Chapter 4

Once everyone had made the jump from the top of the building and into the net, they were lined up. Riley stood in the front next to Beatrice and Christina as they listened to the chatter around them. Beatrice and Christina were talking to another initiate named Will, who was from Euridte. Riley was included in the conversation, but her mind was drifting back to her brother. Tobias or Four, which he went by now was standing a few feet away from her. It was surreal seeing him after so many years apart. It was almost a dream for the girl. She had imagined seeing her brother again for years, and now here he was. "Dauntless born you will go with Lauren, transfers you're with me," Tobias walked over to them. The group went silent, and nobody made a move. "Go, now." Riley was surprised at this new side of her brother but knew it was who he was now. The Dauntless born began walking past them and following the blonde woman down the hall. "Most of the time, I am in intelligence, but during training I am your instructor." Riley smiled to herself feeling a sense of relief knowing her brother wasn't leaving. "My name is Four."

"Four," Christina spoke up, "like the number?"

"Just like the number," Four nodded in her direction. Riley looked between them.

"What happened? One through three were taken," her joke wasn't entirely funny, but a few people laughed.

Riley looked from her friend too her brother with questioning eyes. She didn't like the look her brother was giving her. Four had a fake smile on his face, "what's your name?"

"Christina," she pushed her hair back as all the attention became focused on her.

Four rolled his lip between his teeth stepping closer until they were nearly nose to nose. "Well, Christina," he spoke, "the first lesson you will learn is if you want to live and survive in Dauntless is to keep your mouth shut. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Christina spoke weakly not making eye contact.

"Good," Four stepped away and turned around. "Follow me." The group began to move immediately not wanting to question him. Riley started walking after her brother and with the group of transfers. They began walking down a hallway and towards a small door which Four pushed open. Inside was a dim red light that lead to a stairwell. It was mainly silent as the group jogged down the stairs trying to keep pace with Four. The red light didn't produce much light making it hard to see.

The group ran down five flights of stairs before reaching the bottom. Riley was glad to see her brother stopping and opening a door allowing them to take a break. The next hall was brighter than the stairwell, and voices were flowing down it. Riley noticed at the end of the hallway was a bright light. They seemed to be headed in that direction, and when they approached the ledge, they stopped. Riley looked past the group at the sight and found herself overwhelmed. It was several stories of open space with ledges and people at the bottom talking. "This the Pit," Four waved his hand, "the center of life here." People were laughing, and others were fake fighting showing their relaxed sides. "Come on, we have more to see."

Four turned down another hallway and began walking away from the chattering people. The noise died down the further they walked away. Riley fiddled with her fingers nervously as she walked behind her brother. They walked down a hallway that leads to another, and then another, and then another. She knew it would take her a few days to familiarize herself with everything. After a moment, Four walked into a room that was filled with beds. "You will be sleeping in here for the next ten weeks," Four turned to look at them. Riley scanned the beds.

"Girls or boys?"

Four smiled, "both." Riley's eyebrows shot up in surprise at her brother's revelation. A few people made comments about how happy they were about the sleeping arrangments others weren't excited. The strawberry blonde girl, however, disagreed with their happy comments. She hated the rooming assignments. "If you like this, then you will love the bathroom." The group began following him towards the bathroom. Riley noticed there were no stalls, only open toilets. She felt a disgusted chill run down her spine. She didn't know how she would be able to use a public bathroom. Riley assumed she would cross that bridge eventually.

"Really," a girl whispered behind her.

"Is this it?" Riley stepped next to Christina. It was one of the few people she knew in the room.

"Candor should feel at home," Four shoved past them. Riley sucked in a breath as her brother passed her without so much as a second glance. She didn't know what kind of welcome she was expecting, but the cold shoulder was starting to hurt. "Everything out in the open." He continued to walk away, "everyone change clothes."

Riley noticed the Dauntless clothing sitting on each bed. A pair of clothes for everyone. The group began to go their own way and claim their beds. The young girl noticed a familiar face walk over to a mattress. It was Beatrice, or now Tris. Riley walked over to the bed next to the one she claimed and inspected the clothing sitting on it. "Hey," Riley spoke hoping she wasn't overstepping. "Can I?"

"Please," Tris smiled at her. Riley felt some relief at her comment and grabbed the pile of clothes. There was nowhere for her to go, and she knew she would have to change right there. She nervously looked around and grabbed the pair of black pants.

~~~~~~~~

Riley stood behind Tris as she waited to throw her old clothes in the fire. She wasn't afraid of getting rid of her clothing. Riley never felt as if she belonged in Abnegation, and now that she was in Dauntless, everything felt right.  Riley watched as Tris paused by the fire before throwing her clothes in. After Tris went, it was her turn, and she didn't hesitate for a second. She threw her grey clothing into the fire and watched them burn along with the rest of the clothing. 

The group marched in a line down the hallway after throwing their clothes into the fire. Riley didn't know where they were going but knew better than to question it. After a second, she could hear voices and see a bright light at the end of the hallway. Her nerves instantly spiked as she approached with the others. After a few steps, she walked into a large room full of people. Some were sitting at tables, and others were standing. The ones that were sitting all had trays of food.

Riley came to a stop when everyone else stopped walking and noticed the stares from people sitting down. She felt out of place, her eyes then went searching for her sibling. "Hey," Christina pulled on her sleeve. "Come on." Riley didn't hesitate to follow her. Knowing that if she continued to look for her brother, it would be suspicious. 

The group began to split apart as they found people to sit with, and after a minute, it was just Riley standing with Christina and Tris. "We can sit there," Tris pointed to an empty table. Riley glimpsed over her shoulder, and her heart dropped in her chest. Sitting at that table was her brother. 

"That works," with that Christina and Tris began walking towards the empty spots next to her brother. Across from them was an open spot next to a guy who she recognized from her group. As Riley walked around the table and took her place she could feel her brother's gaze on her, but she decided not to look back. Her eyes went to the bowl of food in front of her, and she couldn't tell what it was. She picked up the fork next to her and began trying to pick it up. Riley felt better seeing that Tris was trying to do the same. "Oh, my," Christina glanced between the two of them. "Have you never seen a hamburger before?"

Riley knew what a hamburger was, and she had seen the meat before. However, she had never had one. "I do, I have just never eaten one."

"Here," next to her, the guy grabbed her fork. "I'll help."

"Thank you," Riley laughed at herself. She felt dumb for not being able to pick up a simple piece of meat. He smiled at her and set it on her tray.

"Abnegation eat plain food," he explained to Christina. "Plant-based diet, not sauces, and a minimum of seasoning."

"Which textbook did you swallow," Christina questioned him. Riley smiled at her new friend's attitude.

He chuckled at her comment, "nice to meet you. I'm Will." He turned to look at Riley, "Erudite."

"Of course," Christina started to cut her food, Riley did the same. "No offense, but I am shocked Abnegation eats at all. To selfish, right? No wonder you left." 

Riley stopped her movements at the mention of leaving her old faction. Her father's face flashing in her mind. For the first time since sitting down, she glanced up at her brother as a way to calm herself from the thought of her father. Four was staring intently at his own food, but it was clear he was listening. "You have to be pretty self-confident to be friends with a Candor."

"Hey," Christina glanced up. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You have no filter," Will explained. "You say the first thing that comes to your head."

"You mean like, you're an idiot," Al spoke to him. Tris laughed at his comment, but Riley was still sitting still. After a second, she realized her actions were most likely odd and started to cut into her hamburger. 

"Nice, but at least we tell the truth."

"Erudite can tell the truth because we have the facts," Will countered her. 

"I don't want to hear about your old factions," Four cut in unexpectedly. Riley's eyes locked with his for a brief moment. "You're Dauntless now." 

Riley wanted to open up her mouth and say something, but she couldn't. Instead, Tris spoke. "Were you a transfer too? Or Dauntless born?"

Four stared at her, "are you joking?"

"No."

"What makes you think you can talk to me," his words were harsh. He didn't sound like the boy she once knew. He was cold.

Tris paused for a second, "it must be because you're so approachable." Christina chocked on her water. She quickly looked away from him.

"Careful," he muttered to her. However, before anything else could happen, a man walked up to Four and whispered something in his ear. 

"You have a death wish," Christina muttered to her. 

"You know he was first in his class, right?" Riley perked up at the conversation change. She was interested in learning more about her brother. "They tried to recruit him for leadership twice, but he declined-" Before he could finish, the alarm went off. Riley sucked in a harsh breath, not knowing what was going on.

Suddenly, everyone began slamming their cups on the tables. Riley's eyebrows pulled together in confusion as she tried to figure out what was going on. 

"Initiates," a voice spoke, causing the cups to go silent. "Stand." Riley did as told and pushed herself up from the table. "You have decided to join the warrior faction. It is tasked with the defense of the city and everyone who lives in it. We believe in ordinary acts of bravery and the courage that drives someone to stand up for another. Respect that. Do us proud." With that, he stepped away, and everyone began cheering. 

Riley smiled at Will, who was standing above her, and before she knew it she was being lifted into the air. "Woah," she gasped as she felt hands on her back and legs. Her body floated above the crowd. A broad smile spread on her face as she looked at Tris and Christina, who were in the air a few feet from her. Riley felt a laugh rise in her chest, and for the first time in a long time, she felt happy. 

~~~~~~~~

Riley walked down the hall a few feet behind the crowd. She had stayed behind to look for Tris and Christina, but couldn't find them. She figured after a while of looking they had probably gone back to the room. The strawberry blonde walked absent-mindedly down the hall towards the rooms. Her head was still in a daze from the events that had just occurred. 

Abruptly in the middle of her walk, a hand grabbed her, yanking her into the hall. Riley felt her entire body overcome with fear as her body ventured away from the path and into the darkness. Her body spun around in a panic, but her fear quickly disappeared at the sight of her brother. "Tobias," she was confused, but also relieved.

"Riley," she could sense disbelief in his tone. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Four stood still for a second, but after a moment, he wrapped his arms around her. Riley had been waiting for this moment for years, and now that it was here, she found it hard to believe. "I didn't think I would ever see you again."

"You told me on my choosing day to pick Dauntless," she grinned up at him. "Or to just leave. I left, and I found you."

He smiled back at her, "I didn't think you would leave."

"Neither did I," she stepped back from him. "But I couldn't stay." Four looked down the hall again. Riley had so many questions for him. "Why did you act like you didn't recognize me? Why is your name Four? Why aren't you a lea-"

"Riley," Four silenced her. "You have to get back, but I just wanted to see you. See if you were okay?"

"I'm good," Riley promised him. "For the first time, I'm okay."

"Good and dad was?"

"It was," Riley tried to find the words, but saw the concerned look on his face. "Bearable."

"I'm sorry," he gently placed a hand on the side of her face. "Go back before anyone notices you're gone." Riley gave him a puzzled look. "We can talk more tomorrow, I promise. For now, you have to get back."

"Tobias-"

"Four," he corrects her. "You have to call me Four."

"Why," she throws her hands up, not understanding. 

"Just," he paused, "just trust me."

Riley stared at him, "okay. I trust you." 

"Go, hurry," Four instructed her. 

She blinked once, "okay." With that, she turned on her heel and walking away. Riley got to the end of the hallway and paused. She turned back to look at Four, but to her astonishment, he was gone. Riley pursed her lips and continued back to her room. Her mind full of thoughts, but her heart was happy.