Divergent Fan-Fic: Liz Aldridge

One Choice

"This is it," I muter to myself as I walk into the Choosing Ceremony. I am wearing a black and white striped T-shirt, black skirt, white flats, and black earrings. My hair is tied in a ponytail with a white bobble. I sit amongst the other Candor in the room. Since my surname begins with A, I will be one of, if not, the last person to choose my faction.
I take my seat with my parents, and on the stage stands one of the Abnegation leaders. I recognise him. Everyone knows that he is Marcus Eaton. He makes a big speech about how the factions formed, what we all blamed in life, and all that. They say this EVERY year. Then he starts calling names, and one by one, each 16 year old takes to the stage. He offers them a knife, as they slit their wrist, and let their blood drop into one of the bowls.
One advantage of having a surname that begins with A is that I get longer to make my decision. But I don't know what my decision is. That's the hard truth I am having to face right now.

+++

"Elizabeth Aldridge."
I am the second to last person to choose. But for now, all eyes are on me.
As I walk up, I look over at my birth faction, Candor, then at Dauntless, then at Abnegation. The three factions I received as a result.
Marcus offers me the knife, which I take. I walk over to the bowls before slitting my wrist. I don't want to forget about myself, so I don't bother to look at the Abnegation bowl. I'm too deceitful for Candor, so I now which bowl to let my blood fall into. I slit my wrist and let me blood fall, and watch as it sizzles on the coals.
"Dauntless."
The Dauntless roar in approval, and shout my name. I smile and walk over to them, and some pat me on my back, and some embrace me into a friendly hug.
Now I finally feel like I belong somewhere.
I know who I am now.
Brave. Strong. Daring.
Dauntless.

+++

The Dauntless are the first to exit. We take the steps. I'm not used to taking the steps though. The Abnegation always offer us their place in the lift and take the stairs. But then the Dauntless begin to run. They're screaming, and shouting in joy, blocking the buses in the streets. They're used to the feeling of freedom. And it feels great! I run with them, until we reach the train tracks. We're gonna jump in?
Bring it!
The Dauntless climb up to the rails, waiting for the train to pass by. They're used to jumping on and off moving trains; it proves their bravery. And as the train passes, the doors are already open. The Dauntless begin jumping in, one by one. I run along for a few seconds, then take a big leap onto the train. Only just made it too. Thank God.

+++

The train is seven stories high, as the doors slide open again. The Dauntless take a step back, then run forward and jump out onto a roof. Another bravery test for them. I do the same a few seconds after. It feels great with all this excitement. I feel free!
"Listen up!" I hear a voice booming over all of us. We walk over to the edge where a man stands. "My name is Eric. I am one of your new leaders. In order to enter the Dauntless Headquarters, you will need to jump from this roof, down there into the hole." He points down and we all look.
That's a long way down.
"But as always, someone will have to make the first jump."
Everyone looks at each other. No one knows who will make it.
"Me," someone says. We all turn around to the voice.
An Abnegation person wants to jump first?!
Now I see why she left them. She wants freedom.
And I don't blame her.
The Abnegation girl jumps first, and after a minute of waiting, we hear someone shout, "First jumper: Tris!"
Then the rest of us start to jump. I would've gone second if it weren't for this other Candor guy who transferred. So I jump third.
I come out from the net, when Eric holds me up. "I recognise you from that other week," he says. "Elizabeth, is it?"
I turn towards him. "Yes." But Elizabeth doesn't feel right now that I'm in Dauntless.
"Maybe you should change your name now," Eric says. "Think about it."
I know what he means. A new life in a new faction. So why not take a new name?
I look at him and say, "Liz."
"Liz," he repeats. "Welcome to Dauntless, Liz Aldridge."