Chapter 8: Where He Truly Belongs
After the choosing ceremony, we walk back to Abnegation in absolute silence. The cloud of grief and confusion about Caleb leaving hangs over us.
How could he leave us for Erudite?
Once we reach Abnegation the other initiates and I are escorted to the main building. Our- the Abnegation-born initiates- families are told to wait outside while we go in. The Abnegation leaders sit on the stage sweetly smiling down at each of us. Marcus steps up, a microphone gripped tightly in his hand.
"Good afternoon initiates. As most or all of you know my name is Marcus Eaton I am the leader of Abnegation. Over the next month, you will undergo many tests to see if you truly belong in this faction. Your initiation will start tomorrow at eight am sharp. You will report here and receive your first assignments. Transfers will stay in allocated dorms. Abnegation borns usually stay with their families but this year we are trying something new so like the transfers Abnegation borns will also be allocated dorms. You can arrange for a roommate if you prefer. Thank you for choosing Abnegation. Now please repeat the Abnegation manifesto, don't worry the words will be on the screen."
His last comment receives a chuckle from the transfers.
The screen projector lights up and the Abnegation manifesto appears on the screen. Every faction has its own manifesto. It's a long or sometimes short verse that outlines what the faction strives for.
I will be my undoing
If I become my obsession.
I will forget the ones I love
If I do not serve them.
I will war with others
If I refuse to see them.
Therefore I choose to turn away
From my reflection,
To rely not on myself
But on my brothers and sisters,
To project always outward
Until I disappear.
We repeat the words in unison, our voices echo off the cold, grey walls around us. I try to think of the words as I repeat them. I grew up with these values and so did Caleb. But it appears we both wanted more and he was the only one to went for what he wanted.
"You are all dismissed. Transfers please follow Ruby to your dorms where you will get your clothes. Abnegation-borns may go to their parent's homes and collect their belongings. See you all tomorrow."
Marcus walks off the stage and the other leaders followed. Except for Mr. Black and my father who stay behind waiting for us.
"Do you want to be my roommate?" Susan asks me as we walk to our houses to gather our belongings.
Our fathers and Robert walk ahead of us quietly talking to one another, most likely about Caleb.
"Sure but I thought you and Robert would want to share."
"Oh, actually I was thinking the three of us get a house together. Marcus said we could have a roommate I'm sure he'll be fine with three people living together. "
"Yeah, he might be," I shrug, "how are you doing by the way?"
Her shoulder slumped in despair and a few tears form in her eyes.
"I just can't believe he left. I didn't see it coming." She moves her hand over her mouth to catch her sob before it can escape. I wrap my hands around her shoulders not giving a damn who will see me or the fact that I am breaking the rules.
"I didn't either Susan, I don't think anybody did."
"I just wish he had given us some sort of warning."
My breath catches in my throat. He may not have warned the others but he did warn me last night.
My father stops and turns back to look at Susan and me, his face is twisted with anger and his eyes are hard.
"Don't talk about him alright. From now on I forbid you from talking about that traitor."
I was stunned at what my father was saying. I've never seen my father this angry and now here he was hissing at me to never talk about my brother.
"Sorry, Mr. Prior." Susan quickly apologizes.
" Sorry, dad."
When we reach our street, Susan, Robert, and their father broke off from us and went into their house while my dad ushered me into ours.
As the door closed my mother came out of the kitchen with two boxes in her hands. One for my stuff and the other for Caleb's. When someone transfers to another faction for the family to move on they pack the child's items into a box and throw it away or in our case donate it.
"Beatrice when you're finished with your room could you please pack your brother's stuff. Your father and I will be going to get a house ready for you."
"And for Susan and Robert. We want to be roommates."
"Alright."
She hands me the boxes then she and my dad leave. Leaving me alone with my mixed emotions.
As soon as I finished packing all my belongings someone knocked on the door. I rushed down the stairs and slowly opened it to reveal Susan and Robert.
"We thought you could need some help cleaning out Caleb's room." Susan said.
"Yes please." I sniffle back a sob of joy or heartache or a mixture of both.
The three of us walk up the stairs and into Caleb's room. It looked exactly like every other teenager's room in Abnegation. A grey single bed tightly covered in grey sheets and blanket, and topped off with one pillow that was pushed up against the wall. On the west wall stood a grey set of draws. On the east wall stood his desk where his textbooks were stacked neatly in the top left corner.
"Alright Beatrice can take the draws, I'll pack the bed and Robert can take the desk. Let's get going." Susan commanded, dramatically clapping her hands.
this very typical action of hers causes me to smile. She was trying to lighten the mood. And I was happy about that.
We set off to our duties. I placed every item of clothing into a garbage bag that was inside the box my mom gave to me. They would be washed out and given to Abnegation members or sent off to the factionless. All while Robert and Susan packed the box full of Caleb's old stuff. They too will be donated somewhere.
Within the hour we finished packing. As we were about to leave something caught my eye. The floorboard under his desk was loose. I set the garbage bag down and bent under the desk.
"What is it?" Robert asks me I can hear by his tone that he is very confused by my action.
Ignoring them I examine the loose floorboard carefully. It looks like it has been dislodged and something is stuffed under it.
"Beatrice, what do you see?" Susan asks me. She too is confused and concerned for me.
Grabbing the back end of the floorboard with both my hands I pull it away, the action made me fall onto my back my hands gripped tightly around the board. Quickly I crawl back under the desk to the gaping hole in the floor. Looking inside I gasp at the discovery- textbooks.
"What is it?" Robert asks me.
One by one I take them out of the makeshift safe, examining each cover.
Cellular structure
Aquaponics
Advanced chemistry
Advanced Mathematics
There were ten textbooks lodged in the floor. Caleb's secret stash.
"I guess we didn't know him." Robert sighs
"Yeah." I mumble, my focus kept solely on the book in my hands.
Wiping tears away with my sleeve I toss them into the box to be donated. Robert was right, none of us knew Caleb. Apparently, Erudite is where he truly belongs.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top