9

Felix bounds foreward, reacting as I do not. I see his fingers wrap around one of Cal's flailing hands as Cal tumbles towards his death. Felix can only just hold him. "Vic, help." Felix is starting to slide, and I'm afraid that he'll fall out of the open train compartment door. I grab Felix round the waist and tug with all my might. His steady chest beats quickly and beads of sweat line his furrowed brow. "One, two, three, Pull!" Felix shouts, and I clutch him tightly,  pulling him and Cal to safety.

"Cal!" I scream, crushing my traumatized brother into a hug. His heart pounds with fear, beating in time with mine. He's alright Vic. Cal's alive. I never realized how much pain I would feel if he were to die, or how much relief it would be when he did not. "Cal!" I cry again, tears wetting my cold, pale cheeks.

"F-F-Felix," Cal stutters, "F-Felix, y-y-you saved my l-life. T-t-th-thank-thank you."

"Umm... y-your welcome, I-I-I guess."

"Thanks, Felix." I release my brother and wrap my clammy arms around Felix's chest. Felix seems slightly shocked by my reaction, and I immediately regret touching him. He seems pleased though, smiling, and looking a fraction disappointed when I let go. We're all panting breathlessly, the way you would if you would be unable to breathe again. Cal's breaths are long, shuddery and drawn out. Felix pants quickly, as if he had just ran a mile. I sound like a mixture of the two.

"There's the mixed sector." Cal mutters, still catching his breath.

"This is where we get off then, and let's try not to have anymore close calls pansycake." Felix replies. Things between him and my brother are back to normal now, I suppose. But why did Felix save my brother in the first place? The two of them have never been friends, just as me and Felix never were. Until now...

"Felix, are we friends yet?" I ask, mockingly.

"Don't push your luck Vic, I just saved your amity brother."

"Point taken." I reply, still wondering, despite his answer, wether we are friends instead of just acquaintances.

Cal jumps first, landing on the nearby train tracks, perfectly this time. "Ladies first." Felix grins, gesturing to the open door. I leap, and land gracefully beside my brother. I hear a loud thud as Felix lands on my left. The other faction members stand in four lines in front of the building where Felix and I will make our choice today. There would be five groups, but the dauntless are late as usual. 

Together the three of us clamber down the supports to join them, as the erudite watch disapprovingly. I've heard them say that the dauntless are light headed and idiotic, illogical to the highest point of disgrace in their books. They don't hate us as much as they hate abnegation though. They often speak of the waste of food given to factionless, when the candor have not as much as the other factions. The erudite say that the faction members should be first priority and the factualness second. Some erudite even have the spite to say that the abnegation eat the food themselves, when we see them give it away each morning. Some of the candor laugh and chatter, and one of the girls wearing the candor black and white shouts, "Hey! You dauntless too good for the bus?" Some of the other candor snicker. Some of the abnegation look upset, as they don't approve of such spite. But the candor always speak their mind, even at the expense of others feelings, so little else could be expected.

"Out of my way stiff!" Felix shouts, pushing past an abnegation girl dressed in grey. Stiff is a rude nickname given to the abnegation because of the way they dress.

"No need to be rude Felix." Cal says softly, but Felix ignores him when he doesn't press his point. Cal doesn't need to get into a fight with Felix right now, and I'm sure he knows that. It appears that's what's keeping him quiet. The amity members, dressed in crimson and buttercup yellow chatter happily, giggling loudly. Felix says that the way they giggle gets on his nerves, but Cal's always said that he rather liked it. Now I know why. Cal, Felix and I stand together in front of the dauntless symbol,  a picture of a flame.

"Why are the other dauntless taking so long?" Felix asks, sounding slightly whiny.

"I thought you knew dauntless, they're always late." Cal mutters rolling his eyes.

"Let's do something." I say, trying to change the subject.

"Why don't we play a game?" Cal asks.

"Isn't that what amity do? Play silly hand games and stuff?" Felix taunts, turning his gaze to some amity girls playing a clapping game. Cal flushes bright red.

"I don't think he meant that sort of game," I exclaim, defending my brother, "we aren't amity you know, but we do play different kinds of games. Dauntless play games too you know."

"What? Like paintball, capture the flag, dare and candor or dauntless?" Felix wonders.

"Exactly!" I say, "Why don't we play candor or dauntless?"

"Sure. Amity, you know the rules right?" Felix asks.

"Yeah. Fail to answer the question or complete the dare, you have to remove one article of clothing, no socks, no shoes." Cal answers meekly.

"Right. So, you first amity. Candor or dauntless?" Felix questions.

"Candor."

"Are you a pansycake, amity?" Felix teases.

"No, and stop calling me that. I just don't want to embarrass myself in public like this, in front of all the faction members and faction leaders." Cal replies, which seems sensible enough.

"Pansycake, pansycake, amity's a pansycake!"

"Please stop Felix." Cal whispers.

"Oh, and now it's all, please stop. You really are the biggest coward I've ever seen and that's saying something, seeing as I'm standing near a bunch of amity. They're the most passive people on this planet. You should really be their leader Cal. You've had a lot of practise with being a passive coward!" Felix shouts.

"Fine, dauntless." Cal mutters, trying to break up the fight. His normal joyful attitude is gone, and the sparkle in his eyes appears to have diminished to nothing.

"I dare you to run round calling the abnegation stiffs, the amity cowards, the erudite know it alls and the candor loud mouths." Felix dares.

"I can't do that, they'll all hate me." Cal gasps.

"That doesn't matter, I'd do it in a heartbeat. So do it if your dauntless amity." Felix exclaims excitedly.

"I-I-I can't." My brother stutters.

"You must unless you feel like taking off your shirt in front of everyone."

"Come on Cal," I tell my shaking brother, "it's not that hard."

"See? Even your sister thinks you should."

"I never said that, I just said it wasn't that hard. Stop making him do this Felix," I say, my voice like ice, "let me take the dare instead." I'm saying this not because I want to, but because I don't want Felix to force Cal to do this. I guess that's what being abnegation is.

He sighs. I can tell that he doesn't want me to embarrass myself. Why is he willing to let my brother do so then? "Fine. Vic, you can take this dare, but if you fail to complete it, you and Cal both have to remove an article of clothing. If you succeed, both of you are safe for now." Felix states, reminding me of Jeanine Matthews the erudite leader.

I break out into a sprint, shivering as the cold air presses against me. I pass the red and yellow clothed amity and point my finger at them, "Cowards!" I shout loudly as I do so. The candor stand behind the amity wearing their white long sleeved shirts and black dress pants or simple skirts. "Loud mouths!" I yell, pointing a finger at the cluster of them. Two of the candor boys stop debating and call back insults, but I continue running past the erudite while screaming, "Know it alls!" at the top of my lungs. I see Jeanine watching me with fascination from the group of blue clad erudite, but I think it best to ignore her stare. Besides, I'll be choosing dauntless, so she won't have to talk to me. I come up to the abnegation in their grey clothes and slacks and pass them shrieking, "Stiffs! Stiffs!" Then I turn swiftly on my heel and run back shouting, "Stiffs!" then, "Know it alls!" then, "Loud mouths!" then finally, "Cowards!" I skid to a halt beside Cal.

"That was perfect! Top points for Vic, no points for pansycake!" Felix exclaims pointing to Cal, "How you gonna live this down amity? Your little sister did the dare you were to pansycake to try! Pansycake! Amity! Pansycake!"

"Shhh, Felix. You're giving me a headache." Cal mutters.

"Your turn Vic!" Felix shouts, "Pick someone!"

"Why me? It was Cal's dare."

"Fine, Cal do it." Felix says sounding bored.

"Felix, candor or dauntless?" Cal asks.

"Dauntless, of course." Felix answers proudly.

"Why don't we just play dare if everyone's doing dauntless?" Cal says, scowling. Scowls don't suit him much.

"Because then you couldn't chicken out." Felix announces grandly.

"Well, he can't really do that if you don't let him." I remind Felix.

"Fine. You can go with the coward's way next time, amity." he tells Cal, "Now what's my dare?"

"I dare you to take off you shoes and leave them off for the rest of the game."

"That's child's play amity. Don't you have a better dare?" Felix taunts.

"No. Do this one or take off an article of clothing." Cal says firmly.

"Sure thing mother." Felix teases, removing his shoes. Cal looks at him with a upset expression.

"Moving on." Felix says clearing his throat, "Vic, candor or daunt-" He's interrupted by the shouting of dauntless members. The other members of our faction are here. The other faction members turn to stare in astonishment, as the dauntless start jumping off the train rattling along the tracks above our heads. The dauntless climb down swiftly and sprint to the three of us. The amity girls break into chuckles and the candor begin all sorts of conversations. The candor always talk about the dauntless badly. They say that we're light headed and ill-tempered, with creepy piercings, tattoos and hair cuts but that's not always true. Plus the tattoos look nice, especially the ones Cal draws and inks. "Game's over." Felix says, tying his shoes. The dauntless arrival indicates the beginning of the ceremony, or at least, the dauntless make it the beginning, just as they do each year. 

"Race you!" I shout.

"And take the steps!" Felix choruses, as we leave Cal behind rapidly, trying to overtake one another. the steps are crowded with abnegation and dauntless, when we get inside. Abnegation take the steps to make the elevators less crowded and easier to work, but the dauntless do it for fun. We sprint past the panting abnegation, Felix screaming, "Out of my way stiffs!" Grey clad abnegation scatter left and right, trying to avoid the dauntless in the crowded space. The other dauntless plough through them just as much as Felix does, but I maintain a swift lead over Felix, even in the pushing and shoving of my fellow dauntless. A small abnegation girl trips on her dress, tumbling down a few steps. I dash back to help her, forgetting the race and giving Felix the lead.

"Are you ok?" I ask, pulling her to her feet and checking her for bruises.

"I think so," she mutters weakly, "thank you for the assistance miss."

"You're welcome!" I shout, sprinting away to catch up with Felix. I can sense the tiny girls deep brown eyes staring after me, but I don't look back, even though I want to. Stopping to help the girl costs me the win of the race, but I don't care, even when I see Felix's smug face and "I beat you" glance. I find a seat in between Cal and my dad.

"Why didn't you wake me up Vic?" my dad asks, sounding furious.

"I didn't want to. I still felt bad about last night." I admit honestly.

"What happened last night?" Cal inquires.

"She beat me up! That's what happened!" dad shouts a bit too loudly.

"Wow Vic. I didn't know you were that good." Cal says grinning.

"I didn't want to. Dad wouldn't stop fighting me. And you're starting to sound like Felix." Cal's smile falters. Then I notice the girl I helped, pointing me out to her mother.

"It's not polite to point Eve." I overhear her mother say as she passes us, "I want you to remember that. It draws attention to ourselves."

"Yes, mother." Eve replies. She can't be much older than seven. Her glossy black hair is held into a tight bun, but it looks like the type of hair that should be flowing. I can imagine her midnight coloured hair loose and free, flowing down her back like the swiftest waterfall. Her skin is pale and smooth, her facial features simple, yet somehow perfect. I wonder if I will see Eve again.

When everyone is in their seats, Jeanine steps in front of the microphone. Every year a different faction is responsible for the ceremony. This year is erudite's turn and Jeanine is the erudite leader. She taps the microphone gently and everyone falls silent. I wonder what she'll say. The chosen faction   giving the ceremony gives a speech explaining our history and the creation of the factions. 

"Hello everyone," Jeanine begins, "As the erudite representative I welcome you all to our choosing ceremony of this year. Long ago, before the factions, there was a great war. A conflict so powerful that it almost destroyed our race. We, the lasting survivors, rose to the challenge of eliminating conflict, so our race would not be destroyed. We soon discovered from research into previous conflicts, that it was not religion, injustice or racism that caused war. It was human nature." After brief pause, Jeanine continues.

"So we split into five groups each of them using an attribute to fight the one they blamed injustice on. The group that named themselves erudite believed that ignorance caused conflict, so they fought it with intelligence. Amity blamed violence, so they fought it with peace. Dauntless decided that the worst attribute in our nature was cowardice, so they fought it with bravery. Candor claimed dishonesty was the cause of war, so they decided to eradicate it with honesty. The final group was abnegation, and they wanted to abolish selfishness with selflessness. Our factions bring us peace and relationship. Without them there would be conflict, and eventually, extinction. Today, our children must choose the faction of which they will reside for the rest of their life. Today, our children must define themselves and show us their best attribute."

Jeanine gestures to five silver bowls in front of us. The faction bowls. "In front of us there are five bowls, one for each faction. As you know, the one full of the lit coals is dauntless, the one filled with stones is abnegation, the one containing water represents my faction, erudite, the one with the earth inside represents amity and the one filled of glass symbolizes candor and it's transparentness. Each of our initiates will cut their hand and they must let their blood fall into the bowl representing their chosen faction. Now we begin."

Jeanine announces the first name, and a girl from amity gets up and walks towards her. Jeanine passes her the knife. The amity girl cuts her palm and lets her blood fall into the bowl of soil. "Amity." Jeanine calls, as the girl goes to sit with the amity. When the next name is called a candor boy approaches Jeanine. She passes him the glittering knife. He cuts his palm, and then puts his hand over the candor glass. He looks at his parents and shifts his hand, positioning it over the dauntless bowl. Then he tips his bleeding hand, permitting his blood to land on the dauntless coals. His blood sizzles. The candor begin to shout angrily, but it is often common for people to leave candor. Jeanine yells, "Dauntless!" trying to be heard over the noise. The ceremony continues much like this. 

"Dauntless."

"Erudite."

"Candor."

"Candor."

"Amity."

"Abnegation."

"Amity."

"Dauntless."

"Candor!"

"Abnegation."

Initiate after initiate choose their factions, and I can feel my own decision drawing nearer. Finally, I hear my name. "Vic!" Jeanine shouts. I leave my seat and approach the silver faction bowls. Jeanine stares at me with instant recognition. She smiles and passes me the long silver knife. I feel nothing more  then a small stab of pain as I slit my palm. I raise my shaking hand over the dauntless bowl, trying not to spill any blood. Choosing dauntless would be so easy, isn't that what a coward does? Chooses the easiest option? Choosing dauntless would make me a pansycake and a coward, and I know I can not do it. I will not be amity. That is certain. Choosing abnegation would be selfish, as it is selfish to leave my family behind. I might not be smart enough for erudite. I will not be factionless if I choose dauntless. At least until I'm past the correct physical level. I tip my hand, aiming for the dauntless bowl. But then I change my mind. Before my blood falls I move my hand, and watch as the crimson drop of blood lands in the erudite water.