Chapter two: the aptitude test!
Chapter two!
My eyes fluttered open, and landed on the ceiling. Today is the aptitude tests in school. I'm basing my decision on whether I stay in Candor, or whether I transfer to Dauntless on the results of this test. I am so nervous that the nerves are taking over my body. I tried to push my feelings aside.
I yawned as I dragged myself out of bed.
I did the usual morning routine. I washed my body, then my face. I walked to my dresser, and picked out a white tank-top, and a black shall over it with a black pencil skirt. Then I applied my eye-liner, and for the occasion some red lipstick.
I walked down the stairs. I hugged Mom, then Dad, and last but not least Rose. I started my walk to school. I played in my mind the things that could happen! I pictured myself staying in Candor marrying someone, and having honest kids. Then I imagined myself transferring to Dauntless. I pictured myself marrying someone brave. I pictured us fighting the evil together. I pictured our kids growing up to be brave. Both are great choices, but the question remains, Dauntless or Candor? and the answer, I'll find out later.
I arrived at school. I took a deep breath. everything will be okay! I thought, trying to relax myself, but even I can't relax myself when I'm under such pressure. I saw Sophie, and she waved me over. I shook her already shaking hand-the Candor greeting-twice. We just stood there I could feel her heart beating. she's just as nervous as I am. I thought.
"The aptitude tests are starting soon, lets go to the waiting room." I offered. She smiled at me.
"Lets go, but first I got you something." She said, then held up a necklace it was a black shark tooth attached to a black string. It's beautiful.
"Thank you." I said then turned around. "Can you put it on around my neck?" I asked Sophie. She smiled at me with tears in her beautiful blue eyes. Her black wavy,curly hair falling in front of her pale shoulders. I turned facing my back to her. She tied the necklace around my neck. I shook her arm twice.
"You look beautiful!" She sobbed. Even when she sobbed she still looked beautiful. I took her hand, and smiled with tears in my own eyes. "Lets go!" She said. We walked together hand-in-hand to the waiting room.
I looked around the room. I saw the Erudite talking about politics, and arguing over something they read in some book or news-paper. The Amity were playing some kind of hand slapping games which contained some kind of song with a catchy rhythm, and obviously the abnegation did not talk at all, they just sat there, because they're Abnegation they do nothing fun blah...blah....blah!
"Christina Johnson!" a volunteer from Abnegation called out. I took a deep breath, I stood up, and walked to the lady. She motioned me into a room covered in mirrors. The lady told me to take the seat that stood in the middle of the room. She started to put something on my forehead. I noticed that she was pretty. She had honey color hazel eyes. It's a shame that she has to hide her beauty in Abnegation.
"You are very pretty!" I blurted out. The Abnegation volunteer blushed. "You should not feel ashamed for being beautiful." I told her.
"Thank you." She spoke in her quiet Abnegation whisper.
She handed me some kind of clear liquid, and I drank it without hesitation.
"Good luck!" were the last words I heard before my mind shut close and my brain took me somewhere.
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I was in the school cafeteria on one of tables were two baskets. One contained cheese, and the other contained a knife. I heard a voice.
"Choose!" The voice called out. I did the most rational thing I took the knife. You can never know what can happen. The table with the baskets disappeared. I now stood in the middle of the cafeteria alone...no wait! not alone... a big dog came in the cafeteria. The dog was growling at me. It looked dangerous. I remembered my dog...Chuker!I had him when I was a kid he was a bulldog. I remember how he liked it when I would rub his head. I pushed the scary thoughts about the dog from my head. I stepped towards the dog only inches away from the dog. I stared into it's big black eyes, as I pet his head he growled at my touch. I was afraid that I made a mistake, when the dog licked me. I giggled.
The dog was licking my hand when I saw a little girl running to the dog.
"Puppy!" She cried with joy. The dog looked like it was about to bite her head off. I immediately killed the dog. The scenario changed. I was walking home, when a Dauntless soldier stopped me.
"What's your mothers name?" The soldier barked at me in a husky voice. I could tell from the sound of his voice, that if I told the truth something bad will happen to my mother.
"Veronica." I spoke with my casual voice as I lied to the soldier. Suddenly the soldier disappeared, and I was back in the chair again. My eyes fluttered open.
"The test is over!" The Abnegation whispered. I waited for her to tell me the result...to tell me the future! "The results were Dauntless." She muttered. I felt a bit relieved, but also devastated.
"How did I get Dauntless?" I blurted out.
"Well...at first you picked the knife which ruled out Amity, and Erudite. Then you stood up to the dog which encouraged Dauntless. Then you killed the dog which ruled out Abnegation, and also encouraged Dauntless. Then when you lied to the man about your mothers name it ruled out Candor. Which left Dauntless." She explained. I got up, and headed out the door. I thanked the Abnegation volunteer as I left.
I saw Sophie rising to get up as the called her name. I tried to look calm. I did not want to give anything away. She smiled at me one last time before she walked into the test room. The last day of school ended very quickly. I looked back one last time at the school one last time. Good-bye forever! I thought as I headed home.
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I arrived at the door to my house, and paused. I did not know until two and half hours ago what I was going to do, but now that I do know I have to make every moment count! I can't tell my parents they will be devastated. I took a breath, before opening the door.
"Mom I'm home!" I yell.
"In the kitchen!" Mom replied. I walked into the kitchen.
"Surprise!" My family shouted. I smiled. They were all standing up behind the counter that had a cake on it. It was a vanilla cake with whit frosting on it. It says Good-luck we love you! on the cake. Tears started to fill my eyes. My mother shook my hand twice, followed by my father, then my sister Rose.
"How was the test?" My mother questioned while cutting the cake.
"You know were not allowed to tell." I teased. She smiled. Only if she knew the truth. I sighed. I ate my cake quickly, then I ate dinner the last taste of home! I thought. My parents let me go straight to my room to let me think. I know what I'm going to do. I am brave! I am Dauntless.
I did my usual night routine, except this time I did slowly, soaking up every moment. I walked to my dresser, and put on my favorite pajama dress. I climbed into bed, and snuggled into my blanket. I fell asleep.
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I dreamed a dream of life as a Dauntless. I pictured myself leaping off the train as I see the Dauntless do every morning. I pictured me getting a tattoo. I can't wait to be Dauntless. Then suddenly I pictured the tears in my parents eyes as I pour my blood on to the coals. I see the disapproving look my sister will give me. I myself start to cry.
"I'm sorry!" I shout to them.
I rose awake with a panic attack. I started to silently cry. The pain hurt me. I let out a small sob. My mother appeared in my room moments later.
"Are you okay?" She asks. wrapping her arms around me.
"Yeah it was just a nightmare." I reassured her, wiping the tears off my face, and out of my eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked me. I shook my head.
"I know exactly how you feel I also had a bunch of nightmares before my choosing ceremony. I had a nightmare of choosing Erudite. I pictured myself in the most boring place. I was going crazy!" My mother said, I laughed. I lied down as she continued telling me stories. I fell asleep, again! this time I dreamed of a happy dream. I dreamed that I chose Dauntless, and saw my parents smiling, with understatement in there eyes. I saw Rose waving at me one last time before I left with the other Dauntless. I smiled back. I pictured visiting day. I saw my mother, and my father, and Rose all waiting to greet me. I see myself running into their arms. I saw myself passing initiation, and falling in-love. This dream told me what I already knew. I'm going to choose Dauntless, and I am going to pass initiation. I will smile at a person that I love. I promise myself!