As soon as I've made my choice, the crowd of Dauntless dressed in black makes a break for the stairwell. Oh Allah, not again. I almost look over my shoulder for my family before remembering they're not here... they're at home, probably enjoying one another's company without me. I don't have any time to get stuck in my head as the Dauntless run down the stairs nearly as fast as I sprint.

I am once again so thankful David pushed my limits, I hope I can thank him soon... somehow. The sound of boots on pavement echoes through the stairwell as the doors are thrown open, I'm practically pushed out of the door and hardly keep my balance.

I just barely catch myself before scrambling up with the help of Beatrice, she doesn't offer a smile so I don't give her one either. My heart beats in my ears as I know what's next. I've seen Dauntless students do it before when I would leave the school for the day... They climb the supports that hold up the train and jump on.

Luckily David prepared me... but we never got to do it on a real train. Only running and jumping sideways. I'm brought back to what's going on by an Erudite, I scowl at the back of the boy's head. The urge to curse at him rises in my throat, but I ignore it and keep running. I wipe the sweat from my palms and climb as quickly as I can manage with all the noise.

The train is coming, quickly. I watch some of the older members and copy them as best as I can. I throw myself toward the train door and manage to grab the handle. But the wind tosses me back and I yelp, if I fail now I'm factionless again, with all of my strength I curl around and stick a foot inside the car. Someone helps me and I'm not sure who until I glance up to see a Candor girl.

"You're welcome." Her tone isn't angry, just blunt.

"Thanks," I grunt and wipe the dust from my face and sit down against the wall.

She offers me a smile from beside Beatrice, "I'm Christina!"

"Rita," I point to my chest. She nods and nudges Beatrice. "Oh, we've met already."

"What's it like being Factionless?" Christina asks, curiosity dripping in her voice. I know she means well but I'm not comfortable answering with all these people around.

I just shrug my shoulders before turning to put my face in the window. Now that everyone's on the train, everything is quiet. The only sound is the train on the tracks. The wind is a bit loud but that's normal.

There's an Erudite sitting beside me, very well the same one who bumped into me. I feel for loose spots in my hijab and tighten it where it's needed. My headcap will keep my hair covered even without the scarf but my mother has preached looking presentable even if I'm only presenting to myself.

"You're different than I expected," Says the brown-haired boy sitting beside me. I don't respond as I watch the buildings pass by, "My name's Russ," He sighs, "you don't talk much, do you?"

"Not to assholes like you." I lean so I'm facing away from the Erudite.

Russ scoffs, "Asshole? You don't even know me!" He refutes and I can practically hear the smirk on his face.

I turn so he can see my face, "Know me now?" My voice is cold, I remember how many times he'd say statistics about the factionless at me when I entered the school building, it's why I began going earlier. "That's what I thought, Russell." I cross my arms over my chest and look outside.

"I only did that to look cool, you know." I ignored him once again.

—

"They're jumping off!" A boy who is hanging halfway out of the train car shouts. I've been standing for a little while now so I push my head out the door without thinking and am nearly pulled out by the wind. Russell grabs my shoulders and pulls me back inside. I try not to glare at him for touching me because he saved my life. I just turn my head and lean on the wall to look outside.

He's right, the train rounds a bend and I can see faction members jumping onto a building. But there's a gap, it's at least as wide as I am tall... shit. Who knew the height would get to me now?

"We have to jump off too, then," A girl from Candor states.

Another Candor stands beside her, "Great, because that makes perfect sense, Molly. Leap off of a train onto a roof."

"Do you really think the Dauntless run on common sense?" I pipe up and all eyes are on me, the outsider.

"What would you know about factions?" He asks, eyebrows lifted with expectation.

I shrug, "That we have to jump off the train or we'll all be factionless." He wasn't expecting that answer, I struggle to suppress my smirk as I turn away from him.

"I'm not doing it," A kid in red and yellow clothing–Amity clothing–says, I can practically smell the sweat coming off of him. He clenches and unclenches his hands nervously. Well, I can't say I don't agree it's reckless and terrifying to jump off of a moving train... but it's this or fail.

"You've got to," Christina consoles, "Or you fail. Come on, it'll be alright."

When she reaches out for him, he pulls away, "No it won't! I'd rather be factionless than dead!" I tilt my head, I doubt he'll be saying that once he is factionless.

Beatrice pulls Christina back, "You can't force him," I agree with her on this one. They clasp their hands together, and Christina offers me her empty one.

"Listen, I can't do it on my own unless someone makes me."

I nod at her and tighten my backpack again before taking her hand. "On three?" I ask and we all nod.

"One," Beatrice says.

"Two." That's Christina.

I take a deep breath, "Three."

We run and jump... and for a moment, I feel empty, so light, like I'm floating. Then David's instructions hit me like a truck. I spun when I jumped so I could land by rolling, I grab my backpack straps, forming an X over my chest, and force a fetal position. And before I know it, I'm colliding with the gravel on the roof, I roll two, three times before laying on the roof for a moment.

Then I'm pushing myself up off the ground and running toward a shrill scream, over the edge of the roof is a body... dead. Someone didn't make it.

A boy consoles the crying girl, "Rita, Rita calm down–" Despite someone dying, the weirdest thing about this is her having the same first name as me. I can't help the pained expression on my face, I can't imagine losing a loved one.

—

I stare at the hole, it's dark and deep. But I know what is at the bottom, a net will catch me... but I can't help the pit growing in my stomach at the thought of jumping. I shake the thought, David told me to be the first jumper, I have to be.

Max, the Dauntless leader doesn't answer any questions but I'm fine with that. David assured me I'd be fine jumping... David wouldn't lie to me... he wouldn't.

And so I make my way to the front and stand on the ledge. He said to fall on my back so I don't get hurt. I follow his instructions despite my inner monologue and the other initiates mumbling under their breath. I take a deep breath and tighten my hijab. I got this... I hold my eyes open as I mimic my position when I jumped from the train, my arms hold my backpack in place as I jump forward so I drop on my back.

The wind whips past my ears and I feel my scarf coming loose, I try not to worry about it as I watch the sky become as small as a pebble. I watch as the black of my hijab floats up before slowly dropping back down. When the net hits the back of my legs, I'm thankful for my backpack because the net stung anything it touched. I bounce a few times and catch my breath. I did it, I was the first jumper just like David wanted.

I close my eyes for a moment and sprawl out, a laugh escapes my throat. I can't believe I just did that. Then I notice I'm not alone, my hijab is across the net but someone has it in their hands. Another pair of hands is offered to me, I grab them and allow the person to help me out of the net.

When I glance up, the one who helped me is hardly a foot away, "What's your name?" I'm confused for a moment and stare at him like a fish out of water. I feel a bit naked without my scarf to cover up my hair.

I cough, "Uh, Rita Rose." My instinctual answer makes me feel like an idiot, why didn't I just say my first first name?

"Make the announcement, Four." A girl with dark-colored hair and a few piercings says with a smirk.

He smiles down at me, "First jumper, Rita Rose!" The crowd cheers for me and for once I feel welcome in a group. Such an odd feeling it is to feel like one with so many people. Four puts a hand on my shoulder, "Welcome to Dauntless." In his other hand is my scarf, Four hands it to me.

"Thanks," I say with a growing smile as I look around at everyone. This is Dauntless? This isn't so bad.