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Chapter Text

Chapter 1 blood ,violence, family.

“ Three days till the test you know” Emma lazily says. Her words slow and calm Remus doesn't answer, he wants to just be in the moment, not at all think about the impending doom of the future looming over them. They had been basking in the sun on a rooftop, dangerously close to the edge of the crumbling building. It had been over 90 years since the war that had destroyed the city, causing an economical collapse. Before the founders, who introduced the faction system, the people who survived the war were savage, starving, fighting for survival, death and violence was all around until five people, the five founders came together and saved everyone by splitting them all into factions, giving them all purpose, a reason to live. Amity came first, the people needed unity and teamwork to grow food. Then came Abnegation, people needed kindness and support from each other. Then came Erudite as people who had new ideas gathered to share ideas. Then came Candour as people began to lie and steal, fights broke out and people began to die so dauntless was created, to keep the peace between the factions. To protect us from the creatures beyond the wall. The factions brought peace among all. And plans to rebuild the city were made.

Despite that all the buildings were slowly decaying, those that were less damaged were fixed but most were left to rot labelled hazardous and abandoned. Many don't venture to those parts of the city, stories of people dying from falling debris or the ghost haunting the place after the war. Remus could have sworn he once saw a soldier wandering the halls of an abandoned light bulb factory, his armour covered in unrecognisable symbols no doubt from the war. Remus ran away in fear before he found out more. Despite his encounter it only kept him away for a week before his curiosity, or boredom got the better of him, only this time he brought his friend Emma with him. Safety in numbers he told himself.

“So what do you reckon you'll get?” Emma asks a hint of fear in her voice. Remus thinks before he answers, not at all wanting to respond. He knows he has to think of the family, his father Lyall Lupin is head of Abnegation which means defecting is not an option for him, Remus is expected to take his fathers place when he is ready.
Sighing Remus answers “I don't know, I don't really have a choice do I. It's ironic isn't it the test is made to give you a choice, but i don't have one.” To that Emma doesn't respond. She knows that Remus technically could change factions with the cost of his family and faction falling apart potentially breaking the peace, his father would eventually have to step down and give up his position as head of factions, which may or may not start a war as all factions try to be next in control. Tensions are already high as Erudite thinks they should be in charge as they are deemed the smartest and have been trying to get the other factions to side with them for years .
Abnegation keeps things fair, not even keeping extra for themselves being the only faction to feed the factionless and why they have been in charge for so long.
“I don't know what I'm going to do, i don't really want to leave my family but everyone tells me i have to think of where i fit best” she pauses as she sits up propping her body up with her arms and looks into the distance ”faction before blood i guess” she sighs as if the words are waying her down.
“Faction before blood” Remus repeats through gritted teeth.

--------------

The day of the test begins Sirius is woken up by an aggressive bang on his door and a shout “Sirius black get up, you have two minutes” every day is the same he is woken up at 4 am on the dot. Then he has two minutes to get up, get dressed and line up with all the other unfortunate teens for their morning run followed by breakfast then more training, dinner one more run and a curfew at 11pm. Every day non stop, constant training from the age of 7. On orders from Orion Black, his father, Sirius began his training at 5, this meant that he was the youngest in his platoon and was often the punching bag and the punchline to most of their jokes, “they will toughen the boy up” Orion had said, but Sirius was a child among teenagers constantly fighting to keep his head afloat. In a way Orion had been right because Sirius grew up and by 11 was able to take on the strongest in their platoon, by 16 his shoulders broadened, he built up muscle and grew up to a good 5 feet tall. From then on he was top of his class and constantly being pushed to his physical limits, told to “be better, get stronger”.
Sirius had long ago learned that in Dauntless, if you can't offer anything helpful to the faction you get thrown out, disowned by your friends and family, and forgotten.

“I'm up!” he yelled back, Sirius was the only one in his barracks room, the rest had moved on to either defect to other factions or stayed to become soldiers, just pawns in a world they don't understand, mindlessly following the meat on the string.
Sirius makes his way down to the mess hall where everyone gathers for meals, all sitting and chatting away happily in their platoons, Sirius sat alone at his table for months until Regulus, his younger brother came to sit with him. It was against protocol to sit with someone outside of your platoon, Regulus's actions were deemed as defiance, provoking rebellion which would usually lead to capital punishment of being made an example of and publicly executed. Luckily Orion couldn't let his two sons, or “best fighters” he had called them, to die. Both had escaped legal punishment but, while Sirius was heading to bed he was knocked in the back of the head, pushed face down on the ground and kicked by 4 or 5 masked guys know doubt sent by his father to threaten him into not stepping out of line. Despite being outnumbered Sirius managed to grab the leg of the nearest one and pull it towards himself, causing him to lose his balance and fall. The downfall of their teammate startled the others and caused them to momentarily stop their attack and gawk in surprise at Sirius, who took that opportunity to get up and immediately jump on to the next one grabbing his head and crashing it down onto the concrete with an unsettling crunching sound. Unfazed Sirius then turns his head to face the others, the guy he knocked down first had taken off his mask revealing a familiar face and a broken nose. Blood dripped down his face onto his shirt, but it didn't seem to bother him as he reached into his pocket to pull out a dagger looking for another fight as he stepped forward “Malfoy what are you doing ?” whispers one of the masked men with panic creeping between his words “killing Black that's what I'm doing” replied Lucious Malfoy as he lunges forward towards knife in hand. In retaliation Sirius darts to the side just as Lucius is about to reach him knife in hand and punches him square on his already broken nose. Lucius steps back in pain dropping the knife as he reaches up to grab his face “fuck you Black!” Lucius screams as he runs off, the other two trailing behind.

Sirius takes a moment to take in what just happened. He looks around, his eyes darting from the body to the knife. Still staring at the body he picks up the knife, stupidly brushing his fingers over the blade immediately spilling blood over the freshly sharpened blade, he instinctively moves his fingers into his mouth tasting the metallic taste on the tip of his tongue before his stomach disagrees with him and he throws up. He picks up the knife by the handle and runs down the corridor away from what just happened not wanting to face that he had just killed someone. His first ever kill.

_____

“James Potter, room two” his name was called over the intercom, slowly he rose from his chair, his legs wobbling slightly as he tried to steady himself. He walks up to room two where his test will be taking place, as he opens the door and walks in he is met with a plain room surrounded by mirrors with a plain grey floor, a chair was located in the middle with a small table with a computer being worked on by a woman. “Come in, Sit down” the woman orders without looking up, her voice sounding strangely familiar to him. As James cautiously walks up to the chair, he looks over at the woman “fuck, Dorcas it's you” James feels a wave of relief wash with him at the realisation. At that Dorcases head snaps up to look at James, her expression changing from a tight faced scowl to a calm and bright smile. Dorcases had known James' sins when he was a baby and acted as an older sister to him, looking after him and keeping him out of trouble.
“James! Sorry I didn't realise it was you, please take a seat. Let's get this over and done with, I'd rather fancy being back at Amity with Effes cooking!” She says with a laugh which definitely eased the fear creeping up James back.
“Will it hurt ?” James asks “the test?”
“No, no don't worry” Dorcas replies but James could hear a hint of concern in her voice “as long as everything goes well you'll be okay” she says trying to be reassuring but failing. James didn't have time to think about what might happen if things don't go well before Dorcas handed him a shot glass with a swirling blueish green liquid. “It's a bit early for shots don't you think?” James remarks with a giggle.
Dorcas smiles and giggles with James “just shut up and drink it for Founder's sake !”. James listens and does as he was told. Lifting the glass to his lips and letting the drink fill his mouth with the cold tasteless liquid before swallowing. James closes his eyes waiting to feel a difference. He doesn't. Opening his eyes he turns his head to where Doorcases just was wanting to make a joke but his mouth is left open with the words never leaving his mouth as he sees that he is alone in the room. Panicking James shoots up out of his chair wildly looking around the room “Dorcas !” He shouts trying to make sense of it all. James looks at himself, his reflections all looking at him, a tall skinny guy with brown hair and green eyes. His red sweater so kindly made by his mother was worn out over the years. Suddenly he felt a hand grab his shoulder, James immediately turned to see if Ducasse had returned, just to be met with himself standing in front of him .“Chose” was all his copy said, his own voice sounding gruff and rugged not at all like James’s usual cheery tone.
“What?” James's brain couldn't fathom what was happening. He looked away, two bowls appeared with an object in each a knife and a slab of meat. James turned back to where his copy just stood but had disappeared. James' head began to spin making him feel dizzy, blood roaring in his ears but he still spun around to look back at the bowls now empty. James trips over his own feet falling to the ground as a dog with big pearly white teeth appeared dripping saliva out its mouth onto the floor while snarling. James' mind was spinning wildly and the only thought he could pull together was ‘what toothpaste did the dog use?’. Luckily his second was to get up and run as the dog leapt towards him. James could tell why the meat had been there and would have been very helpful right now if he wasn't so busy having a meltdown. James, being unsure on how to fight this very angry dog without any sort of help and starts sprinting around the room with the dog chasing him. ‘Maybe I could tire it out’ he thought but not before he slipped and fell backwards into the dog.

Looking up the dog had turned into a puppy no longer threatening but rather cute. “Oh look, a puppy,” said a little girl in white dress. Suddenly the puppy turns back into the raving hound it was before and charges the girl, without a second thought James springs up grabbing the dog by its fur and tugging it back.

“James you have to go now, I'm letting you out the back door, go home now” Dorcas was shouting to James not hiding her panic “tell your parents the drink made you sick and you went home, go!”
“No, Dorcas, tell me what's happening!” James shouted back frustrated at the lack of explanation “what was my result ?!”
With a sigh Dorcas replies “dauntless, Abnegation, candour, Erudite and Amity”
“What?, that can't happen” James was confused as to what the hell was going on !
“You're a horcrux James and you're in danger, please just go home we will talk later. And if anyone asked your results where Amity” James didn't stick around for more answers, the words danger and James were enough to make him run home.

______

Sirius finds his seat in the auditorium seated next to his brother Regulus Black and behind him his parents Walburga and Orion black. But they weren't there for support and comfort; they were there to scare him into submitting to them, to keep him under control. Sirius refuses to give in. Know one knows what he's going to pick. Not until after.

Slowly different people are called up in order by family. He watched as a girl from Candour slit her hand with the ceremonial dagger and let the blood drip into the Amity bowl, amity erupted into cheats welcoming the girl with hugs and pats on the back as her parents stormed out of the auditorium. Hits a little too close to home Sirius thought. Maybe in another life he could be met with hugs and pats on the back not for anything he did just because people want to, Maybe in that life he can be free living in peace with someone he can freely fall in love with anyone he likes.
“Remus Lupin” Sirius looks up as the boy confidently gets up from the Abnegation seats and walks up the steps of the stage. Something about the boy felt different from the others, the way he held himself, the way he walked Sirius stairs with deep fascination as one would look at a higher being. Questions buzzed his mind like bees in a hive knocking into one another matched with the butterflies starting to flutter around in his stomach. Sirius couldn't help but stare at the boy, unable to peel his eyes from him. “Remus lupin, Abnegation”
Sirius watches as Remus, yes Remus was his name, walks back to Abnegation blending in with the rest of them all sitting silently, like neatly arranged rocks not cheating like the other factions not drawing attention to themselves. Sirius hated how Remus blended in, wearing grey, he felt it was a crime for Remus to be so plain, his features dulled by his clothes.

”Sirius Black” my name made me snap back to reality. I sat there like an idiot before I felt a jab of my mother's sharp fingernail poke my back. I began to rise out of my seat. I look back at Regulus. My brother's eyes are full of fear. He knows what I'm going to do. No. What I want to do. Regulus had begged him to change his mind and tried to change his mind, but to no avail. Now Sirius has made it up the steps onto the stage five bowls stand before him. Dauntless burning coals , candor broken shards of glass, Erudite water in its purest form, Abnegation smooth grey pebbles and amity fresh loam. All neatly arranged in front of him with a gleaming silver dagger in front of them all. I lifted up the dagger inspecting the weapon, like I have done countless other times before. The blade polished to perfection, I saw myself in the reflection, a tired boy with bags under his eyes, messy Jet black hair, pale face and tight lips. On the handle the words ‘the choice is in your hands’ were emblazoned. I almost laughed out loud at the words, because really if I had a choice he wouldn't be standing here about to devote my life to one decision. Decision. Fuck. What should I do? My first thought was dauntless where I was born and raised. But then memories of the torment, the training I had endured, the constant lack of control I had there, always doing what I was told, never having an opinion, I couldn't go back there. But what about Reg? I know that Reg still has a year before he chooses where to go and if he wanted he could come join me. I had made it clear that our parents can't touch us if we moved factions and that I would welcome him but... My mind then switched to the boy, and I had to fight the urge to turn around and look at him and find him in the crowd. I made myself push that thought to the back of my mind ‘stop being weak black’ i told myself lifting up the dagger to my palm. Next I thought of Amity, the way the crowd cheered and hugged anyone who came to them, dressed in colourful clothing and warmth radiating off them. How long had I spent standing there? I could feel my mothers eyes burning the back of my neck. I had to make a choice now. I pressed the knife blade into his palm, immediately breaking skin watching as the blood slowly began to spill out of the cut and down my hand. I watched as a drop of blood gathered and fell. Fell. Down. Into the loam. “Sirius Black, Amity”
_______

Regulus' blood roars in his ears as Amity erupts into cheers and he watches Sirius walk down the steps towards Amity, being greeted by hugs and happy smiles. Regulus's eyes welled up with tears that he tried to blink away. Sirius was leaving him. He will never be able to see him again. “Regulus Arcturus Black” his name eccode around the room. No. NO. He still had a year left “he's not even 16 yet!” Sirius’s voice rings out and Regulus could see that he tries to get in but is held back by a boy who says something to Sirius and they both sit back down. His mother leans over and grabs his hand digging her nails into his arm “Don't you dare disappoint me” she hisses at him. She releases her grip leaving deep indents almost breaking skin. Regulus stands up and makes his way to the stage, glancing at Sirius as he walks up the steps he could see his brother was crying while being comforted by the boy next to him. Regulus didn't know if Sirius was crying because of him or because he had never been comforted by anyone before. This filled Reg with jealousy which quickly turned to rage, how dare Sirius let himself be so soft, what would our parents think? Showing such weak emotions. pathetic. Regulus's hands were shaking. He didn't know if it was from anger or fear. He didn't care. He reached the bowel. Picking up the knife which was cleaned away from Sirius's blood and was shining once more. without a second thought he lifted his hand up placing the knife against his palm. Reg could hear his brothers sobbing behind him. “Nobody wants a weakling Regulus,” his mothers words cutting through his thoughts. Which just made his anger rise. He was angry at Sirius. His mother. His faction. Everyone. His hands still shaking he violently slices across his palm tearing through his skin with a horrible ripping sound, cutting down to the muscle as the blood pours out the gash across his plan into the hot coals releasing a hissing sound like one thousand angry snakes hissing all at once. “Regulus Arcturus Black, Dauntless” his name once again rings out around the auditorium. Blood still spilling out of his hand as he turns around. No one cheers.

Chapter Text

Chapter two Blood Brothers

6 hours after the ceremony

“The stars are bright tonight” James says, chopping into a raw potato like one would an apple.

The two boys had been sitting on what remained of a bridge with their feet dangling over the edge. Sirius's first moment of peace, Sins leaving Dauntless and becoming Amity.

After the ceremony Sirius had wanted to somehow get to his brother, to talk to him, to tell him he's sorry, to be there for him, but Dauntless ran out the building before he had the chance to leave the auditorium.

They were then loaded into trucks to be driven out beyond the city. James had attempted to put his arm around Sirius who immediately threw him off violently enough to almost topple James to the ground of the truck.

After that James had resorted to silently sitting next to Sirius instead.

Upon arrival they were taken to the dining pavilion “this is the heart of Amity, where we meet for meals, gather for social events, and learn skills from each other” next everyone was given clothes and boots, Sirius was glad to discard his past life as dauntless but was reluctant to toss his heavy steel toed boots.

Despite being in Amity Sirius could not shake the feeling of danger that was clawing at his shoulders, as a precaution he kept his boots, in case someone needed a good kicking in the shins.

They were fed, then showed where to sleep. Sirius and others alike were astonished to find out that they would be sleeping in hammocks, outside.

He didn't know what to feel. He couldn't sleep; he had too many things on his mind, his brother being his biggest worry closely followed by his fear of the amity test in the morning but he was also ecstatic to finally be away from his training, expectations and constant pressure to always be better.

And the hammock was uncomfortable.

It was James' idea to take a walk through the woods and watch the sun set to try and calm Sirius down.

But they ended up staying there for a little while after. The moon rose up high and brought the stairs with her scattering them all across the sky.

“The stars are brighter than usual,” James said while looking up.

‘Yeah, Sirius agreed, sighing loudly. He didn't really notice the stars till James pointed them out. When he looked up the stars did look brighter. ‘Perhaps that's a good sign’ he thought.

Sirius knew Regulus would be upset with him after he told him about his plans to move factions, but had expected him to go cool off for a year then move with him but plans obviously changed for both party's.

‘Regulus is angry at me”

James turns to face Sirius “No he's not” James argues

“Did you see the way he cut his hand fucking hell he almost cut it of ! FUCK”
Sirius yells remembering the blood using out of his brother's palm “I'm a horrible brother !”

“You're not, you were just doing something for yourself for once ! It was his choice to move or to stay ! You're not at fault” James yells back, but in a soft sort of way.

Sirius quits down “how would you know, you don't know me, you don't know Regulus” his voice cracking as Sirius fights tears.
“He's probably hating me right now and I can't even talk to him” now like a small scared child.

James hums in reply looking into the distance.
‘Sirius is right’ James thought ‘I don't know him, but you don't need to know someone to help them’.
____

“Good morning, everyone! I'm glad to see everyone is well rested this morning!”

James and Sirius shared a look.

The woman pauses for a breath before continuing in a single song manner “Now my name is Irma Pince I am the representative for Amity, but I am also your friend which means you can come to me for anything, our communal office is located on the second floor of the main barn and is open for everyone” …..

“Now please stand by, get to know each other as we prepare your groups” Sirius watches as Irma ends her speech with a big smile, and walks towards a table with a small group of people.

“ummm groups?” Sirius mutters to James

“yeah it's for chores and stuff” James replied with a yawn “dam I'm really messing up my sleep schedule”

“ Tell me about it” Sirius mutters not hiding his frustration

“Missing out on your beauty sleep Sirius?”
James mocks him

“Of course! do you think this all comes naturally” he gestures of himself with a smile shining on his face.

“Getting out of bed and looking that good should be a crime” James jokes back

“Well lock me up, because these luscious locks can't be tamed” Sirius laughs while running his hand through his messy hair his tiredness suddenly gone.

“Announcing names for group A” a rather short plump woman announces
Alice Fortescue, Andy Medved, James Potter, Nonna Sari, Sirius black….”

“Can't get rid of me that easily” James smirks at Sirius who laughs in return.

“oh, I wish!” Sirius mocks James

The woman finishes calling out names and gestures towards the fields.

“ Follow me, everyone I'm Pomona sprout. You can call me Pom. I'll be teaching you everything you need to know about planting, caring and harvesting plants”

—

He runs out of the auditorium, before anyone even had the chance to get out of their chair.

Bursting through the door and sprinting down an alleyway, ears still ringing, his hand throbbing with pain and a pulsing headache began to invade his thoughts.

He makes it to the train station bridge and scale’s the rusty collomes supporting the rails.

Turning round he saw the rest of the factions piling out of the building, they were mer ants from how far Regulus was standing so he felt no hope in seeing Sirius one last time.

Wait no.

He's angry at Sirius.

He doesn't want to see him What a fucking disappointment Sirius is ruining the family name.

Crying like a child. Pathetic. Or maybe Regulus is jealous that his brother escaped and he didn't.

He immediately pushed that thought to the back of his mind. Mother would have him branded for such thoughts.

Regulus felt himself burning up with anger causing his hand to feel like he's holding a glowing hot metal rod.

He turns away to face down the track, feeling the vibrations of the approaching train. The station platform began to fill up with excited chatter as the train began to pull up.

Not breaking its speed.

Everyone began to run along the track.
‘What would happen if I just didn’t get on? what if I just ran away now?’.

He shakes his head. The harsh reality was that whatever he decided to do knew that he could never escape, not now that Sirius has left, he's now the air of the Black family.

If he were to leave he would make everything worse for everybody. With the pressure of his thoughts waying down on his shoulders he runs, the train already speeding away to the far side of the platform.

Regulus is sprinting.

He's running out of platform to run on, the edge is getting closer and closer and the train is getting further and further away. The platform runs out.

Regulus leaps towards the rail and clinging on for dear life as the platform runs out beneath his feet leaving him dangling down over a 10 metre drop.

A hand reaches out of the compartment door grabbing Regulus's arm and dragging him inside.

Regulus sprawls out on the cold metal floor trying to catch his breath.

He looks up to see who his saviour was. In Front of him sat a boy with dirty blond white hair with a similar build to Regulus but with broader shoulders and dressed in a white blazer and a black hoodie underneath.

“Hey, I'm Evan,” Evan said in a handsomely calm voice.

“I'm Regulus” Regulus replied once he got his breath back, his hart still pounding from the sudden rush of adrenaline

“Nice to meet you Regulus” Evan smiled at Regulus. A warm smile, one that a mother might give a newborn child, Calm and caring.

A smile regulus had never received nor had he given. It felt different in a good way. Regulus turns away when he realised he was staring.

Everyone's excitement had not died down
“Is it just me or are they trying to kill us?” someone huffs out with a laugh

Regulus replies with an exhale and closes his eyes, taking everything in. He knew there would be more training ahead of him but obviously nothing new, he had been worked to exhaustion since the age of 5 meaning this should be a walk in the park for him.

“Prepare yourselves !” someone shouts
Even turns towards Regulus
“They’re jumping”

“What?!” Exclaims a girl to his right, as she looks on in horror and disbelief as kids start jumping off the train to a nearby roof.

Something tugged on Regulus's gut. A memory he had under lock and key stored deep in his mind.

Regulus backed up to the back of the train muttering to himself over and over “no I can't, no I can't, no I can't. fuck .fuck .fuck”

His mind flashes back to when he was 5 back when his training began, he could just barely hold a sword let alone swing it at a moving target twice his age.

He had gotten slashed across his chest, a painful deep gash that left a nasty deep scar. His father Orion had dragged him out of the training arena and into an empty meeting room dumping him on the floor.

“HOW COULD YOU!” he bellowed down at small bleeding Regulus “YOU are a disgrace to the family name! and even worse the faction of DAUNTLESS!”

Anger was speaking out of Orion's eyes, and all Regulu could do was sit up off the floor and cry “And now you're crying you PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A CHILD ! Get up NOW”

Regulus felt too weak to stand, he was shivering with fear on the cold floor with his raging father standing above him.

“YOU DARE DISOBEY ME !” Regulus brace’s himself as his own father brings his fist down towards him, the impact sends him right back down to the floor hitting his head on the concrete before everything stops.

That night he had run away. He had climbed out of a small window, scaled down a drain pipe and ran along the empty streets.

He had been running for so long his lungs burned and his freshly stitched gash was stinging like

A thousand fire ants were burrowing into his chest. He ducked into an alleyway between two run down apartment buildings. He didn't stop to rest as he began to ascend the rusty fire escape along the side of the building.

Regulus had collapsed when he reached the top.

Once he had caught his breath he turned himself over to look up at the night sky. The stars were bright that night, completely cloudless and the moon twice its size.

Regulus had felt exhausted and wanted nothing more but to lay down and never get back up.

His father's words rang through his head ‘pathetic’ the thought ‘I'm pathetic’ he put his head in his hands “i'm a sorry excuse for a human being” he whispered to himself ‘my life would have been better if you were never born in it’ Walburga, his mother, had told him when he came last in his class.

“Everyone's life would be better without mine in it” with those words Regulus stood up and walked across the old concrete roof to the edge. Feeling the rock crumble beneath his feet he didn't dare look down, instead he looked up towards the moon. The night was silent as Regulus looked at the sleeping city, well what's left of it. He felt his cheek tingle reminding him of his pathetic existence.

“Everyone would be happier without me! ” Regguls yell at the moon. He hears footsteps, a metal clang of the fire escape floor. ‘That's it, I have to’ Regulus looks up at the sky wanting to admire the moon for the last time, to feel the cold night breeze through his hair one more time. The metal clang stops, Regulus looks down. Down , down, down.

A hand grabs him and suddenly he's back on the train holding Evans hand as both boys stand by the train's open doors.

“We have to go on 3, okay? you can do this hold my hand” Evan says his body temperature is rising with adrenaline. Regulus nods in response feeling unable to utter a word.

Time was running out.
“1” Even begins his countdown. Regulus’s blood goes cold.

“2” Evans grip titans. And the boys step back a few paces.
Regulus' heart thumps in a sadistic rhythm stopping him from breathing
.
“3!” Evan yells as he and Regulus sprint across the train floor and out of the doors.

Time slows down or does it speed up? Regulus can't tell.

He feels his hand slipping away and the wind howling against him.

‘I'm not making the jump. fuck’ his mind though while his body reacted, leaning forward to reach the edge of the roof.

Looking up he sees Evens body disappearing over the ledge making it onto the roof.

Regulus hand slips and he slams his body into the wall 'that's it then’ he thinks.

He feels a hand grip his “Sirius” he says instinctively.

“Come on!” Came Evans ' panicked voice as he pulled Regulus up. Still holding hands the boys sprawl out on the floor.

Sitting up Regulus looks around as people began to gather at the far side of the roof and other making their way over giving him side glance's.

“ We should probably let go so people don't think we're…” Regulus looked at Even awkwardly.

“Yeah you're right ,sorry” Even says, moving his hand away.

“Alright, listen up everybody, I'm Horace, one of your leaders.

To enter Dauntless you have to jump, if you can't you're not worth my time”.

Horace was a tall man dressed in all black leather spoke in a dark gruff voice that indicated authority;
Regulus had seen him around the Dauntless headquarters many times, often talking or bragging about himself.

“Well someone has to go first” Horace had drawn out his words while gesturing to the crowd.

Regulus thought about his jump from the train, he did not want to jump again.
“I'll go”

Regulus looks in horror as Evan steps forward, and climbs onto the ledge of the roof. Regulus feels his blood run cold. He couldn't move.

He couldn't speak. He couldn't breathe.
“Any day now fish” Horace was smirking wildly as Evan swayed in the wind. And then. He steps.

And falls. His body disappearing over the small ledge that he stood on. Regulus doesn't wait for Horace to call for the next jumper, without thinking Regulus runs. Regulus dives. Regulus falls.
Down.

Down.

Down.

He doesn't care whether he lives or dies, but his heart has to know if Evan is alive, the first stranger to show him kindness.

____

A net was the last thing I expected to land in, so when I did I got flung back up which honestly scared me more then the fall down.

As soon as I regained my balance I lost it again as Regulus had landed in the net next to me with an audible huff sending us both back up into the air, which I found really amusing and started laughing, Regulus did not.

We both rolled out of the net and were greeted by a man in similar leather clothing as Horace but with a much younger face and a much more pleasant voice.

“Welcome to Dauntless, first jumper” said the man as if he was handing me an award, he shook my hand.

I watched as the man approached Regulus and to my surprise the man bowed before saying

“welcome back Master Regulus” to which Regulus replied with

“Thanks Dolohov” not even trying to hide his annoyance.

Before I could ask what that was about but was interrupted when a third jumper landed in the net with a scream.

“Dauntless born please follow Dolohov And new recruits stay with me” Horace orders.
The two boys look at eachother. Regguls gives me a slight nod. I return it with a smile. Then he walks away.

“Im Horace, usually i'm working in board room but for now Im your instructor”

“Horse ? like the animal?” a boy from erudite sniggerd.

Horace turned around slowly to face the boy, his expression dark with no lines of sympathy showing.

Horace loomed over the boy being almost 3 times as tall
“What's your name kid?”
“Kendrick, umm sir?”
“Well Ken-dick, one thing you will learn in Dauntless it that you'll keep your mouth shut, or I will make your life a living hell”

With that Horace kicked the small boy in the shin with enough force to send him to the ground in a blast of agony.

Horace walked off leaving the group of recruits to stand with their mouths hanging open at such an act of violence. “Follow me” he commanded.

We followed.

We walked down twisting corridors barely lit with light stumbling over imperfections in the ground, down shaky metal sterways illuminated with red light like a stairwell to hell.

No one spoke.

Perhaps from fear or from the overwhelming changes in our environments.

Back in candor Evan lived in rich white rooms with tall ceilings decorated with grand gold chandeliers.

Candor was a Marble palace compared to the caves of Dauntless.

I started hearing distant cheering ecowing down the tunnels slowly growing into roaring laughter with what sounded like people stomping their feet against the ground followed by a celebratory cheer.

We turned a corner and the tunnel opened into a gigantic chasm, terraformed into an arena-like space with a glass roof allowing the blazing sunlight in.

The place reminded me of a rat cage, with big gray stone walls and a roof for people to look in and make fun of you.

Speaking of which our little group was noticed by the other Dauntless and quickly became the center of attention - more like the next victims.

A chant started “Fresh meat! Fresh meat! Fresh meat!”

“This is the pit, center of life here at Dauntless” Horace proudly announced.

“You shall be trained together, you shall eat together, you are a team and a team” he leaves a pause “listen to me.”

Horace turned round to face us, switching his gaze from one victim to another. “Do what i say and you'll survive”