![]() The door of each car is open, waiting for the Dauntless to pile in, and they do, group by group, until only the new initiates are left. ![]() The train glides toward us on steel rails, its light flashing, its horn blaring. It is good that I spent so much time watching the Dauntless arrive at school. ![]() “Are we supposed to hop on that thing?” “Yes,” I say, breathless. I follow the Dauntless down the street and around the corner and hear a familiar sound: the train horn. Abnegation discourages anything done strictly for my own enjoyment, and that is what this is: my lungs burning, my muscles aching, the fierce pleasure of a flat-out sprint. The Dauntless sprawl across the street, blocking the path of a bus, and I sprint to catch up to the back of the crowd. It reflects off the black glass of the Hub. Outside, the air is crisp and cold and the sky is orange from the setting sun. I am breathless when we reach the first floor, and the Dauntless burst through the exit. “What the hell is going on?” the boy next to me shouts. It is not a selfless act for the Dauntless to take the stairs it is a wild act. I hear whoops and shouts and laughter all around me, and dozens of thundering feet moving at different rhythms. I thought only the Abnegation used the stairs. What waits for me at Dauntless headquarters? The crowd of Dauntless leading us go to the stairs instead of the elevators. I spent all my time worrying about which faction I would choose and never considered what would happen if I chose Dauntless. I glance at the boy to my left, who was Erudite and now looks as pale and nervous as I should feel. If it’s so easy for him, maybe it should be easy for me, too. The easy smile he wears is an act of betrayal. He stands among the other initiates, shaking hands with a faction transfer, a boy who was Candor. I twist my head around to find Caleb in the crowd of Erudite behind me. They may even stay to stack the chairs and clean the bowls. The people behind me press me forward, away from my family, who will be the last ones to leave. At first, when I feel the heat behind my eyes, I think he’s found a way to set me on fire, to punish me for what I’ve done, but no-I’m about to cry. My father’s eyes burn into mine with a look of accusation. I look over my shoulder at the last second before I pass them, and immediately wish I hadn’t. But I have to see my parents one more time. I walk past the gray-clothed men and women who were my faction, staring determinedly at the back of someone’s head. When the last girl makes her choice-Amity-it’s time to leave. They are all taller than I am, so even when I lift my head, I see only black-clothed shoulders. I train my eyes on the floor and stand behind the Dauntless-born initiates who chose to return to their own faction.
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