father

                                    

                                          
I looked all over the factionless area but couldn't find Tobias so I started my way home. I'm sure he will turn up sooner or later. The thing is, I don't want him to go home. I don't even wanna go home. But I have to. Missing daughter from one of the councils could not be found. It'll definitely look bad on him. I sit on the step of my house to think. Maybe I can run up the stairs quickly and go straight to my room.  Better not, I have to cook dinner tonight. I take a big breath, standing up and walk through the door. My father was sitting on the sofa looking at a book. His nose was scrunched up and his glasses were falling down. He took his index finger pushing them up closer to his face. I go straight into the kitchen to wash my hands.
                          
"Your results?" He doesn't look up, neither do I. Instead I look at the bubbles forming in the sink as I turn the knobs off. 
                          
"Abnegation." I respond quickly but with no hesitation. 
                          
"You hiding something from me?" He sets the book down taking his glasses off and setting them down. 
                          
"No sir." I turn to face him. 
                          
"Don't lie to me." He shouts, standing up and charges over to me. I flinch once he was closer to me, his hands tightly gripped on to my arms. 
                          
"I wasn't lying. I got abnegation." I stuttered. My body shakes with fear as I felt my cheeks stinging with pain. The tears threaten to come out but I won't let them. 
                          
"You do as I say. Lying shows that your mind has been poisoned by your surroundings. Selfishness is not tolerated." His hands tighten around my arms. They soon be come numb. 
                          
"But I didn't lie." I gasped for air as my father hit me in the ribcage. 
                          
"You did. You think for yourself. You better learn quick daughter of mine. Abnegation will not accept you if you think like this." He throws me across the room and I hit the wooden floor. 
                          
"Go to your room. I have to go to a council meeting to night. You know what I will take you there myself. Put the lock on your door. You are not allowed out til morning light. You good for nothing spoiled brat." He spits as he picks me up off the floor violently dragging me up the stairs then shoves me into my room. 
                          
I fell onto my bed as he slams the door shut and put the lock on it. There is a lock at the top where the door hinge is.  He always does this to me. Normally I would walk myself to my room sometimes he just throws me in my room. But he always locks the door and never comes in until morning light. I know how the deal goes. After he falls asleep I go to Tobias house to sleep. Ever since I've known him, I have always snuck out of my house to sleep at his then return before dawn. I get nightmares of my father beating me to death sometimes him beating Tobias but once I'm with Tobias the nightmares go away. 
                          
I waited for him to leave. Then I can go over to see Tobias. I put my hand on my cheek to trace the mark. He got me good, I can still feel it. A bruise developed on my ribcage. There was a sudden thud downstairs. Must be the door. I waited for any footsteps but none were made. I go over to my bedroom window and unlock it. My father walked toward the Eaton's house. Tobias. That's where they were having the meeting. There is no way I could go see Tobias right now. Especially with my father over there. I'll wait til he comes back and when he falls asleep then I can go. I fall on my bed. I should get some sort of sleep in til he gets home.
                          
A few hours passed and then I hear the front door slam shut. A pair of footsteps walking throughout the house and then it stops. The house was silent, only the sound of my father's snoring. I crawl out my bedroom window sliding down the gutter. Then run straight towards Tobias's house. Not caring if someone sees me or not. It's too late in the night for anyone to be up. As soon as I get there I climb up to the window looking into it. Tobias was flat on his stomach on the bed with no shirt on. I could see the red marks off his back. His father beat him with the belt again. I lightly tapped the window but he does not move. 
                          
"Please don't be dead." I whispered under my breath. 
                          
As soon as I said that Tobias turned his head and look toward the window. His face full of exhaustion and pain. I put my hand up to my mouth covering it. I was in shock. I knew Tobias was beaten by his father but I didn't think it was this bad. His father is just as bad as mine. He  gets up unlocks the window pushing it up as he pulls me in. Then shuts the window turning to face me. I stood there in shock. 
                          
"Your cheek." He mumbles walking over to me and examines my face. 
                          
"I'm fine. Your back?" I turn him around so I could see it. Line after line after line. I'm surprised he isn't bleeding.
                          
"You need to get this checked out or it could get infected." He turns to face me and hugs me. 
                          
"I'll be fine. I promise." His voice muffled into my neck.
                          
"Tomorrow's choosing ceremony and we need to go somewhere else. We can't stay here in abnegation anymore. I can't stand it when that monster hurts you." I could feel hot tears falling down my face. 
                          
"You think my father's a monster? Your father is just as bad as mine maybe worse. Look at your cheek, Daniella. I won't tolerate it anymore, him hurting you. We're going to get out. We will pick a different faction tomorrow." He pulls away sitting on his bed. 
                          
"But which one?" I sat next to him looking at his brown eyes. 
                          
"I don't know. We get out together. We stay together." He takes his thumb wiping away my tears. I nod my head in agreement. After all we've been through there was no way I could leave him. 
                          
"Alright. Lets get some sleep." He lays on his side as I cuddle into his chest. His arm draped over my waist making me feel safe. I listen to the heartbeat of his thump. Our last night in abnegation. What will he choose? What will I choose?