fearless

Chapter 12: Rankings and Membership

Chapter 12:

Alex comes racing into the dormitory shouting my name. I stare over at the chalkboard, where it still has my ranking after stage one written in my father's handwriting, even though it's smudged.

8. Maddie

I only made it because my mother talked the leaders into letting me stay. They pitied me because of the kidnapping. If I hadn't have been kidnapped, I don't know. My rank might've been better, it might've been worse; I'd be out. I also think that part of my final ranking has to do with my parents, but I don't know.

By now, Alex is sitting beside me. I'm the only person here; everyone else went to the Pit to hang out with their friends before the banquet. "Maddie," he whispers, and I look over at him. "How did it go?"

I shake my head, feeling my eyes burning from crying. They're undoubtedly red and swollen, but right now, I really don't care. I look over at the board once more and frown. "Alex, you need to leave. You're going to get in trouble for being here." I wipe my eyes, then rub my hands on my jeans.

"Oh yeah?" He says, "Well, if I leave, you're coming with me. We're going to the apartment." He says, then pulls me up to stand. I just follow him, and he opens the squeaky wooden door. I follow him out, shuffling my feet over the dark paths that are especially rocky in this part of the compound.

Soon, we're in front of my parents' apartment and I sigh. Alex knocks, and my father opens the door quickly. He pulls both of us inside, and hugs me once he shuts the door.

"How was it?" He asks me once he pulls away. I shake my head, turning away from him. I had a fear of not being able to shoot my family because of my divergence. Fucking divergence, what a bitch. What the fuck is wrong is wrong with me? Soon, my mind takes over, and my thoughts start turning against me. "Maddie, Please. Tell me how it went."

My father sounds serious, so I turn around. "What do you want to know?" I ask him. He shrugs. "Well, I'll tell you. Your daughter is screwed because she has a fear of shooting her family because she wouldn't be considered a true Dauntless if she didn't!" I run a hand down my face.

"What was it?" He asks me, then pulls me with him to sit down on the couch. I'm breaking so many rules right now, just by being in this apartment. I'm an initiate—I'm not allowed to be near the apartments, much less inside them.

"I was in the Pit, surrounded by all of the Dauntless. It was weird. I was standing by the other initiates on the higher ledge, and Jeanine called me out in front of all the Dauntless and asked me to shoot you guys for my final test." I say, my eyes wide. I curl my knees into my chest and bury my face into them.

"Well," my father says. "It's eight fifteen. You should be headed down to the Dining Hall for the banquet. I've gotta go help reveal the rankings with Zeke, but you'll be fine."

I shake my head, burying my face back into my knees. "I can't do it. I've never been able to do it." I say, and my father rolls his eyes before pulling me to stand. I'm still a little bit shorter than him, so I look up at him.

"Let's go." He says, then pulls me with him out the door. I sigh, but follow him, knowing that I need to see that ranking.

>>

I arrive in the Dining Hall and am instantly surrounded by my friends. Ashton and Ariana pull me with them to a higher level of the Dining Hall, near Ashton's brother and his friends. The entire faction always comes to the rankings banquet. It's sort of like a annual ceremonial thing.