Chapter Sixteen

This chapter is where Al develops. His parents came to visit him but he hid away from them, though Tris can't imagine why. He explains that there was a pressure to transfer and his own personal beliefs that lead him to transfer. He believes bravery lies in protecting others, not senselessly beating one another; aw, this was kind of cute. It'd be even cuter if he wasn't so dumb.

Tris thinks her presence will be soothing to him, but he takes it a bit too far. He lies his arm across her shoulder and she jolts away. Of course, normal flirting weirded her out--she likes, instead, to make eyes at men while they throw knives at her, or when she's several stories in the air. But, you know who am I to judge?

The next day the rankings are posted as follows:
1. Edward
2. Peter
3. Will
4. Christina
5. Molly
6. Tris
7. Drew
8. Al
9. Myra

Tris is right where she's supposed to be, but Molly is angry that her rank dropped on her account. She fears that Molly will try something, and she's half right--but she is not the target. In the middle of the night she hears a thud and wail and when the lights come on Edward has a knife in his eye. He's screaming and writhing in pain and she describes it as a "halo of blood" has gathered around his head. I thought that was an interesting way to put it, and it was actually kind of pretty in my head--but in a weird grotesquely pretty kind of way. I hope that they have an artsy way of filming this part in the movie. 

In the end, the doctor comes and takes him away and Tris stays on her hands and knees cleaning his blood from the floor. The next day is tense and awkward for all the initiates but Will and Tris make some bad jokes and end up laughing because, "sometimes laughing and crying are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now." I'd rather not elaborate too much on the personal feelings I have to this quote, but I think there's nary a person who doesn't affiliate with such a statement.

By the chapter's close Edward and Myra have left to become Factionless, Peter is first, and Al is saved from being cut.