Venus Eaton is desperate to escape the abuse of her previous faction although she is unaware and unprepared of the ordeals of Dauntless initiation. She is a stranger to her own brother until he accuses her of murdering their mother, and finds out th...
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VENUS
THE ROOM sways around me, my vision tunneling until all I see is my name, below the chalk red line.
It can't be. It can't be.
I can't be Factionless. I can't be alone out there, by myself.
"Oh, God... Venus-" Harmonie stammers, and her hand rests on my shoulder. I don't know if she's looking at me, I feel Emily tense up beside me.
"No. It can't be.." Emily's voice is almost a whisper.
My fists clench at my sides. I blink from my daze, and my eyes find Four's. I don't pay attention to everyone staring at me, I don't pay attention to the snort coming from Rhett, I just stomp in Four's direction.
"You asshole!" I hiss, my eyes blazing. I don't care if I'm standing in front of my peers, I couldn't give a shit. Winning Capture the Flag last night should've boosted my score, unless someone found out I cheated... My face drops, but my fists remain clenched. "Those scores aren't right-"
Four's eyebrows furrow, and he grabs my wrist. I yank my hand away although continue to stare into his blue eyes, the darkest I've ever seen them.
"You're dismissed!" He tells everyone else, grabbing my wrist again and yanking my out of the dormitories.
"Venus!" Emily shrieks, and I grit my teeth. I'm not ready to leave this place yet.
Four hauls me down a hallway, down an unused hallway. Once we're out of sight, I glare up at him.
"You fucking idiot!" Is all I say at first, before the anger returns. "Whose decision was this? Yours?"
"You'll understand when your older, Venus." Four growls, crossing his arms over his chest. "Get back to the dormitories and start packing. You're to be out of here before sunset."
He shoves past me, and I stumble backward a couple steps. My fingertips press against my temples, trying to comprehend what's going on.
I'm Factionless. I'm out.
I have to pack my stuff. I have to leave Dauntless.
But somehow, I don't cry yet.
I have to try. I have to try, just one thing.
***
I complete laps around the compound, or at least I think I do. Every single corridor looks the same - illuminated by the same blue lights, the same rock walls, the same water fountains every so often. The railings beneath my feet rattle as I approach the chasm, hearing it smash against the rocks. My fingertips tap against the metal bars, the misty water making my knuckles wet. I breathe in and out.
I have to start packing.
"Venus!"
My body tenses at my name, but relaxes when I realize the voice.
