauntless, erudite, candor or abnegation? Which is the right choice for my family? Which is the right choice for me?

We stand under the glittering form of the hub, standing on the dusty roof and waiting for the next train. The cold air stings my bare arms, and the dazzling sun refuses to warm me with its bright rays, but instead blinds me with brightness. The air is bitter with the tension of my incoming decision, and Cal's concern for me. I feel as if he wants to help, but is unsure how.

Footsteps pound behind us, and my brother and I whip round. Felix comes bounding towards us. "Wow, Vic you sure love being early. Most of the other dauntless members are still eating." Felix announces, addressing me and ignoring my brother.

"Felix." Cal says curtly.

"Cal. Aren't you the pansy cake that almost always refuses to fight?" Felix taunts.

"Felix, Cal, can you two ignore each other for now like you normally do?" I ask, becoming frustrated.

"Fine." Felix mutters, sounding bored. Cal doesn't utter a word, but I know that's only because he's ignoring Felix. "Are you going to speak amity or what?" Felix asks.

"Felix, that's not ignoring him."

"Ok, ok, I get the message." Felix says grinning.

"What are you choosing today Felix?" I question, trying to change the subject.

"What are you choosing Vic?" He asks. What will I choose? That's the question I've been thinking about all morning.

"Dauntless." I reply at last.

"Me too. I know why your choosing dauntless, considering that fight we had on the train." Felix comments. I think he was complimenting me!

"Felix, you fought my sister!" Cal says.

"Cal, drop it. It's not important." I tell my brother firmly.

"Yeah, shut up pansycake."

"Felix, there was no need to comment," Cal says simply, "Vic never asked for your opinion."

"Ok amity, stop trying to settle this with words and fight it out."

"There's no need for violence." Cal mutters, turning away in fear of conflict.

"Coward." Felix whispers. I wonder if Cal heard him, and if he did he certainly isn't reacting to it. An awkward silence rings through the air, far louder and worse then their arguing. A light breeze ruffles my hair and the added chill sends shivers down my numb body. My arms prickle with goose bumps and my fingers are stiff with cold. The telltale clatter of wheels on rails welcomes the incoming train.

"This is our ride." Felix shouts grandly, filling me with excitement. I feel the thrill of freedom and bravery tingling through me, a mixture of pleasure and queasiness. I see the train clattering towards us, slithering swiftly down the creaky rails like a metal serpent, gleaming in the morning sunlight. "You first Vic!" Calls Felix, sounding as cheerful as a child on their birthday. The first carriage shudders forward, heading straight at me as if excited at my presence. I stretch out a clammy hand and grab the handle first shot. With a sharp pull I pull myself aboard the moving train. The tension in my body fades to nothingness as I relax, feeling accomplished. Felix takes a run and jump, laughing heartily as I help him up. Cal nervously lunges missing the train, but grabbing the handle before he can fall.

"Cal!" I yell in terror as my brother hangs over the long drop to the ground below. I can see his sweaty hands slipping. A fall from this height would mean death. "Cal! Cal! Hold on!" My words do no good, he has no strength left to pull himself through the compartment's open door. His hands, greasy with perspiration slip slowly, finger by finger. If I attempt to grab his arm, he might fall. Cal's face is fearful, afraid of the likely fall that he may suffer. Then his hand slips, and Cal's grip on the door handle is released, as he begins to fall.