Until Death Do Us Apart ➪ 𝔼𝕣𝕚𝕔 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕣

Chapter One: The Choosing

Iopened my eyes to find myself alone.

"Hello?" I called out, but there was no answer. I pulled myself out of the uncomfortable metal chair.

The room was eerily silent, except for the loud buzzing filling the air.

I stopped in the middle of the room, staring at my reflection.

I looked down, then back up—and I saw myself standing in a glass box, with no way out.

"What the?" I muttered, panic rising in my chest. I searched around the box, but there was nothing to grab onto. My feet started to feel submerged. I looked down to see the water rising, quickly filling up the box.

I scrambled, trying to stop it. But the water kept rising, and soon I was fully submerged. I kicked and hit the glass, but it barely budged. I hit it again—harder this time—and it cracked. One more hit, and the glass shattered, sending a rush of water around me.

I gasped as I woke up, heart pounding.

"Get up," someone said, grabbing my arm.

"Wait, what was my result?" I asked, still disoriented. The woman looked at me, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Abnegation," she said softly. I felt my heart drop. "And Erudite... and Dauntless," she added, her voice trailing off.

"That's... that's impossible," I whispered. "I can't be divergent. This test was supposed to tell me what faction to choose."

"The test didn't work on you," she said bluntly, pushing me toward the door. "Go home and tell no one about this."

The door slammed behind me, and I stood there for a moment, completely frozen. I slowly walked away, my thoughts a whirlpool of confusion.

I walked into the Choosing Ceremony, the seats divided by faction. I quietly sat down and nervously fiddled with my fingers, waiting for my name to be called.

"Welcome," a lady announced, her voice clear and authoritative. She was from Erudite, her blue attire standing out. "Let's start, shall we?"

Name after name was called, and mine still hadn't come up.

"Jordan Brown!" Marcus called, the leader of Abnegation.

I stood up slowly, hearing my parents' soft encouragement behind me.

"Good luck, honey. We love you no matter what," my mom said with a smile.

"Love you too," I muttered, trying to keep my nerves in check. I made my way to the front, my feet heavy with each step.

She handed me a knife, and I winced at the pain as I cut my skin. My blood dripped down and hovered over the stones, but at the last second, I switched my hand to the coals.

"DAUNTLESS!" Marcus yelled, his voice echoing. The cheers from the Dauntless-born initiates were deafening, and I could barely hear the gasps from my old faction.

A Dauntless-born stood up, giving me his seat with a friendly pat on the back. I smiled weakly, realizing it was official. I was Dauntless now.

Everyone stood up to join their new faction. I didn't dare look at my parents. I was too afraid to see the disappointment in their faces. We all rushed out of the building, making our way toward the train station.

I can't believe I'm really doing this, I thought to myself as I climbed up to the station.

I watched the train speed past us, the Dauntless-born initiates ahead of me already making their move.