The sound of pots and pans being hit together makes me jolt awake. Four stands near the doorway to the dormitory with Eric standing on his left.

"Rise and shine, initiates," Eric's voice booms. "We are going on a field trip. Everyone needs to be on the train in thirty minutes."

I wipe my eyes and then focus them back on Eric, making eye contact in the process. His mouth turns up at the corner briefly before he looks away and exits the room. Four follows after him.

I throw the covers off and stretch before getting up. I stand up and straighten my bed up before going through the trunk at the end of my bed for some clothes. I grab a black sweater and pull it on over my black tank top. I reach for a black pair of jeans and a pair of socks. I slip into my jeans before sitting on my bed to put my socks and boots on.

"I'm ready," I say, standing up and facing Tera.

She is bent over, lacing up her boot laces. She stands and says, "Ready."

We make our way through the halls and to the train tracks. Four and Eric are already waiting when we get there.

"I'm glad I put a sweater on," I say, rubbing my arms. Despite it being early September, it is kind of chilly this morning.

"What happened yesterday?" Tera says, her voice low. "You freaked out and ran off."

"It was nothing." I drop my head and focus on my boots.

"Come on--" She rests her hand on my shoulder, a look of concern on her face-- "it wouldn't have affected you if it were nothing."

"I'm, uh, not ready to talk about it."

"Okay, I understand." She drops her hand. "When you're ready, I'm here."

"Thank you," I say, managing a small smile.

The sound of footsteps breaks my attention away from her and I glance behind me. Finn and Oliver walk this way. Finn's face breaks out in a grin when he sees us.

"My girls." He pulls us in for a group hug and I smile.

"Hey, Finn," I say. "Hey, Oliver."

He waves and shoves his hands in his pockets. Oliver does not really talk much, which is odd, considering he came from Candor.

"Where do you think we're going?" Tera's question is directed at Finn.

Finn and Tera seem to have gotten closer while I was staying with Eric. I mean, they were close before, but it is different now. I've noticed the looks and smiles they share when they think no one is looking. I would not be surprised if they make it official before the end of initiation, that is if they haven't already done so.

"I think we're touring the fence," he says with a shrug. "That's what I heard anyway."

The conversation ceases because the sound of the train roaring closer distracts them. Eric and Four start to jog, and the rest of us do the same. The train zips past, and I throw myself on the train. I use the handle to pull myself in and lean against the wall of the cart to try and catch my breath. Tera, Finn, and Oliver pile in after me, each giving me a look of concern.

"Are you okay?" Tera says, stepping forward and analyzing my facial expression.

I nod and straighten up. "Just a little harder to do, is all."

The feeling of being watched gives me goosebumps. I glance up and lock eyes with Reid, who is currently glaring daggers at me. On the floor next to him is Thomas, who is focused on his boots. Their ringleader is nowhere to be found. I raise a brow before turning my attention back to my friends, not letting his presence bother me. They would not dare try anything with this many witnesses around, let alone Eric.

The sound of panting distracts me from the two across the cart. I glance out of the doorway, suddenly wishing I hadn't. Jillian runs alongside the train cart, struggling to catch up to it enough to pull herself in. I sigh and grab hold of the handle before leaning out to take her hand. A look of surprise flashes across her face before she takes my hand and allows me to pull her in. Once inside, she brushes her pants off and mutters a 'thanks' before taking a seat next to her followers.

It was not long before Four announced that we were at our stop. Him and Eric leap out of the train, and the rest of us follow after them. We are near the fence, meaning Finn was right. The top of the fence is covered in barbed wire, and along the wall are armed guards.

"Some of you will end up working as a fence guard after initiation is over," Four says. "Lower ranked initiates usually end up here. If not here, then they end up working in the kitchen, daycare, or the infirmary."

"Those who rank higher get to choose their job first," Eric says. "The top three will be considered for a position in leadership, or something close to it. Ultimately, it is your choice as to what you job you get."

Shortly after arriving to the fence, we are catching the train again to head back to Dauntless.

"Stage two of training begins tomorrow at eight," Four says. "We'll meet in the dining hall before heading to the simulation room."

***

"I'm nervous," Tera says, from her seat on my right.

"For what?" Raiden says, from his seat on my left.

"What do you think?" She runs a hand through her hair and sighs.

"It won't be so bad," he says.

"A girl just came out of there sobbing," Tera snaps.

"Well, this is the emotional stage of training," he says with a grin.

She rolls her eyes and leans back in her chair, her leg bouncing. "That wasn't funny."

"I thought it was."

Their conversation ends when Four peeks his head around the door and calls for Raiden.

"Wish me luck," he says, standing up and walking toward Four.

"Good luck," I say, shifting in this uncomfortable chair.

We've been in the simulation waiting room for a while now, and only a few people have gone in and out.

"Tera," Eric's voice calls.

"I'm so lucky," she mutters. "I get Mr. Grouchy Pants."

I chuckle and wish her good luck. She walks toward the door and glances at me before closing it behind her. I glance at the clock on the wall and take note of the time. 10:14.

Shortly after Tera went in, Raiden exits the room and Four calls another Dauntless born in.

"Was it that bad?" I ask.

He glances up at me, his face pale and his eyes wide. "I'm not supposed to say anything."

"Okay," I say, "see you at lunch."

He nods and exits the room, more stiff than I have ever seen him.

About twenty minutes later, Tera comes out of the room, her face red and tear streaked. She exits the waiting room with her head down and without a word to me.

"Marnie," Eric's voice booms.

A tall blonde stands up and I realize she was on my team for capture the flag. She notices me looking and she tries to manage a small smile, which looks more like a grimace.

The door closes behind her and I glance around. I am the last transfer waiting in here, which is odd. I should have gone before Marnie, because everyone else has already gone.

I shift in my seat and lean my head against the wall. I figure I'm going to be the last name Eric calls, so I might as well get comfortable.

***

"Rori," Eric calls.

Finally. I stand up and stretch my arms above my head, my back popping in the process. I shut the simulation room door behind me and take a seat in the chair that resembles the one from the aptitude test room.

"Sorry," Eric says from his seat behind the computer screen, "I must have skipped over your name on accident."

"I bet you did." I shift in the seat and focus on the ceiling, trying to calm my nerves. "You just wanted me to be the last one so it wouldn't be suspicious for me to be in here for a while."

I glance over at Eric, smirking at the pink that spreads across his cheeks. I knew it.

He clears his throat. "Okay, this serum I'm going to inject you with is going to stimulate the part of your brain that deals with fear."

"Most people have ten to fifteen fears," he continues, "but you're only going to go through one right now."

"Right now?" I say. "You mean we have to keep doing this?"

"You have to face your fears so you can overcome them," he says. "So to answer your question, yes. Typically, the first fear initiates go through isn't their worst fear, but it could be."

He messes with the needle and walks toward me. "The transmitters in the serum will allow me to see what's happening in your landscape."

Great, he gets to see my worst fears.

"Ready?" he says.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I take a deep breath and close my eyes as the needle pierces my neck. I grimace and open my eyes.

"Keep your breathing and your heart rate steady," he says. "Deal with the obstacle in front of you."

My eyes start getting droopy, and the last thing I hear before going under Eric saying, "Good luck."

***

It's dark and I hear the sound of running water. I stand up and brush my pants off, my heart thumping. The faint echo of cackling makes the hair on my arms stand. The noise stops and I hear footsteps behind me.

I turn around and a blow to my cheek knocks me to the ground. I blink a couple times but my vision is too disoriented to figure out who it who punched me.

"That's cowardly, don't you think?" I stand up and wipe the blood from my mouth. "Punching when I'm not expecting it."

My vision clears and I see three figures standing in front of me, but they're wearing masks.

"Maybe," a female voice says. "But if it bumps you down a few ranks, I'm all for it."

"You guys are going to get busted for this," I say, my heart beating out of my chest. "You'll become Factionless, unless they execute you."

"There aren't cameras in here," a different voice says. "Lots of people have jumped in the chasm, so nobody would think anything of it if you did the same."

"My friends would," I say. "I wouldn't jump in there willingly."

"Guess we'll find out."

They charge at me and I bolt toward the door, but a hand grabs my arm and yanks me down. The smaller figure hovers over me while the other two pin my arms down.

"Eric's not here to stop me now," the smaller figure says.

My eyes widen as I realize who it is. It is Jillian, because Eric pinned her after she slapped me.

"Jillian."

"We have a winner," she snarls. "You were obviously not Erudite."

The other two cackle. Jillian raises her first and punches my jaw. My head snaps to the side and my ears start ringing.

I scream, but a hand slaps over my mouth. Do something, a voice whispers. I bring my knees forward and kick Jillian in the mouth. She falls off me, clutching her mouth.

The bigger guy climbs on top of me and starts throwing punches. I dodge a punch and his hand collides with the concrete floor. He winces and I push him off me. I lunge at him, throwing punches left and right until he stops struggling. He is unconscious. I grab his mask and throw it off. Reid. I should have known.

I stand up and wipe Reid's blood off my hands. I sigh and throw my head back, tears welling up in my eyes.

***

I sit straight up in the chair, my lungs begging for air. I close my eyes and tuck my hands under my legs to hide their shakiness.

"Here," Eric says, his voice low.

I open my eyes and take the glass of water from his hands. I take a sip and mutter a thank you.

"So, you're afraid of them?"

"Not them," I say, my voice low and hoarse. "What they did. They could have killed me, and nobody would have known it. I think it was also being overpowered and not being able to defend myself."

"I would have known it," he says, his voice just as low as mine, even though we are alone.

"You wouldn't have been able to do anything about it," I say, my eyes locking onto his. "You wouldn't have had any proof."

He breaks eye contact, a sign that he knows I am right. "Let's get to the dining hall. We have to be back here after lunch."

"Great," I mutter, "I am ecstatic."

A/N: Hey, initiates! Thanks for reading! I hope you guys liked this chapter, and if you did, please vote and comment!