{Chapter 1}

*Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park (Echos Cover)*

Beatrice Prior stared at the wooden handle. Breathing in calmly she reached for the simple knob on her door. Twisting it until she heard the click she thought better of it and backed away a step, leaving the door firmly shut. Rubbing the spot above her eyebrow she nibbled her bottom lip and continued worrying her lip.

Closing her eyes she bit down until she could taste the copper in her mouth. "It's just a test." Beatrice whispered into her empty room. Small reassurances to stop her worrying, she reminded herself, then she'd walk down the stairs to the front door.

"Should I be concerned that you're talking to yourself?" Her eyes snapped open in search of the familiar voice. It didn't take long to find the smirking girl across from her. Magdalena was leaning against the wooden frame, her arms crossed and golden brown curls loose.

"I was just-" She stumbled. Sometimes it was hard for Beatrice to share her insecurities with her sister. Magdalena was confident and a natural at everything she tried. It made it difficult to talk about things like boys.

"I know, I'm only teasing." Her sister smiled for a minute before her face took on a look of seriousness that Beatrice had only seen a handful of times. "I'm nervous too."

Beatrice smiled widely at her sister's honesty. "Do you think it's a fraternal twin thing?"

Magdalena steered her sister through the door and down the stairs, pondering her question, "Most definitely."

"There you two are, we have to leave or you might be late." Their mother was a flowing figure, she moved fluidly through their living room. Natalie Prior was beautiful even in the bland grey of Abnegation clothes. Her eyes were a match to Magdalena's icy blue.

"I'm sorry, mum, we lost track of time." Their mother kissed each of their cheeks and gestured towards the door for her daughters to walk ahead. The Prior sisters began their slow walk to school with their arms linked.

~o.O.o~

Today was Testing Day, the last days of certain factions for people. Although whatever Faction they tested wasn't set in stone since in the morning they would go to the Choosing Ceremony. They were eighteen, legally considered adults, it was time for them to decide where they saw themselves in their future. Outside of their parents factions.

Classes has stayed the same until midday, then students began being called into one of the four testing rooms. Beatrice and Magdalena were sitting in the Hub waiting. Beatrice was anxiously tapping her foot against the foot of her chair- Magdalena was tracing letters on her palm as a nervous tick.

Teenagers in neutral colors flocked into groups around the room.

Amity in their colorful but loose clothing milled around the windows, basking in the afternoon light. They were kind and full of happiness, though most people wondered if that was only on account of the peace serum in their bread. The Peaceful folk were tanned from hours of working in the hot fields, their hands calloused and rough. It was picturesque- their calm attitude drew people to them like moths to a flame.

Candor, the Honest, were cool tempered. They were straight backed and collected. An image in black and white clothes. They were truthful and simple. To them the only thing that mattered was the truth, no matter how unpleasant.

Erudite were cold. Their minds were their greatest weapons. They were scientists and teachers. They wore blue with formality and refined grace.

Abnegation wore gray. They were tasked with taking care of the Factionless and running the government since the other Factions could depend on the judgement of the Selfless.

Dauntless were reckless. They were wild and unrefined, the exact opposite of Erudite. Dozens of strange designs marred their bodies, pieces of metal pierced their brows and tongues and various other places. Dauntless were second in size only to Amity.

Although normally the five factions would remain separated the Hub was filled with an array of color from the different people traveling around the empty spaces. It was a tranquil messiness that was almost in balance.

"Beatrice Prior and Magdalena Prior- rooms A and B! Peter Hayes and Molly Atwood- rooms C and D!" Magdalena watched a tall boy with shaky hands and a girl with an overbite from Candor head towards the Testing rooms. They were taller than most of the other Candor students but Peter didn't look confident as he shut the door behind himself.

Magdalena walked her sister to room A. "I love you." There was no point in giving her luck, the testing took into account a person's deepest nature. In Abnegation it was common to say words of comfort but in that moment Magdalena didn't see herself as an Abnegation, she saw herself as a sister.

"I love you too." Beatrice squeezed her hand and walked inside. Magdalena walked to her own Testing room and, taking a deep breath, walked inside.

~o.O.o~

"It won't hurt." Magdalena suspiciously eyed the large needle nestled in the Amity womans hands. She looked about her mother's age but the similarities ended there. Natalie was dark haired while the woman poking the gage needle into her neck was strawberry blonde.

The sting of the metal left an uncomfortable chill in her skin. Magdalena sat down on the edge of the hard surface of the examination chair. "How long until the simulation begins?"

"A few moments until your system fully absorbs the serum." The woman sat on a stool close to Magdalena and gave her leg a comforting pat. "You know I have a daughter, it's her choosing year too."

Magdalena nodded, smiling, but when she tried to speak nothing came out. Her vision began to blur and her head spun lightly. She saw the woman's eyes soften before her head snapped back into unconsciousness.

It was a deafening quiet that had built up around her when she woke up.

She looked down at her hands searching for the crimson from the dog. Finding her hands clean she held them to her chest protectively. Magdalena wasn't the type of person who condoned violence but under certain circumstances it was unavoidable. She looked around the room for the body of the dog or the bloodied knife she'd driven into its side, but most importantly, she tried to find the young child she had been holding onto.

"Dauntless." The Amity woman watched Magdalena calm her breathing before she rolled the stool back to the chair Magdalena was sitting in. "May I ask you a favor?"

Magdalena was confused about what that had to do with her Testing but nodded her head.

"My daughter is a sweet girl but a mother can always tell when her child is unhappy. She's going to transfer out of Amity. I don't know which Faction but if she ends up in Dauntless," The woman paused and looked at Magdalena pleadingly. "Watch out for her?"

Magdalena knew that a lot of people didn't primarily transfer from Amity to Dauntless since it was a drastic change but there was always a possibility. She didn't want to tie her word to someone she had never met but staring into the woman's eyes she couldn't resist.

"What's her name?" The mother gave a sigh of relief.

"Petra Nahava."

"I'll watch out for her-" The Amity woman hugged her tightly. "-If she transfers into Dauntless." But the woman didn't see it as a rejection. She muttered words of gratitude into Magdalena's shoulder.

~o.O.o~

When Magdalena and Beatrice walked back to their home it was quiet. They didn't say anything not just because it's against the rules but because they were both stunned by their Aptitude results. The truth was, neither thought that they would stay in Abnegation for the rest of their lives but they were scared of telling each other because tomorrow was Choosing Day and they didn't know what to do.

~o.O.o~

Choosing Day was a long event. The hall was filled with each faction but there was no chaos or loud teens, like there would usually be with multiple factions in one place. Everyone watched as a Candor representative rose to the high platform on the front of the hall.

"Welcome! Today is the day when you decide where you belong. Candor for the honest, Erudite for the intelligent, Amity for the kind, Abnegation for the selfless and Dauntless for the brave. Make your choice wisely because the future belongs to those who know."

Magdalena didn't know. She wasn't certain of anything anymore. She was born in Abnegation but she tested Dauntless. Caleb had been Abnegation but he transferred to Erudite. Magdalena wondered where Beatrice would end up. How could she watch over her family if they were all in different factions?

One by one each faction watched their children become adults. There was a commonality between each and every one of them who walked to the podium- they were all trying to be confident and look sure of whatever choice they had made.

Magdalena stared at her parents, tuning out the people who cut their palms into one of the five bowls. Would they be disappointed? "Beatrice Prior!" Magdalena's head snapped towards her sister moving down the stairs. She watched Beatrice twirl the thin blade between her fingers and when she brought it to her palm, Magdalena closed her eyes in a silent prayer that her sister would choose a place with great happiness.

Suddenly there was an uproar from Magdalena's side. Her eyes snapped open and she watched the grey clothed figure of her sister slowly walk to the Dauntless section of the hall. They were happily bouncing in their seats and a boy with a bright orange mohawk let Beatrice have his seat. Magdalena felt a pull on her hand and when she looked to her mother she saw the tears flooding her eyes. "Magdalena Prior!"

Magdalena was more nervous than she thought she could be. It was like each step she took reverberated through the hall and around her head. There were exactly seven steps from the first stair to the five white bowls in the center of the stage. Her hands shook almost violently as she picked up the ceremonial knife. She took a calming breath and gripped the hilt tighter in her hand before blindly slicing into her palm.

When she held out her hand she heard the sharp intake of breaths behind her. The slow drip of her blood was almost mesmerizing, she watched it fascinated until it fell into a bowl. The sizzling of her blood on hot coals was met with loud cheers.

Magdalena didn't make eye contact with her parents when she sat down next to Beatrice. Her sister looked at her and reached out her hand slowly, unsure of Magdalena's reaction. Magdalena grasped her sister's hand and intertwining their fingers together, smiled reassuringly. The ceremony continued for a short while after the Prior sisters had been situated in the Dauntless seats. Both sneaking apprehensive glances towards their parents, but neither were able to look for too long. Having a child transfer was hard on the family but having three leave one after the other must have been heart wrenching for their parents.

When everyone had chosen their new Faction the Dauntless were on their feet first. Running towards the doors leading outside in a frenzy.

For the first time in her life Magdalena wasn't told to slow down but as they ran she kept close to her sister. They were in this together, just like their past, their future was tied together.

They ran through the streets like a river of black with streaks of color from the Faction transfers. Magdalena looked up to the towering glass buildings and wondered if the sun had always shown down so brightly. The sound of an oncoming train jeered her to start climbing the rusted beams, the paint chips aggravated her cut but she pressed forward until she could pull herself onto the track. Reaching behind her she held out her hand for a Candor transfer. She recognized him as the boy who had been called into the Testing rooms at the same time as her and Beatrice. He was a good head taller than her when he stood at his full height.

Magdalena looked around for her sister and, finding her next to a Candor girl, sidestepped an Erudite transfer to reach her. Just as she stopped next to her she heard the loud screech of train wheels nearing them.

"Incoming!" A Dauntless man shouted. Many of the Dauntless-born and older members began running ahead. Following their lead the transfers took off. One by one they each grabbed onto a handle and swung inside the car.

Magdalena landed gracelessly in a heap next to a worn out looking boy in Amity clothing. Magdalena stood on shaky legs and took a minute to make sure her legs wouldn't slip from underneath her before moving to her sister.

"You okay?" Beatrice asked as she approached.

"I don't remember running after a train in Abnegation so it's a little new." The two girls who had joined them laughed.

"Hi, I'm Christina." The Candor girl held out her hand and smiled when Beatrice and then Magdalena shook her hand.

"I'm Petra." So she had transferred to Dauntless, Magdalena made a mental note to never question a mother's instinct again.

"I'm-" The doors opened and wind gushed inside. The loud roar inside the car saved Magdalena from introducing herself and Beatrice. It wasn't that she didn't like her name, but it was a mouthful.

"Time to jump! If you stay on the train you're Factionless!" A girl with enough piercings to be hung as a decoration yelled over the sound.

"Oh hell." Magdalena heard the boy from Candor- Peter- mutter when people began jumping from the train. Beatrice looked at her sister who simply shrugged and backed into the wall of the car.

"Together?" The little group they had formed joined her. Magdalena watched the people in the car in front of theirs jump and decided that was as good as timing would get. Sprinting forward she threw her body off the moving train and onto the waiting rooftop. It wasn't the most painless landing but looking around she saw her sister was okay and that was enough.

Glancing back at the train she saw a transfer sitting on the car floor in tears. The boy had been too scared to jump. Maybe he was afraid of heights but he was now Factionless and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

"Dauntless, huh?" Beatrice asked, shaking gravel off her knees. Magdalena just grinned back and gave her a look that clearly said 'you're one to talk.' The group gathered at the edge of the building. There were three men standing at the front, Magdalena wondered when had all the older Dauntless members disappeared and where they had gone?

"I'm Max, one of the leaders here. Welcome to the entrance to Dauntless!" Magdalena and Beatrice looked around the rooftop for a hatch or staircase leading to the compound they knew must be around somewhere. The dark skinned man stepped away from the ledge and waved his hand, "Who's first?"

The initiates glanced towards each other nervously, Magdalena noticed that their herd had thinned to only the transfers. Where did these people go?

Magdalena counted how many transfers there were on the roof. Beatrice and herself were the only two from Abnegation, four from Erudite , five from Candor and two from Amity. A total of six girls and seven boys. It seemed Candor was at at an advantage in numbers.

Petra stepped up the brink and glanced down. She made a squeak when her foot stepped on the overhang. Magdalena chewed her lip wondering how far the drop was. Hell, she had even closed her eyes when jumping from the train to the roof. If she was being totally honest with herself, Magdalena was a little scared of heights.

"Today, Initiate!" A man ground out from next to Max.

Petra's auburn hair slipped out of its bun and flowed freely in the wind as she fully climbed on top of the cement. Petra's body wavered before she stepped off the edge. A high pitched scream followed and Magdalena felt Beatrice stiffen as they all waited for the splat of Petra's body hitting the ground. Why would they bring them here to jump and kill themselves? Maybe it was a way for them to weed out the people who were stupid enough to jump. When they didn't hear bone snaps or excruciating screaming Magdalena was little relieved.

"I don't want to stay up here all day! Come on ladies!" Magdalena hardened her gaze on the man who demeaned her sex. He was taller than her with blocks of tattoos on the sides of his neck and a piercing above his eyebrow and both ears. He was attractive but his cold blue eyes and rigid posture were unwelcoming.

Magdalena felt the challenge resonate in her stomach like a hot ball of lead. She had spent all of her life being underestimated by every Faction. It was time for her to prove her worth and become the person she wanted to be.

She stepped forward, avoiding Beatrice's wide eyed stare.

Without letting herself think about it too much she glared at the man. His arms were crossed over his broad chest and he looked back at her. Magdalena felt a tick in her jaw and when she climbed onto the ledge, she determinedly spread her arms wide.

Like she was ready to take flight.

She fell backwards towards the giant, depthless hole in the ground. The buildings on each side had cracked windows and bent metal beams poking through the foundation. Magdalena fell in slow motion until the rough mesh of rope dug into her back. The air was knocked out of her lungs for a moment before she felt the pull of the net and rolled.

A man with short brown hair and dark eyes watched her cradled in the net. Reaching inside he wrapped his arms around her waist and dropped her onto her feet in front of him. "Name." She looked at him a little confused and he rolled his eyes. "You get to choose a new one but keep in mind that you're stuck with it."

"Ma- Lena." He rose his eyebrows at her. "Just Lena."

"Second jumper- Lena!" Cheers erupted from the crowd and Petra pulled at her arm as another body dropped into the net.

"Third jumper- Tris!"

It was surprising to see her own sister confidently accept her new name. "Tris?"

Her sister- Tris- grinned. "Beatrice is a bit pretentious. What did you go with?"

"Lena." Petra laughed with the girls and they waited for the rest of the jumpers.

~o.O.o~

"Attention! I'm Lauren, this is Four and Eric." She says gesturing to the men on either side of her. One was the man who had helped Lena out from the net and the other was the jerk from the rooftop. "We're your instructors for the next six months. Dauntless-born are with me, transfers are with Four." Lena breathed out a sigh of relief. At least Tris and her weren't going to be stuck with Eric. "Eric is a leader in training and oversees both class so don't piss him off."

Nevermind.

Lauren headed down the hallways, not bothering to tell anyone to follow her, the Dauntless-born quickly followed. Although they all looked calm at the prospect of six months of training and not at all freaked out by the two angry looking men the transfers were left with.

Eric was looking over the crowd intently when his eyes suddenly locked on an initiate behind Lena. She couldn't read the exact emotion that flooded the blue but she thought a flicker of happiness was buried in there somewhere. Glancing at the Erudite boy behind her Lena couldn't see anything that was overwhelmingly special.

Dirty blonde hair, verging more on light blonde. Silver eyes and a slightly crooked nose. Although he was more built than most of the other male initiates.

Maybe Eric was excited to see him fight or maybe he's into guys.

"Follow." Eric growled and pushed through the middle of the dense group. So far Lena was not a fan of leader-in-training-Eric. Hell, Eric in general seemed like a huge douchebag. They walked in silence through dingy and poorly lit hallways. Four was at the end of their group, making sure no one got lost or wandered away on their own.

When Eric stopped it was unexpected and, as the first person behind him, Lena ran into him. Cringing she looked up and as she thought, he was glaring down at her. The apology formed on her lips before she bit it back- not only was this not Abnegation but Eric didn't look like the type of person to accept it.

"This is where you'll be staying until the end of initiation." Eric swung the door. It made a sickening crack against the wall that rattled Lena, but, thankfully, Eric was busy ambling into the room to notice her jump.

Lena and Tris were the first to see their new home. Home being loosely based for the occasion. There was no outside light coming into the room just artificial lamps along the cement walls. Fifteen bare cots were evenly spaced in the room, two of them had large piles of blankets and pillows waiting for occupants to take them. A trunk was at the bottom of each metal bed frame for their belongings. But what really horrified the majority of initiates was the lack of shower curtains. The two toilets were hidden behind doors but there was no such courtesy for privacy when showering apparently.

"There was two stages of training," Four called to the spread out initiates to gain their attention. "Physical and mental. Stage one lasts four months, stage two lasts two."

"Don't get too attached to anyone." Eric continued from his spot against the wall. "Only twenty are making it through initiation this year and there's thirteen of you and seventeen Dauntless-born. Chances are more of them will make it through than you."

"What happens to the people who get cut?" An Erudite- Myra- whispered.

"They become Factionless." Four said before Eric could. Something told Lena that his response would have been less kind.

"Training is from eight to six." Four said making his way out of the door.

"Don't be late!" Eric snapped before slamming the door shut.

Lena sat on the cot next to Tris. "Isn't he a bucket of sunshine and rainbows?"

Christina snickered from Tris' other side and flopped down on her new cot. "You said it, could he be any more insensitive? Ten of us are going to end up Factionless by the end of this."

"Yeah, Eric isn't exactly the type to sugarcoat anything." Lena looked up at the Erudite boy, the same one Eric had stared at. "Oh, right, sorry. I'm Gideon."

"How do you know Eric?" Petra sat next to Lena's legs and eyed the new addition to their apparently forming sisterhood.

"He's my brother." The four girls looked at one another in confusion. "He transferred a few years back. I guess Erudite couldn't contain the Coulter boys." He grinned and Lena had a hard time imagining that this boy could be related to their angry co-trainer.

"I'm Tris, this is Lena, Christina and Petra." Petra waved to him kindly and Lena scooted up her bed to make room for Gideon.

"Do you guys think we'll all make it through initiation?" He asked sitting next to Petra.

"I'm betting on Amity, she swan dived in record time." Lena teased shoving the redheads shoulder.

"I guess we'll see tomorrow morning then."

Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent or any of the characters used in this story besides Magdalena and a few other original characters. The plot does veer away from canon by quiet a bit so don't expect things from Allegiant to happen- actually just don't have any expectations so it takes longer for me to disappoint you.

Firstly, I would like to thank izaiza14 for being the first follower of this story when I legit had nothing on it and thank you to CynDLou12 for being my first review and Carolina00i for my first favorite, which I can't explain but thank you. I am doing NaNoWriMo this year so don't expect a chapter every other day or anything.

I know so many people hate Peter and I honestly do too, but thanks to Miles I can't help but enjoy his sense of sarcastic humor and so I've decided to make him a good guy... Or have I? I guess you'll find out if you stick around.

So there's going to be four main couples in this story and let me tell you- there's a complicated couple, a sweet gooey couple, an unavoidable couple and a surprising couple who most of you won't see coming. Actually, can you all try to guess who is in which couple?

Finally, I hope you've enjoyed this introduction and please follow and review!