Chapter 5

THE CHOOSING CEREMONY!  Where every sixteen year old chooses what faction they devote their life to.  Abnegation hosts this year's ceremony in the Hub.  Before Beatrice and Caleb go to sit with the other teens they're father and mother each say something to them.

My father kisses my forehead and claps Caleb on the shoulder, grinning.  "See you soon."

Before my mother pulls away, she turns her head and whispers in my ear, "I love you.  No matter what."

Her father has no doubt in his mind that his kids are going to join Abnegation, but their mother obviously knows about Beatrice's internal struggle.  Mother's intuition.  

I think the Choosing Ceremony would be fun to watch, as long as I wasn't the one who had to do the choosing.  In the center of the stage each teen takes a knife and cuts their hand dripping the blood in a bowl filled with an item that represents each faction.  Lit coals for Dauntless, glass for Candor, soil for Amity, water for Erudite, and gray stones for Abnegation.  Caleb chooses before Beatrice.  AND SHOCKS EVERYONE!!  He chooses Erudite!  Beatrice is shocked that her selfless (and seemingly perfect) brother goes to the faction Abnegation hates.  Then it's Beatrice's turn to choose her faction.  She has narrowed it down to two choices: Dauntless or Abnegation.  Beatrice now has two choices, she can leave her parents childless and go to Dauntless or she could stay in Abnegation. While she is accepting the knife from Marcus, Caleb nods to her, signaling he wants her to join Abnegation.  But Beatrice can't help thinking that if Caleb isn't fit for Abnegation, how could she?

With a gasp I can't contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals.  I am selfish.  I am brave.