Aberrant

Forty-Four: Brooke

Today is the Final Stage of training. My final hurdle before I can get into Dauntless. 

We stand in two groups: the Dauntless-born on one side and the Transfers (Me, Sam and Jo) on the other. 

Max mounts a stage. There's a drink in his hand. "Listen up Initiates," he barks, "Today, as you all know, is a very important occasion. And I'm sure you are all excited to begin. But before we start, there's something you all need to know. As you can tell, many initiates are missing, and that's because something happened last night. Three of our best-performing transfers-Dex, Plato and Isaac-decided last night to push their courage to their limits and jump into the Chasm!" 

There's a gasp from the Dauntless-born and I look sideways at Sam and Jo. Max way be a well-trained speaker, but he's no match for those that have been raised in Candor. From birth, we are taught to tell lies from truths, and one look at Sam and Jo, tells me that they aren't convinced. What they do look, however, is puzzled. They were Dex's and Plato's friends and probably can't understand why Dex, let alone Plato, would even jump into the Chasm. 

Max continues, "Lyra and Amy decided that life here at Dauntless wasn't for them and decided to flee," Another gasp, "I am aware that they were in a relationship and probably thought that if one of them got in, the other one wouldn't and so both decided to leave." 

I glance at the Dauntless-born-they are all nodding their heads. Lyra and Amy leaving so they could be together clearly makes sense to them. Sam and Jo, on the other hand, look unsure on whether or not to believe Max. I smile. Max believes Lyra to have fallen into the Chasm. He doesn't realise that he's actually telling the truth. 

"And then there's the matter of Callum," Max says, "Sadly, it appears that he also tried to flee in the night and his body was found by the train tracks this morning." There's another gasp. Max holds up the drink he's holding, "We'll make this quick as there's a lot we need to get on and do today. But: In honour of Callum, Dex, Plato and Isaac! The bravest of the brave!" 

"The bravest of the brave!" The Dauntless chorus, and I force myself to join in. 

"Now!" Max says, after draining his drink, "On with the Final Test. You will be entering the simulation in reverse order of your rankings in the Second-stage! Dauntless-born first! Transfers second!" 

He leads us into a room with three screens. All three are currently blank. Beside the screen is a room where the simulations will take place. 

Max leads us to some chairs and we all sit down in our ranks. With Dex, Plato and Isaac gone, I will be going in last. 

I get myself comfortable and watch as the Dauntless-born file in one-by-one. As each one of their names is called, I try and commit them to memory. After all, I will be working with most of these people-if I make it into Dauntless, that is. Only a few names stick in my mind: Violet, Ollie, Hayley and Makena-there are too many of them to remember. Then it's Sam's turn, then Jo's and then mine. 

I wipe my sweaty hands and get onto my feet as steadily as I can. This is it. The final test. I just have to pass this hurdle and then I will get into Dauntless. 

I remember what Amar told me-I need a fast time, but I need to get out of each simulation the 'Dauntless' way. I smile; it's almost a good thing that Dex isn't here. She would hate having to pretend to be something she's not. 

I take a deep breath and walk into the green room, where Max is waiting. He's holding a needle in his hand-probably the fear serum. I want to glare at him for everything that happened last night. For all the pain he put Dex, Lyra and all of the other Divergents through. But I can't. Because if I do, he'll know that I'm aware of what he's done.