Chapter Text
Tris
My fingers tingle in anticipation. the street is quiet and the sky is clear. There is no noise, just peace. It's how it should be, this is Abnegation after all. I straighten my plain gray skirt when I reach the door step of his house. Tobias invited me over to his house. We usually spend these moments rebelling against our Abnegation teachings. His father is at work so we spend the time running around the house or trying to tackle each other. His father would probably die of shock if he ever saw us this way but we are careful.
I put my hand on the door handle when I hear a muffled shout behind it. I don't think, I just burst into the room. The shout sounded painful. It sounded like Tobias.
It is Tobias. He is screaming.
I run up the stairs to find its source. Marcus is hovering over him with a belt in his hand, his face is contorted. It's red and full of rage. His eyes show no mercy. Tobias is crouched, his eyes are shut. His lips form a thin line.
He sees me. His blue eyes go wide. Marcus turns around, the belt slips from his hand and falls on the floor.
I can't think. My eyes are burning with tears.
'Tobias,' I cry out.
I feel something else too; I feel rage.
'You monster,' I spit at Marcus. I run to Tobias to help him. I start crying.
'You were hurting him," I say as if it wasn't obvious. 'You monster.'
Tobias winces as I help him sit up.
'Beatrice, go.' He mumbles.
I stare at him.
'No,' I say. 'He was hurting you.'
'Beatrice just go, please. Just go,' he whispers.
Marcus is still in shock because he hasn't moved. Then he suddenly reaches for me. Tobias pushed me hard and I stumble forward
'GO!' He yells and I jump. I've never heard his voice like that. I can't think. I want to do something . I want to hit Marcus like he was hitting Tobias but I'm only ten. I can't possibly do that. I'm weak and small. I turn away and run. I am sobbing. I run as fast I can. Sobs take over me. I can't help him.
I run.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tobias
Marcus looks at me. The rage is gone. It's replaced by fear. He licks his lips.
'You know what to do,' he growls at me.
I nod eagerly. 'Yessir.'
I make a run for it. My back throbs and stings but I ignore it. I have to find her before she tells anyone else, before she makes it worst. but I know she won't make it worst. She'll understand, she always does. And I know exactly where to find her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tris
I'm sobbing I can't help it. I saw how the belt hit him. I saw how his back arched, how he squeezed his eyes and stuffed his fist into his mouth to muffle his screaming.
And i didn't stop it. I couldn't stop it.
'Beatrice.'
I jump and turn around to find Tobias standing behind me.
I walk to him and wrap my arms around him. I hug him tightly and he winces. I pull back.
'No,' he whispers and hugs me. He squeezes me, trying to get some comfort. The tears are still running down my cheeks. We are in an abandoned building near the factionless sector. Tobias found it and we have been coming here ever since.
He pulls back and stares at me.
'Are you okay?' I whisper. It's a stupid thing to ask. Ofcourse he's not okay. Ofcourse not.
He nods.
'Beatrice-' he starts.
'Don't,' I say furiously. 'I'll tell them. I'll tell them what that monster did to you! I'll-'
'Beatrice please!' He exclaims loudly. He grabs my shoulders and squeezes them. 'He'll make it worse, please. His eye searching mine.
'Do you love me?' He whispers.
I nod.
'Are you my best friend?'
I nod again with eagerness.
'Then don't tell.'
'It's ridiculous!' I say. 'He beat you and you're telling me-'
'Where will I go Beatrice? If you tell them. Look just keep this quiet. Please?'
I don't nod this time.I just stare at him. He takes my face into his hands and forces me to look at him. Then he smiles and I know what he is going to say.
'It'll be our little secret.'
'Okay,' I say quietly. I know these secrets, I have been keeping them. Secret like why he keeps that blue statue in his room. Why his mother's stomach was flat when she was suppose to have a baby.
Tobias bursts into tears and I'm not surprised. I hug hum as tight as I can. His arms are around me so tight it hurts, but I let him.
'Beatrice,' he sobs.
'It's okay,' I whisper. 'It's okay. I'm here. It's okay.'
I rock him back and forth over and over again.
I have to get him out. I will get him out.