Divergent

I have repeated that word over and over in my head at least a hundred times since she said it to me a mere two minutes ago. It is a word that strikes fear into the heart of everyone who hears it, including me.

A Divergent is someone who belongs to more than one faction. A Divergent is a person who is a danger to our city and the peace we have achieved.

I am a danger. I am Divergent.

People rarely talk about Divergents these days. Some people think that they are a myth. Like they are just ghost stories created to scare people.

I remember the first time I heard someone talk about Divergents. I was seven years old. I was sitting in the cafeteria when I overheard some Erudite girls talking about them. The conversation only lasted no more than a minute before they were shushed by an older Erudite girl but I didn't forget the word for the rest of that day and whispered it on my journey home.

When I got home I asked my mom what a Divergent was. Before she could answer my dad told me to never say that word ever again and forbid me from ever talking about it to anyone else.

I was shocked at how angry my father got. I had never seen him so angry.

But I did what he asked and I never brought it up again. Until a few years later when we started learning about them in school.

We were told over and over again that Divergents are evil beings who need to be stopped. That their soul purpose in life is to cripple the faction system and end life as we know it.

A long time ago the factions made it their mission to find Divergents and exterminate them but one by one they each gave up that practice.

These days Erudite is the only faction that takes Divergent hunting to extreme measures. They are the only faction that still hunts. They hate the Divergents. Their leader Jeanine always talks about how they are a threat to our society and how they need to be eliminated but since the other factions have rid of those ideals Erudite's proposals have been damped out.

Now I am one of those evil beings that need to be eliminated.

"Listen to me you can't tell anyone about what you are. Alright, not a soul. You are considered a danger if they find out what you are they will kill you. " Tori hisses at me but all I can hear is fear.

"What faction do I choose ?" I ask I try to sound confident but my voice wavers and I am sure I sound like a scared little girl.

Tori looks down at the ground, her cold calculating eyes are dim as she thinks about what to say to me.

"If I were you I would stay in Abnegation, it will be safer. Now you have to go. Good luck Beatrice." She whispers.

Suddenly she shoves me out of the door and slams it in my face. 

Erudite
Dauntless
Abnegation
Divergent

What am I going to do?

As I walk down the hallway back to the cafeteria I bump into that Candor boy from earlier.

His brown eyes turn black with hate as he looks down on me. 

"Move it stiff." He grows shoving past me, his shoulder violently colliding with mine causing me to stumble.

Even though my shoulder was throbbing I ignore it and kept walking. My mind is only filled with one thing.

I am Divergent.

Walking back into the cafeteria, I must have look like a zombie to the people passing by but no one stops to ask if I am alright. They probably just think I am shocked by my test result.
 
"Stay in Abnegation. It's safer"

That's what Tori said, I should listen to her. Tomorrow when I'm called to the stand I'll drop my blood on the stones and stay with my family where I will be safe.

After the testing, you are allowed to go home. Susan, Caleb, Robert, and I planned to go to an Abnegation cafe straight after we were all tested. 

This was something we do often, mostly on a Friday. It's our way of celebrating another week. But today I don't feel like celebrating. How can I celebrate being a danger to the very core values of our society?

A soft hand lightly taps my shoulder. I jump back and turn to face the person in front of me.

To my relief, it is only Marcus.

"Beatrice are you alright?" He asks, his deep voice makes my skin crawl or maybe it was his question.

"Yes, I'm fine I just don't feel very well."

He nods his head. 

"Sometimes people can have a bad reaction to the liquid. Have a seat and take some deep breaths. After five minutes if you still feel bad I'll take you to the school nurse."

"Thank you."

As Marcus walks away I couldn't help but shake my head. How could Erudite be accessing such a sweet man of murdering his child?

Even though he never talked about Tobias much I know he loved him and wouldn't hurt him in any way.

How can they say that the most selfless man is a monster?

A few minutes later, Susan, Robert, and Caleb come out. I watch in envy as they walk toward me with bright smiles on their faces.

They just got the best news of their life. They were not told that their mere existence is a crime. They weren't just told that they are an evil being. They were not told that they are Divergent.

Knowing them they were told that they are perfect for Abnegation and they will stay in Abnegation because that is where the test says they belong. They won't be staying in Abnegation because it is the safest option for them.

"Hey, you ready to go?" Susan asks as she takes a seat next to me.

"I don't feel like going to the cafe I think I'm just going to head home."

"Are you sure?" Susan asks looking at me with pleading eyes.

" Yeah, I'm sure. I wasn't feeling well a few minutes ago and I just need to go home and sleep."

"Is everything alright?" Robert asks me his eyes widening in concern.

" Yes, I just had a bad reaction to the liquid they made us drink. Marcus says it happens to some people." I explain twisting a loose strand of hair around my finger.

"Okay, we'll see you later." Susan rubs my shoulder.

"Bye guys."

" Be safe." Caleb says.

" I will now go have fun."

As I watch them leave I felt a hole begin to grow in my heart.

I am a danger to them. I am poison to this society.

I am Divergent.