Empty With You

The house was quiet. Not a soul spoke a word. It had been a while since I spent the night in my house alone or even out with Tobias the night before. Today was different, today was the day that we took Aptitude Tests.

I pulled the black shirt of my head, glimpsing the large gash in my left side that was healed but left a horrible scar, then the tattoo on the back of my shoulder. Even the markings on this body weren't made for Candor.

I slipped the white jacket on over my arms and opted for my black boots today instead of heels like every other Candor girl would wear with their skirt or pants. I choose to wear the black pants today and as I looked at myself in the mirror, I rolled my eyes.

"I'll get my ass reemed for the boots," I mumbled and sat down on the edge of the bed to take my boots off. "Until tomorrow, heels, it's just me and you."

I slid the heels on my feet and stood up to give myself one last look before heading downstairs where my family was all sitting around. Sure they didn't have to be there for the tests and my little brother wasn't going til a few more years, but no one said anything.

No good luck, no encouragement or anything. It was just an awkward silence as I gave them all a faint smile and headed out the door.

My feet carried me to the Center in which tons of Faction kids were all pouring into the seats to get their Aptitude Tests done. You could tell which ones would probably still staying in their birth Factions. The peace Amity whom always had a smile on their face and didn't let anyone get to them, the generous Abnegation, helping all those around them; the smart Erudite most of which seemed to have a book with them, the Dauntless...did anyone ever leave Dauntless? I don't know if I've ever heard anyone transfer out of Dauntless but you never knew. And the honest Candor, being ever so open and blunt about everything. The ones who never told a lie, even if it would hurt someone in the long run.

My feet carried me inside to be with my Faction as I seen Eric sitting across the room and I gave him a quick smile and small wave as people started to pour into the rooms.

"Ariana Simms," I heard my name as I looked up and a woman directed me over to hear with a stack of papers in her hands.

I got up from my seat to follow down a hallway lined with doors. She stopped about half way and directed me to the door.

"You're Aptitude Test will take place in here," She pointed at the door. "Good luck and whatever results you get, keep to yourself. Do not talk about what happens in here with anyone."

I nodded as I entered the room to see a chair in the middle of the room and a machine hooked up to wires. The room was also made entirely of mirrors as I looked around then to the woman who was setting up the test. She had brown hair, a few teal, green streaks in her hair, tattoos and piercings.

Dauntless.

"Have a seat," The woman mentioned but didn't turn around to look at me. I knew her. "My name's..."

"Tori," I flashed her a smile as her mouth dropped open. "I know."

"What are you doing here?" Tori whispered harshly.

"I'm taking my aptitude tests," I pointed out. "Like everyone else."

"Of course," She let out a low grumble. "There's a rumour going around that Marcus Eaton gave you a nasty little scar a while back. Is it true?'

I lifted up my shirt a bit to show her the scar. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Wow," Tori leant against the table as she looked at me. "You're quite the survivor to survive that."

"I know," I nodded.

"So, let's see where you place," Tori picked up a needle. "Now you'll feel a prick in your neck but the rest will be a simulation that I'll be able to see what happens and record the results."

"Ok," I nodded as she stuck the needle in my neck with serum and I winced a bit.

"Good luck Ariana," Tori mentioned as my eyes grew heavy.

I woke up in a room, lined with mirrors, much like the room I was placed in but this time I was alone and the lighting was a bit brighter. I checked myself in the mirror and straightened my clothes before turning around and seeing a table with food on one side and a knife on the other side.

"Choose," I heard a voice echo in my head as I looked at the knife and food.

"For what?" I questioned as I heard a growl next to me and then the table was gone.

There sat a dog, growling and baring it's teeth as me as I stood and watched it. I tried to move to the side but it barked and I moved back to the neutral position. He was watching me and if I moved, he was going to pounce take my down.

"Hey boy," I whispered as I crouched down slowly and heard a growl. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The dog slowly moved forward and my heart raced.

"It's ok," I whispered and smiled slightly but didn't look the dog in the eyes and he slowly walked forward. "Come here boy."

The dog slowly approached me as he got closer and the mean demeanor on his face faded and I found the dog's head under my head with his tail wagging.

"You're not so bad, now are you," I petted the dog as he licked my face. "Yeah, you're a good dog."

Then I heard it, the voice of a little girl chime in as the dog's head snapped around and turned towards the girl and lunged after her. The girl started running as the dog chased her.

"No," I sprung to my feet and jumped on top of the dog when the scene in front of me faded.

I was now on a crowded bus, surrounded by people and an article in the paper that read something about a serial killer or stalker on the loose. I looked at the paper when someone stood in front of me, that guy on the paper looked familiar, kinda like the guy at the end of the bus who was sitting there, reading a magazine.

"Do you know him?" The guy in front of me asked and gestured to the paper.

"No," I shook my head as the guy got in my face.

"I know you're lying," He glared at me. "Have you seen this man!?"

"No," I glared back at him. "Get out of my face."

"Oh, we have some attitude, do we?" He questioned as I felt myself bite back anger and was about to respond when like a rush, I was was plunged back into the chair.

"Get up," Tori rushed as she got the wires off me.

"What?" I looked around as I sat up slowly.

"I'll tell them you got sick and went home, but don't say anything about what happened here." She rushed out.

"What? Why?" I gave her a look as she sighed.

"Your tests results were inconclusive," She gave me a look.

"Meaning?" My mind swam as she looked at the computer.

"You tested for more than one Faction," She crossed her arms. "You were barely in for 15 minutes."

"So, isn't that how long these tests go?" I questioned as she shifted in her spot. "And what were my results?"

"You placed in Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless," She gave me a look as I stood up slowly.

"Isn't that normal?" I stretched a bit. "Doesn't everyone-"

"Everyone only tests for one Faction. That's normal, you're different than what they are," She shook her head. "I should've realized it, the second you walked into my tattoo parlor."

"What are you talking about?" I questioned as she stopped what she was doing and made sure no one else could hear her.

"They call it Divergent," She whispered. "Divergent is rare and it's dangerous because you don't fit into one Faction. You break the system."

"I what?" My mind swam as I tried to take it in and she gave me a look.

"Don't tell anyone about happened here," Tori gave me a look. "Tell them, you went home sick."

"But then what Faction do I choose tomorrow?" I questioned as she opened the door.

"It's up to you, but be cautious. If they find out what you are," Tori shook her head. "Don't draw attention to yourself. Be smart about this."

Tori opened the door and I headed out of the tests. There was still so much testing to do but I had the harder decision now. I had to figure out where I was going to stay. What I was going to do. I didn't want to be in Candor nor did I really want to go to Erudite. There was only one other option for me, unless I wanted to hide and be peaceful but where was the fun in that?