Chapter I | INVISIBLE

What a crimson night
-Divergent

My optimism and quick reflexes has kept me in one piece during the several bloodshed expeditions I've embarked to for six years. The Survey Corps hasn't gotten close to exterminating the Titans from our resplendent lands. I wonder when the spark of discovery will make its appearance. The three demensional maneuver gear that helps us navigate in the air puts a huge strain in my muscles when battling Titans. The tight straps holding my body upright has already made a mark on my skin claiming it like a tattoo.

I hear the wails of my comrades hide themselves in the back of my head so I can encounter them in my nightmares. My blades are dripping with Titan blood meanwhile my entire Scouting Legion Uniform is soaked with the blood of dozens of comrades laying scattered in pieces from the attack of ten sudden abnormals. The last Titan measuring about ten meters high falls down without mercy. My keen, shady blades find themselves perforated in the red puddle next to a dead corpse that used to be filled with life, hope and dreams.

I land in kneeling position. I take a hesitate glance at my surroundings, afraid for the evident results. Heafty clouds conceal the vision of a nice afternoon. I mollify the fresh adrenaline running through my veins as I realize I'm the last one alive. My golden hair is now moist with sticky blood, the smell warm and queasy. Few strands of my hair stick to my grubby face. I lift my forearm to rub the itchiness on my nose but cringe at the warm liquid coating my nostrils and upper lips.

"Divergent." My ears twitch at the familiar sound. I rapidly spin around to the several lifeless bodies around the perimeter. Rain begins to pour down towards the crimson earth like if the gods were crying because of our sudden defeat. "Athena." I hear my real name being called once again in a hoarse voice. Grabbing both blades, I trudge towards the right until I espy the male voice a few feet away from me. My quivering hand hovers over my mouth and I yawl as I fall in my knees in complete devastation. I use one of my blades to keep me upright.

"Zack." Our hands slip when I hold him because of the excessive blood but I regain a tight grip on him. "Zack." I whimper and hover my hand over the deep wound in his abdomen.

He winces at my soft touch. "You're safe." He sighs in relief. His chocolate eyes are bleeding gradually, a huge scratch decorates his pale cheek.

"How could this happen?" The waterfalls comes running down my cheeks. I remove my green coat to add pressure.

"Don't." He attempts to shove it away from me but I insist adding pressure to his wound. He clenches his teeth. "Darn it D-divergent." He clenches his fist.

"You'll be back for the next expedition." I snivel. "Understand?"

"You've been a splendid soldier." He whispers. "I'm proud to..." He breathes with an exertion. "...to have trained you." He shuts his eyes.

"Zack." I call out for him. His eyelids remain close. "Dad!" I nudge him awake. He prieds his eyes open. "Sometimes I wish..." He coughs out blood. I shake my head at the scene in front of me. "...you were really my daughter." He wheezes out.

"You are Zack." I caress his cheek.

"I'm proud to have fought by your side." He coughs out.

I rest my forehead onto his and stroke his raven moist hair. "You're going to be fine." I assure with tears washing away the blood smudged in his cheeks. "I'll ask for help." I rummage through my bag until a pair of hands stop me.

"Make me a promise."

"No." I whimper.

"Promise me." He grips my hand. "You'll make yourself visible to the man that'll accept you..." He wheezes. "...who cares for you." He coughs. "And who will protect you always."

"I promise. But promise me you'll be alright." My voice hitches when the earth beneath us shakes momentarily.

"My beautiful daughter." He smiles. "Goodbye Divergent." His voice fades away into ultimate silence. Those are the last words that come out of his mouth as his eyes close to an endless sleep that he will never awaken from. His hand that's attach to mine, falls slowly on his chest by the help of my hands. I shoke a sob at his demise. I clench my hands onto my blade.

The earth roars once again by the help of another ten meter titan. I rise from the mud. My lips quiver as I take a last look at Zack Henderson, my Squad Leader I came to see as a father I never had. I watch as the rain cleans off the blood from his peaceful face. I wipe my tears and draw out fresh new blades. "I'll avenge your death and our squad's." I prepare to launch myself to a nearby tree. The repugnant smell of the ten meter titan strolling a few yards away infuses my olfactory senses. "I vow I will."

______

The Scouting Regiment also known as the Survey Corps, Recon Corps, Scouting Legion, and many other names, has found a spot to rest tonight. I gallop my golden horse towards the camping site. Strong wind propels my golden hair to my back. I espy a wagon from the distance filled with a dozen of dead soldiers. A disappointing sigh escapes my bloody lips as I stop next to a camping tent. I stare in sympathy at the fallen soldiers that will never come back to their families. I curse for our species' weakness and vulnerability. I know it's not our fault but if we were more stronger there would've been more survivors, less dead.

After tying my golden horse to a tree accompanying by other horses, I feed him before heading to the person in charge in listing the number of deaths. As I walk by the few tents in the area, I catch the new recruits demonstrating the all too familiar facial expression 'I'm not cut out for this. I can't do this. I'm terrorized.' I'm not suprised at their reaction at the very least. I once was like them before becoming a slave to humanity.

I finally reach the soldier name Ben holding a clipboard with papers listing the information such as deaths, cargo and other materials. I notice Commander Erwin Smith standing beside him. I've never come close to the Commander since I've entered the Survey Corps six years ago. I bet my golden watch the commander isn't aware of my existence. Better yet gives a damn about my existence. I have always been aware of his selfishness towards saving Humanity. He will do anything to accomplish his goal even if it means sacrificing hundreds of his soldiers. Despite that obsession in him, I believe one day all of these deaths will not remain in vain. I believe in Erwin's words.

"Here are the list of fallen soldiers we have recovered these afternoon." Ben confirms. Ben is a thirty-year-old man with brown spiky hair and gray sharp eyes, followed with a tan complexion. Dark circles take place in Ben's eyes in spite being our first night outside the walls once again.

"Are all missing soldiers reported here as well?" I hear the Commander ask Ben after scanning the papers.

"We're still waiting for two squads to report. "Ben folds his arms to his chest.

"Commander." I salute to the Commander and Ben. "I'm here to report the last two squads" I inform in my drenched appearance.

"Report." Erwin hands the clipboard to Ben.

"Retaraskis Squad and Henderson Squad were wiped out by several abnormals during the expedition."

"They were part of the right flank." Erwin furrows his blond bushy eyebrows. "Whose your squad leader?" Erwin stares me down with his stunning ocean eyes. Prince Charming would have been his middle name if titans didn't exist.

"Squad Leader Zack Henderson, Sir." I reply.

"You'll be place with Squad Leader Ferno Delasty." He goes over the papers again but glances back at my appearance. "There's a lake nearby."

"Thank you Commander." I leave both of them with their business.

I saunter around the camping area for a quick surveillance. Squad Leader Hange also known as second in command of the Survey Corps has a theory that titans are less active during the night. I hope no titans contradict her theory during the late hours of the night. After a couple of minutes, I take a seat on top of a roof from an abandon two story building. The camping sight is located a few meters away from where I'm located. I lift my gaze to the full moon. I can hear the faint whimpers because of today's losses.

"When will the Survey Corps advance?" I hold onto my necklace gifted to me by my squad leader Zack Henderson four years ago. My squad consisted of two men and two women, myself included. They were the best friends I ever had. Despite the chaos, we always brought happiness within ourselves.

I hear the heal of boots land on the roof with the following of wires. I shift around to watch Captain Levi standing a few feet away from me. He remains in silence as he takes a seat, bends his right knee and rests his arm in it. His gaze remains fixated at the full moon.

I heard civilians and female veterans chat about Captain Levi once. I heard them confess their sexual interests for him. Dream to have his expertise in flexibility and quick reflexes implement themselves in the act of coitus. I can't blame their desire and lust. Captain Levi is indeed suprisingly handsome. Who else can compare to Levi's unique short, straight black hair styled in an undercut? As well as his narrow, intimidating dull blue eyes with dark circles under them yet possessing a deceptively youthful face? I haven't seen no other men compare to him.

I don't feel any sexual tension or lust for him because there is no need and not an act I want from him or from other men. They are all the same in the end, always preferring the most feminine females that consist of soft bare skin with no imperfections. I have always seen men act this way. Their desire for feminine beauty has always caused me to loathe and detest such men.

I remain in complete silence as I watch the beauty that lays right in front of me. The vendurous fields extend beyond my imagination as the moonlight shines on top of the mountains in the far distance. I'm memorized by the gorgeous night sky embellished with millions of brilliant of stars. The air smells and feels distinct to that inside the walls.

"Commander Erwin!" I shift my attention to the camping site. Ben Earl, the man whose in charge of listing our equipment and casualties, jogs up to the tall commander. My eyes wander towards the direction Ben came from. A new wagon appears from the field containing a single deceased body wrapped respectively in a white cloth. "We could only recover one body." I lean foward in attempts to listen to their conversation.

"Who is it?" Erwin joins Ben to the wagon.

"Zack Henderson." My eyes widen at Ben's words. I proceed to rise but a wave of dizziness wins me before doing so. I fall on my rear and rub my forehead. I try to get up again but the dizziness invades my head bringing me to the roof again in a kneeling position. I rub my head and down my eyelids with my fingers. I remain head low. It's just then I realize I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon, the blood in my clothes makes my dizzyness more extreme. I hear footsteps make their way next to me. I lift my head to no avail.

"Are you alright?" Captain Levi kneels next to me. I nod I'm alright.

"I'm fine." I weakly wave my hand. "I haven't eaten since yesterday." I miserably lay flat on the roof.

"Are you an idiot or simply stupid?" He mumbles.

"Both seem accurate." I face towards the end of the roof, towards the direction the wagon is surely situated at.

"You'll get yourself killed if you don't eat your meals on time." He scolds.

"Understood." I lazily salute, my eyes not leaving the direction the wagon is placed at. After a few minutes it seems the dizziness has subsided a bit. I notice the Captain sitting beside me. "I apologize for the disturbance." I whisper.

"What's your name?" He shifts to me. I take a quick glance at his entire appearance to find him exhausted without a speck of dirt.

"With all due respect Captain why know my name? I'm not in your squad and never encounter you back in headquarters. I'm just a random soldier." I seat up.

"You came from the right flank?" He asks. "Was Zack Henderson your squad leader?"

"Indeed." I rise slowly off the roof.

"You were the only survivor?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me your name." He repeats again. A pregnant pause takes places until I finally speak.

"My name's Divergent"