Aberrant

Twenty-Eight: Brooke

The next day is Visiting Day and I'm not given much of an opportunity to contemplate what the Erudite would want with Dauntless. 

"Remember," Amar says, as he wakes us up for the day, "Some of your family members will be coming. Yes, this is a day of excitement for those of you. And yes, this is the only time of year you're ever allowed to see your family." He pauses to let this sink in, "But remember that here, at Dauntless, we believe in Faction before Blood. You are Dauntless now. Don't disgrace yourselves."

He surveys us all and we all nod. It's not as if my father and Clara will visit anyway. 

"Alright," says Amar, "Follow me." Amar leads us through some corridors and into the floor of the Pit, where a mass of adults in different colours are gathered. Most are dressed in black, as the Dauntless-born re-unite with their family, but I also see some people dressed in blue as well as black and white. I suppose there's been a lot of Erudite and Candor transfers over the years. 

As we head into the Pit, I see a tall man dressed in blue come forward and clasp Isaac's arm. Isaac smirks and the man leads him away. I note that his eyes are the same as Isaac's and I briefly recognise him from when the Erudite representatives paid my father a visits in the past. He wasn't lying then, when he said that his father was Carl Zylons. 

To the side, I see a crowd of Amity greet April. Two dads, and older girl, a baby, plus a blond-haired guy in a wheelchair have all come to pay her a visit. I smile, glad that she's happy. But then I feel a stab of envy as I watch her family all crowd round her to give her a hug. I briefly scan the crowd for my father and Clara but it's as I suspected; they didn't come. And why would they? I humiliated my father and upset my sister by choosing Dauntless. Coming to see me would mean lying to themselves about their feelings. And no Candor would do that. 

I knew what I was doing when I chose Dauntless, but it never hit me until now just how truly isolated I am from my family. I almost regret choosing Dauntless and not staying home instead, but I remind myself that it was literally a life-or-death choice. I sigh, and, feeling tears welling in my eyes, turn to leave the Pit. 

Suddenly, a hand reaches out and grabs my arm in an iron hold. I look up, hopefully, foolishly thinking that my father or Clara might have done the unexpected and come to visit. But my hopes are dashed when looking up, I see the all too familiar piercing blue eyes. It's Carl Zylons who's grabbed me. Like father. Like son. 

"You're Brooke Kang, I take it," he says, matter-of-factly. A statement not a question. I nod my head mutely, and he smirks. I'm startled to see that Isaac's smirk is mirrored on his face. "Isaac's been telling me all about you."

"Has he?" I ask, trying to sound casual, while attempting to extricate my arm from his. 

"Indeed," he says, coldly, his eyes raking me up and down. Apparently, he doesn't seem to find what he's searching for, and he frowns slightly. Then he releases me, and I almost lose my balance falling over backwards. "Well see you around, girl," he says, waving his hand and dismissing me, "I have some business to settle with Isaac." And he turns back to his son, who's been standing behind him and watching. 

I take a deep breath and do my best not to rush out of the hall. As I try to brush the tears that are threatening to fall out of my eyes, I accidently knock into Amy, who's accompanied by an Abnegation man. 

She glares at me, but the man, presumably her father, apologises. Everyone seems to have a family member who's come to visit. Except for me. I shove past them and head into the Cafeteria to get some lunch. 

Scanning the tables, which are packed full of Dauntless families eating together, I spot Edgar and make my way towards him. 

"Your dad didn't come?" he asks, as I sit down and begin to pile food onto my plate. I just shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. "Neither," he says sadly. There's a pause, before Edgar says again, "But your dad is the Candor representative. He was probably busy."