Fractured Loyalities

Lily Evans lay on her back, staring up at the dimly lit ceiling of the Dauntless quarters. The room was loud, even in the dead of night. The constant murmur of voices, the distant thud of footsteps, and the faint rumble of machinery deep within the compound made it impossible to feel completely at ease. 

It was nothing like Abnegation. Nothing like home.

She squeezed her eyes shut, but sleep wouldn’t come. Her mind was too full, racing from one thought to another, replaying the events of the day over and over again. 

The Choosing Ceremony had gone so differently from how she’d imagined. For years, she had been set on Erudite. It was logical, after all. She and Remus had planned it for years—escape the quiet repression of Abnegation, the suffocating simplicity, and finally, live a life dedicated to learning, where knowledge was valued above all else. It had made sense. She was supposed to fit there. 

But then... she hadn’t.

The decision to choose Dauntless had hit her like a bolt of lightning, so sudden and overwhelming that she could barely make sense of it. The entire time leading up to the ceremony, she had felt a growing unease. It wasn’t something she could explain, not even to herself, but it gnawed at her in the days before the ceremony. 

It wasn’t just about her, either. Her father had been distant, preoccupied. She had overheard quiet arguments late at night between him and the other leaders of Abnegation. Something was happening—something she wasn’t supposed to know about. 

Lily turned over in her cot, tucking her hands under her head. The Dauntless quarters were cramped, the beds shoved together in a shared, co-ed space. The idea of co-educational everything had been jarring at first. In Abnegation, boys and girls were separated, modesty and self-restraint ingrained into every action. Here in Dauntless, it was as if none of that mattered. There was an openness, a rawness to the way the Dauntless lived. Everything was physical—loud, unashamed, and *fearless*. The constant proximity, the casual brushing of bodies, the shared spaces, and the unspoken understanding that everyone was expected to be ready for anything—it made her feel like she was constantly on edge.

She had been the first jumper. 

That moment flashed through her mind, over and over again. Standing on the edge of the building, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared into the seemingly endless pit below. Fabian Prewett had stood there, arms crossed, his voice steady as he explained the first initiation test: jump. Just jump, without hesitation, without fear.

For a moment, she had stood frozen, her heart thudding loudly in her ears as the others watched her. Then she had heard it—the faintest, almost imperceptible voice in the back of her mind. Jump.

It had been like a surge of adrenaline, like she had no other choice. She hadn’t wanted to be the first, but in that instant, it was as if something inside her snapped, and before she knew it, she had stepped forward and leapt into the unknown.

She hadn’t thought about Remus then. Or about her parents. Or even about what it meant to leave Abnegation behind. She had simply... jumped. 

Now, lying in the dark, the reality of what she had done began to sink in. She had chosen Dauntless—impulsively, recklessly, and without a clear reason why. She had left Remus behind, betrayed their plan, and for what? 

Her thoughts drifted to him, to the look of hurt in his eyes when she had walked past the Erudite bowl. They had been friends for as long as she could remember, bonding over their shared frustrations with Abnegation, the quiet rebellion that lived inside both of them. They were supposed to escape together. But she had left him behind, just like that. I’m sorry, she had mouthed, but she knew it wasn’t enough. Remus didn’t deal well with betrayal, especially not from someone he trusted. 

And then there was James Potter. 

Lily sighed, closing her eyes again, her mind flashing back to the train ride earlier in the day. James was... different. He was loud, charming, and seemed to move through the world with an effortless confidence she couldn’t understand. His messy hair, his mischievous grin—he was everything Dauntless embodied. She had seen the way he had looked at her after she jumped, his surprise mingled with admiration. But it wasn’t enough to drown out the insecurity she had carried with her for so long. She knew what she looked like—fuller figure, not the lean, athletic type most Dauntless seemed to favor. She had caught the sidelong glances from the other initiates, the ones who fit the Dauntless mold so easily.

Not that she cared what James Potter thought of her. Not really.

Lily let out a frustrated breath, turning onto her side and pulling the thin blanket tighter around her. It wasn’t about fitting in, or even about impressing anyone. It was about proving to herself that she belonged here. 

But did she?

She opened her eyes again, staring at the rows of bunks around her. She could hear soft breathing, the occasional rustle of blankets. The other initiates were sleeping, or at least trying to. She wondered if they felt the same uncertainty gnawing at them. Did they regret their choice too? Or were they completely certain, unlike her, about where they belonged?

Lily’s thoughts circled back to her father, to the whispers she had heard in the days before the ceremony. There was something going on in Abnegation, something that had made her father more tense than usual, more secretive. She hadn’t dared ask him about it, but it had planted the seed of doubt in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever it was, it had influenced her decision to leave. Maybe she had wanted to get as far away from Abnegation as possible, to escape whatever was happening in the shadows. 

Or maybe she had chosen Dauntless because, for once in her life, she wanted to feel free.

Lily sighed again, rolling onto her back once more, staring up at the ceiling. The unfamiliar sounds of Dauntless surrounded her, a far cry from the quiet, structured life of Abnegation. Here, there were no walls to hide behind, no rules to keep her safe. It was terrifying.

And it was exhilarating. 

Despite the uncertainty, the fear, and the guilt gnawing at her, there was a part of her that felt alive in a way she never had before. Dauntless was chaos, and it was everything Abnegation wasn’t. 

But could she survive it?

Lily knew she wasn’t going to fall asleep, not with her mind still spinning from the day’s events and the unfamiliarity of her new surroundings. Throwing the blanket aside, she quietly swung her legs over the edge of the cot, careful not to wake anyone nearby. She grabbed her boots, lacing them up with the same quick precision she’d used during her training back in Abnegation. 

Abnegation. The thought of home weighed heavily on her as she stood up and slipped out of the bunkroom. The cool air of the Dauntless headquarters hit her as soon as she stepped into the hallway. The metal corridors were dimly lit, casting long shadows on the walls. Dauntless was a maze of steel and stone, rough around the edges and starkly different from the clean, minimalistic architecture of Abnegation. Everything here felt darker, more visceral, as if even the walls pulsed with the kind of energy that kept everyone on edge. 

She wasn’t sure where she was headed, but anywhere was better than lying awake with her thoughts. 

Her father’s voice echoed in her mind, loud and furious from their last conversation. “You don’t understand, Lily! The Dauntless are reckless! They’ve been making secret deals with Erudite—dangerous plans, deals, without consulting Abnegation!” His words had been filled with anger, his usual calm and measured tone lost in the heat of the argument. She had never seen him so worked up before, never heard him raise his voice like that.

She’d stood in the doorway, hands clenched at her sides, listening as her father paced back and forth, his face red with frustration. "The Dauntless are corrupt. They don’t care about the greater good anymore. They’re aligning themselves with Erudite for power, for control, and it will destroy everything Abnegation stands for.” 

Lily remembered how her heart had pounded in her chest, not just from the tension in the room, but from the way her father had spoken about Dauntless as if they were the enemy. “They don’t care about anyone but themselves!” he had spat, eyes blazing. “And the Erudite are no better, with their endless pursuit of knowledge for the sake of power. It’s only a matter of time before they bring us all down.”

She hadn’t known what to say then, had felt the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. And maybe that’s why, standing on the stage during the Choosing Ceremony, her hand hovering over the Erudite bowl, she had hesitated. For so long, she had wanted to escape, to leave Abnegation and find freedom in Erudite, where knowledge and reason ruled. But in that moment, with her father’s voice echoing in her mind, she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t step into Erudite knowing they were tied up in something dangerous, something that went against everything she had been taught.

Her feet echoed softly as she wandered down the empty corridors, her thoughts still tangled in the chaos of the day. She replayed the moment of her choice over and over, her stomach twisting at the memory of Remus’ face as she walked past the Erudite bowl. He had trusted her, believed they were in this together, and she had broken that trust without even explaining why. 

And then there was the jump.

She smiled faintly, remembering the look on everyone’s faces when she’d been the first to leap. She hadn’t meant to be first—hadn’t even really thought about it. But the second Fabian Prewett had announced the challenge, something inside her had snapped, that same rush of impulsive energy that had driven her to choose Dauntless in the first place. 

“That was quite a jump.”

At the bottom there was a man waiting for her, arms crossed and grinning. His reddish-brown hair had been tousled, his green eyes shining with amusement as she caught her breath after landing. He looked exactly as his brother, the only thing that distinguished them was an earring in his left eyebrow, which Fabian was missing

“Thanks,” she’d managed to say, her legs still trembling slightly from the adrenaline. 

“First jumper, huh?” he’d said, his grin widening. “You know, that makes you kind of a big deal around here.” 

Lily had laughed, not really knowing what to say to that. “I just didn’t want to wait.”

“Well, I’m impressed. Most people take a few minutes to gather their courage. You, though... straight in. Dauntless material for sure. I’m Gideon. ” He’d winked at her then, a playful glint in his eyes that had made her cheeks flush.

She had brushed it off, focusing instead on the other initiates as they began to jump one by one. But the truth was, his words had made her feel... different. She wasn’t used to being noticed, especially not in a good way. Back in Abnegation, she had always been the quiet, dutiful daughter, never drawing attention to herself. But here, in Dauntless, things were different. 

For the first time, people were looking at her. 

Lily walked deeper into the headquarters, her boots clicking against the metal floor. The further she went, the more she realized just how vast the Dauntless compound was. The walls were lined with graffiti, bold and colorful, a stark contrast to the dull greys of Abnegation. She passed by training areas, where weapons were hung on racks, and punching bags dangled from the ceiling. There was an edge to this place, a rawness that made her feel simultaneously alive and anxious.

It was chaotic, and it terrified her.

But maybe that was exactly why she had chosen it. 

Maybe, deep down, she needed the chaos to drown out the quiet doubt that had been building inside her for so long.

She continued down the long, dimly lit corridor, her eyes sweeping over the rugged surroundings. The Dauntless headquarters was a sprawling labyrinth of steel and concrete, a far cry from the orderly, minimalist design of Abnegation. The walls were harsh and industrial, covered in a mixture of exposed pipes and graffiti. Vibrant colors clashed with the grey monotony, bold statements of rebellion and freedom painted in jagged strokes. Words she didn’t understand, symbols that likely meant something to the Dauntless but were foreign to her, were scrawled on nearly every surface.

Everything about the place seemed designed to keep its occupants on edge. Lights flickered in uneven intervals, casting long, distorted shadows that danced across the walls as if the building itself was alive. The air smelled faintly of metal and smoke, a sharp contrast to the clean, muted scents of home. There were sounds in the distance too—dull thuds, echoes of laughter, and the occasional clash of metal on metal. It felt as though the headquarters never truly slept, its inhabitants constantly moving, training, fighting.

She passed by a large training room, visible through a set of open double doors. Inside, she saw racks of weapons—knives, guns, and other dangerous-looking tools she couldn’t even name. The floor was scuffed and worn, a testament to the countless hours spent there by Dauntless members honing their skills.

There was no room for weakness here. Everything about Dauntless screamed strength, survival, and pushing limits—both physical and mental.

Lily took a deep breath and pressed on, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness around her. As she rounded a corner, she came across a massive open space, what appeared to be the heart of the Dauntless compound. The ceiling stretched impossibly high above her, with metal catwalks crisscrossing overhead like a web of steel. Flames danced in giant pits scattered across the floor, their light flickering over groups of Dauntless members lounging on the ground, laughing and chatting. It reminded her of a different world, where structure and order were replaced by instinct and passion.

She stopped for a moment, taking it all in. This was her new reality.

As much as the adrenaline fueled her, there was still a part of her that felt like she didn’t belong. She had grown up in a world of selflessness and service, where every decision was made for the benefit of others. Here, the opposite seemed true. Dauntless was about strength, about claiming your place through sheer will and force. Could she do that? Could she survive here?

Her thoughts wandered back to her father’s rage, his accusations about Dauntless and Erudite’s secret deals. He had seemed convinced that something was happening, that the faction leaders were plotting without consulting Abnegation. Lily had never known her father to be paranoid, but his anger was so palpable that night, it made her wonder. What had he meant by "secret plans"? Why would Dauntless, a faction that prided itself on independence and strength, align itself with Erudite?

It didn’t make sense, and yet, her father had been so certain. 

“You’ll see, Lily,” he had said, his voice low and intense. “They’re all corrupted, even the ones who think they’re untouchable. This system we’ve built, these factions—they’re all crumbling.”

That was why she’d chosen Dauntless, wasn’t it? To escape, to prove that she didn’t need Abnegation’s rigid ideals or Erudite’s cold logic. She had made the jump, been the first to leap, to show herself—and everyone else—that she was capable of something more.

Her fingers traced the edge of the railing, the cool metal grounding her as her thoughts raced. Gideon Prewett’s voice echoed in her mind again, the way he had flirted with her after the jump, his easy charm both unsettling and oddly comforting. He was so different from anyone she had known before—confident, teasing, his gaze sharp and appraising. 

She’d shrugged it off at the time, but now, standing in the heart of Dauntless, surrounded by a place so foreign and intimidating, she couldn’t help but wonder what that really meant. Was she a big deal? Was she brave enough to keep going?

Lily’s eyes shifted to the Dauntless members lounging around the room. They moved with an ease and confidence that made her feel like an outsider all over again. Their black clothing and tattoos seemed like armor, a badge of belonging she hadn’t yet earned. She wondered if she would ever feel as at home here as they did.

She pushed herself off the railing and started walking again, her boots clicking softly on the steel floor. Her thoughts churned in her mind, a whirlwind of doubt and determination. The truth was, she didn’t know if she had made the right choice, but there was no turning back now.

As she wandered deeper into the headquarters, her pulse quickened. This was her new life, and no matter how terrified she felt, she had to embrace it. There was no place for hesitation in Dauntless.

Lily stood in the empty dining hall, her heart still racing from the flood of thoughts that had been swirling in her head. The room was cavernous, dimly lit by hanging bulbs that flickered erratically, casting long, ghostly shadows across the tables. The benches and tables were worn from years of use, the wood scuffed and scratched. Unlike the quiet, formal dining spaces of Abnegation, this place felt chaotic, like it had seen countless nights of rowdy gatherings, arguments, and fistfights. It was strange to think that in just a few hours, this place would be packed with loud, fearless Dauntless members ready to eat and carry on like they had no care in the world.

Lily crossed her arms over her chest and exhaled. The stillness was eerie. She felt a prickling sensation along her spine, as though the very building was watching her, waiting for her to make a mistake. The emptiness was suffocating, amplifying her isolation in a place where she felt like she didn’t belong. 

A sudden sound—a soft scuff of boots behind her—startled her sending her heart into her throat. She spun around, her body tense, ready to defend herself against whatever threat might be coming her way. 

"Whoa, easy there."

A tall, muscular girl with dark skin and a smirk on her face stood in the doorway. Her clothes were entirely black and her short, curly hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Tattoos snaked up her arms, visible even in the low light, giving her an even more intimidating appearance. There was an air of casual confidence about her, as if she was completely at home in this place, in her own skin.

Lily slowly relaxed her stance, though her heart still pounded in her chest.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you," the girl said, stepping further into the room. Her voice was steady, almost teasing, but there was a sharpness in her gaze as if she were sizing Lily up.

"I wasn’t scared," Lily lied, her voice too quick and a bit defensive.

The girl raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but amused nonetheless. She walked over to one of the tables and leaned against it, crossing her arms casually. "Sure. You just looked ready to punch someone in the face." She tilted her head. "You’re one of the new transfers, right?"

Lily nodded, feeling slightly off-balance in the face of this girl’s unshakable confidence. "Yeah. Just transferred today. First jumper.”

"Ah, the first jumper." The girl’s smirk deepened. "That’s impressive. You’ve already got people talking."

Lily frowned, unsure how she felt about that. She didn’t want to be the center of attention, especially not in a place like this. "I just… made a decision.”

The girl laughed, a low, throaty sound. "Well, a lot of people freeze up when it’s their turn to jump. You didn’t, so that says something."

Lily shrugged, trying to play it off. "Guess I had to prove something."

The girl’s smirk softened into something more thoughtful. "We all do, I suppose." She paused for a moment, studying Lily. "I’m Dorcas, by the way. Dorcas Meadows."

"Lily Evans," she said, extending a hand, which Dorcas took in a firm, confident grip.

"So, what brings you to Dauntless, Lily Evans?" Dorcas asked, her tone light but with a curious edge. "You don’t exactly scream 'adrenaline junkie' with that Abnegation look."

Lily hesitated, not sure how much to reveal. She didn’t know this girl, and trust was hard to come by in a place like Dauntless. But something about Dorcas felt… solid. Real. Maybe it was the way she seemed comfortable here, like she belonged in a way Lily wasn’t sure she ever would. Or maybe it was the fact that Dorcas had walked up to her without any pretense, not trying to put on a show of toughness or intimidation.

"I guess I… needed a change," Lily said finally. "I grew up in Abnegation. My father’s one of the leaders. But things have been… tense lately."

Dorcas raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued. "Is that true?"

Lily shook her head. "I don’t know. Maybe. But that’s not really why I chose Dauntless." She looked down at her feet for a moment, then back up at Dorcas. "I needed to get out. To be something else. To not have to think about what’s right for everyone else all the time, you know?"

Dorcas nodded, her expression more serious now. "Yeah, I get that. Dauntless is all about proving yourself, but it’s also about being free. No one here’s going to tell you how to live your life."

Lily felt a small weight lift from her chest at that. It was one of the things that had drawn her to Dauntless in the first place. Freedom. The ability to choose for herself, to be someone beyond the expectations that had been placed on her all her life.

"And what about you?" Lily asked, eager to shift the focus away from herself. "You’re Dauntless-born, right?"

Dorcas nodded, her smirk returning. "Born and raised. I’ve never known anything else. My parents are both Dauntless, too. My mom’s a trainer here."

Lily blinked, surprised. "That must’ve been… intense.”

Dorcas laughed again, but this time it was more genuine. "Yeah, you could say that. But it’s normal to me. Dauntless is all about pushing limits, testing how far you can go. If you want to survive here, you’ve got to embrace that. Otherwise, this place will eat you alive."

Lily’s stomach twisted slightly at the words. Could she survive here? Could she push herself the way Dorcas and the other Dauntless did?

Dorcas seemed to sense her doubt and nudged her with her elbow. "Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out. You jumped first, remember? You’ve already made a mark."

Lily smiled, feeling a bit of warmth at the reassurance, even if it still felt like a massive leap into the unknown. 

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the distant sounds of Dauntless life continuing beyond the walls. It was a strange, almost surreal contrast—Lily had spent her entire life surrounded by silence, but this place buzzed with energy, with life that never seemed to stop.

"Come on," Dorcas finally said, pushing herself off the table. "I’ll show you around a bit more before everyone else wakes up. Might as well get a head start on figuring out this maze."

Lily nodded, grateful for the company, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what she had just stepped into. As they walked side by side into the unknown, Lily couldn’t help but wonder if this was the beginning of something new—something that, despite all her fears and doubts, might just set her free.

* * *

Marlene sat in the bustling Candor dining hall, her fingers idly tracing the edge of the steel cup in front of her. The room was bright, much brighter than anything she’d known in Amity. Rows of long tables stretched out, packed with other newcomers and Candor-born alike, all engaged in conversation. But unlike Amity, where warmth and smiles were always expected, there was an edge here. The bluntness with which people spoke unnerved her.

She glanced around the room. None of the faces were familiar. James, Sirius, Remus, Lily—all had gone to different factions. She was alone here, and the feeling gnawed at her. She wasn’t used to it. In Amity, she’d always been surrounded by friends, by laughter, by people who never wanted to argue or say anything that might upset the peace. Here, it was the opposite.

"So, how does it feel to be here, Marlene?" The voice broke her thoughts. Alice, one of the Candor "trainers," sat across from her, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was sharp, with jet-black hair tied into a tight bun and eyes that seemed to see right through Marlene. Next to her sat her fiancé, Frank Longbottom, his arm casually slung over the back of Alice’s chair. Frank was quieter, but his demeanor was no less direct. Marlene hadn’t known them long, but they already felt… intimidating.

"Uh, it’s different," Marlene admitted, trying to gather her thoughts. "Very different from Amity."

"Different good or different bad?" Alice asked, her tone teasing but still sharp. There was something about Alice that made Marlene feel like she was constantly being tested, even in casual conversation.

Marlene hesitated. The truth? In Amity, no one ever really asked for that. It was all about avoiding conflict, about smiling even when you didn’t feel like it. Here, in Candor, she had no idea what the truth was supposed to look like anymore.

"I guess… different bad," Marlene finally said, watching Alice’s expression carefully.

Alice’s smile widened. "Good answer. You’ll fit in just fine."

Marlene chuckled nervously, unsure if Alice was being serious. Frank, however, was watching her intently, as if weighing her every word. His silence was just as loud as Alice’s speech, and in this moment, Marlene wished she could hide from both.

"Tell me," Frank said after a pause, leaning forward, "what’s the one thing you hated about Amity?"

Marlene blinked. It wasn’t the kind of question she’d expected. She’d spent her entire life in Amity, and hating anything felt… wrong. But here, under the bright lights of Candor, where truth was the currency, she felt a strange sense of freedom she wasn’t sure she wanted.

"The pretending," she said, surprising herself with the answer. "Everyone always pretended everything was fine, even when it wasn’t. Like, you weren’t allowed to have a bad day. You had to be happy all the time. Or at least act like it."

Alice nodded knowingly. "Fake peace is worse than honest chaos."

Frank smirked, leaning back again. "You’ll do well here."

Marlene shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure if that was a compliment or a warning.

"Don’t worry," Alice said, her eyes softening just a bit. "It’s a shock at first, but you’ll get used to it. Candor’s brutal, but at least here, you know where you stand with people."

"Yeah, no guessing games here," Frank added, his deep voice a comforting contrast to Alice’s sharpness.

Marlene was about to respond when another voice from the end of the table caught her attention. A group of older Candor members had been talking for a while, and though she hadn’t been paying close attention, something in their conversation suddenly stood out.

"...weird stir between the factions lately, don’t you think?" a man with salt-and-pepper hair said, his voice carrying across the room.

Alice’s eyes flicked over to the man, and she raised an eyebrow. "What stir?"

"You haven’t heard?" the man replied, leaning in conspiratorially. "There’s been tension between the leaders. Abnegation, Erudite, even Dauntless. Something’s going on, but no one’s saying what."

Marlene’s pulse quickened at the mention of Dauntless. She thought of James, Sirius, and Lily, and wondered what kind of tension they might be walking into. Had something been happening before the ceremony? 

Frank leaned forward again, this time more interested. "What kind of tension?"

The older man shrugged. "It’s all rumors, but some say there have been secret meetings, agreements being made without consulting the other factions."

"That’s nothing new," Alice said, waving a hand dismissively. "Leaders always have their little backdoor deals."

"Sure," the man replied, his voice lowering. "But it’s more than that this time. There’s been talk about someone trying to pull the strings from behind the scenes. An ex-Erudite leader, they say."

Marlene felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the older man’s expression darken.

"Who?" Alice asked, now clearly intrigued.

The man hesitated for a moment, then leaned in even closer. "Voldemort."

The name hung in the air like a dark cloud, and Marlene noticed a few of the others at the table exchange uneasy glances.

"Voldemort?" Frank repeated, frowning. "The guy who was kicked out of Erudite years ago? He’s still around?"

The older man nodded grimly. "Apparently, he’s been making offers to the Dauntless. Promising power, influence, control. Some think he’s trying to destabilize the factions, turn them against each other."

Marlene’s stomach twisted at the thought. Voldemort. She’d heard the name in passing back in Amity, but no one ever talked about him much. There were whispers, of course, stories about his radical ideas and his expulsion from Erudite for pushing dangerous experiments. But that was years ago. She’d assumed he was gone, a ghost from the past.

"Do you think the leaders know about this?" Alice asked, her tone now completely serious.

The older man shrugged. "If they do, they’re not talking about it. But I’ve heard rumors—something big is coming."

Marlene sat back in her chair, her mind racing. If Voldemort was really making moves again, if he was trying to manipulate the factions from behind the scenes, what did that mean for the future? What did it mean for her friends, scattered across Dauntless and Erudite?

For the first time since choosing Candor, Marlene felt a real sense of unease. Maybe the bluntness of Candor was refreshing, but it also meant she couldn’t hide from the truth anymore. The world she’d known in Amity, peaceful and sheltered, was falling apart, and now she was right in the middle of it.

Alice’s eyes flicked toward Marlene, as if sensing her discomfort. "Don’t worry, Marlene," she said with a small, reassuring smile. "Whatever’s happening, we’ll figure it out."

Marlene forced a smile in return, but the knot in her stomach didn’t ease. Something big was coming, and whether she liked it or not, she was part of it now.

Marlene shifted in her seat, the tension from the conversation still lingering in her mind. The older man's words about Voldemort had unnerved her more than she wanted to admit. She was miles away from the safety and warmth of Amity, and for the first time, she felt truly vulnerable. 

She turned slightly to the person sitting next to her, hoping for a distraction. The girl beside her had been quiet throughout the discussion, though there was a calm presence about her that caught Marlene’s attention. She had dark, curly hair tied back in a loose ponytail, with sharp green eyes that stood out in the dim lighting of the hall. Her Candor uniform—black and white—fit perfectly, but there was something about her that didn’t scream "Candor-born."

"Hi," Marlene ventured, offering a tentative smile. "I’m Marlene. You’re new here too, right?"

The girl blinked, then returned the smile with a small nod. "Yeah, I am. I’m Emmeline Vance. Transferred from Dauntless."

"Dauntless?" Marlene asked, her eyebrows raising in surprise. She wouldn’t have guessed that. Emmeline didn’t have the same brash energy the Dauntless-born usually carried, at least not from what Marlene had seen so far.

Marlene blinked, processing Emmeline’s words. Dauntless. Suddenly she was thinking about James, who had been more like a brother than a friend for as long as she could remember. She couldn't help but wonder how he was finding Dauntless. The idea of him running wild through the city, leaping onto moving trains, and facing who-knew-what kind of dangerous initiation rituals left her feeling both worried and amused. James had always been brave—maybe too brave—but Dauntless seemed like a whole new level of recklessness. Could he really fit in with people who lived for adrenaline, or would he struggle with it? She hoped he’d be okay.

"Yeah," Emmeline said with a slight chuckle, noticing Marlene’s surprise. "I guess I don’t look like it. I wasn’t really... fitting in over there. Candor seemed like a better match.”

Marlene nodded, understanding more than she expected to. She'd chosen Candor to escape the constant facade of Amity, but it seemed like Emmeline had come here to escape something else entirely. 

"So... why Candor?" Marlene asked, curious. She’d spent so long worrying about her own reasons that she hadn’t thought much about why anyone else might choose this faction.

Emmeline shrugged. "I was tired of pretending. In Dauntless, you’re expected to be fearless all the time, to push yourself past every limit. But... that wasn’t me. I couldn’t keep up with all of that, so I figured... at least here, no one expects me to hide anything. It’s better to be honest with myself, I guess."

Marlene smiled at that, feeling a bit of a connection. "I get that. I mean, Amity’s not exactly Dauntless, but it’s a lot of pretending too. Always being calm, peaceful. Never being able to say what you actually think or feel."

Emmeline’s eyes lit up, and for the first time since Marlene had sat down, the other girl seemed genuinely interested. "Exactly. People think Candor’s harsh, but at least here, you’re allowed to have your own thoughts. It’s freeing in a way."

Marlene nodded, feeling the weight of the past few days begin to lift just a little. Emmeline’s bluntness was refreshing, and suddenly, Candor didn’t feel quite so overwhelming. Maybe this was the kind of place where she could finally stop pretending and be herself.

"So, how are you finding Candor so far?" Emmeline asked, tilting her head curiously.

Marlene laughed softly. "It’s... different. Honestly, I wasn’t sure at first if I’d made the right choice. But talking to you... it helps. Makes me feel a little more at ease."

Emmeline’s smile widened. "Same here. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who didn’t grow up in this faction. Candor-born can be a bit... intense."

Marlene snorted. "You can say that again."

The two girls shared a quiet laugh, and for the first time since she’d stepped into the Candor headquarters, Marlene felt herself relax. She had been nervous about making friends, especially since she didn’t know anyone in Candor, but Emmeline’s calm and open demeanor made things easier. It wasn’t long before Marlene realized she’d found a kindred spirit.

Emmeline’s blunt honesty reminded Marlene of why she’d chosen Candor in the first place. She had wanted to get away from the superficial peace of Amity, from the constant pressure to act as if everything was perfect when it clearly wasn’t. Here, in Candor, maybe she could finally find the kind of truth she had been seeking.

"You know," Marlene said thoughtfully, "I wasn’t sure about this place when I first got here. But I think... I think this might work out."

Emmeline raised an eyebrow. "You sound surprised."

Marlene grinned. "I am. I didn’t think I’d feel this way so quickly. But Candor... it’s growing on me."

Emmeline’s smile mirrored hers. "Same. And I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way. Maybe we can help each other navigate this place?"

Marlene nodded, feeling a sense of warmth she hadn’t felt since leaving Amity. "Definitely."

With that, the two girls returned to their conversation, this time with a sense of camaraderie that hadn’t been there before. As the night wore on and the conversations in the hall began to fade, Marlene felt a sense of reassurance settle over her. Candor was different, yes—brutally so. But in Emmeline, she’d found a new friend, someone who understood the difficult transition they were both going through.

And as the rumors of Voldemort and the tension between the factions lingered in the back of her mind, Marlene knew she wasn’t alone in this strange new world. Candor might be a harsh, honest place, but at least she had someone to face it with.