I have realised that I don't actually say for a while but if anyone wanted to know Beatrice is 14 and Tobias is 16 in this story. I tried my best to use American spellings of words since the story is set in America but forgive me if not (I know it's hardly a big deal but I wanted to make it fit). Anyway, I hope you like this fanfic! Please review, constructive criticism is always welcome!
I felt a strong hand wrap around my wrist and my breath catch in my throat. A man in filthy rags had approached me to ask if I had any food that I could give him and when I politely said no he grabbed me.
"I know you're lying to me," he was backing me against the wall in the alley. The grip on my arm was too tight to get out of. I flinch from the impact of the brick wall my back hits. "All you Abnegation always have food on you."
His whisper was menacing and I froze under his gaze. I had nothing to give him and no way out.
I twisted my head to the side to try and rid my nostrils of his putrid breath but it was no use as he advanced closer to me.
"Please," I trembled. "Please don't hurt me. I swear I don't have anything, please."
I felt so weak and pathetic, begging with this repulsive man, but there was no other option. I could not scream for help as nobody would be this far out of the sector. If I cried out I know this man would only hurt me worse. I could see in his eyes the delight he caused from inflicting pain.
His hand twisted around my forearm, the friction tearing at my skin.
"Stop. Lying." I notice his other arm rise up and I braced myself for the impact.
"Hey!" I hear a boy's voice coming clear across the alley.
The factionless man turns to look in the direction of my savior. I seize my opportunity while the man is distracted and bring my knee up sharply.
He groans and releases my arm only slightly but it is enough for me to pull free from his grasp. I sprint towards where I heard the voice, not bothering to look behind me. I grab his hand and pull him along with me, away from my attacker.
We run together, taking different twists and turns, until we are far enough away that the man cannot find us.
I lean my back against the wall and slide to the floor. My lungs are burning. I have hardly ever run before since running is frowned upon in Abnegation. It draws attention and distracts others which is selfish, according to my mother.
After a few heavy breaths, I look up at the boy stood in front of me. He is tall, close to a foot taller than me. The thick grey Abnegation garments sitting awkwardly on his body. His hair is dark, his skin is tanned and he has deep blue eyes, like the sea during a storm. Overall, his appearance is a lot more striking than my small frame, pale skin and dull hair and eyes.
"Thank you," I pant.
"That was all you," he says appraisingly. "Quick thinking."
"You provided the distraction." I say modestly. "Honestly though thank you. I don't know what he would have done to me if you hadn't shown up."
He smiles at me, pausing for a moment, "it was my pleasure."
I lean my head back and sigh in relief.
"I must say," the boy spoke again, "that wasn't very Abnegation of you, what you did back there."
He has a light tone to his voice, amused almost. "I could say the same about you."
"Yeah well, sometimes I'm more curious than I should be," he smirks.
I nod in understanding. I'm exactly the same, too curious for my own good, too curious for Abnegation.
"Let me walk you home," the boy says. "I'd like to make sure you don't encounter anymore violent factionless."
"I couldn't. I told my mother I would be out helping the factionless for a few hours and I've only been out for," I check my watch, "forty minutes now."
I see him tilt his head and look at me curiously, "if you were supposed to be helping the factionless then what were you doing this edge of the sector. You know the factionless are mostly on the other side, right?"
"Yeah, I know." I look down at my feet. I shouldn't have said that, it was a stupid thing to say. I silently scold myself for telling a stranger about my selfishness.
Then I hear him chuckle, my eyes snap up to meet his. I wonder if he understands the feelings about our faction that I have. The out of place feeling that I wake to every morning. The hesitation to make selfless choices. I do not belong in this faction that much I know for sure.
"I'll tell you what," he says with a half-smile, "we'll go for a walk and then I can keep you company until it is time for you to return home. If that is fine with you. I would just really like to make sure you stay safe."
I feel a small grin creep onto my face and I nod, pushing myself off of the wall. "Where are we going?"
"Wherever we want." The reply is short and simple but I like it. The idea of freedom, we could go anywhere.
We walk together aimlessly weaving through the buildings as they become less and less frequent and then stop appearing altogether. That is when we know we are at the edge of the sector. It is nice out here. Peaceful and quiet.
We sit together on the grass for a long while, talking about nothing and everything. It is nice, I have never spoken to anyone in Abnegation like this before. It is considered selfish to talk about oneself so making any real friends is virtually impossible. I could see this boy becoming my friend. He is so open and kind and intelligent. From the way he helped me earlier he is quite clearly brave as well.
We sit for what feels like a lifetime until I realize that I have been out of the house for a little over two hours. "I should probably start heading home, it is a fair walk from here."
He stands and brushes the grass off of his trousers. "Let's go then, we wouldn't want you to miss dinner, you're already tiny enough as it is."
I shake my head, laughing a little. I don't recall ever having laughed as much in my entire life as I have in this afternoon.
We walk back, the conversation never dimming between us until we get closer to the center of the sector and more people are around. We both know we must behave a certain way in front of the faction to keep up appearances of being perfect Abnegation children.
After half an hour of walking we reach my house and come to a stop.
"It was very nice saving you this afternoon," he bows his head, the typical Abnegation greeting.
"It was very nice being saved by you," I bow my head in return.
He smiles and then walks away, leaving me to go in to my house. I hover outside for just a moment longer than I should to watch this boy disappear. I wonder if I will ever get the chance to see him again. I hope I do.
Later on I am seated at the dinner table with my family. My father and mother discussing what they had been doing previously and my brother, Caleb, and I listening respectfully.
"-and what did you do today, Beatrice?" My mother asks me. It is only then that I realize I have drifted from the conversation.
"I went a helped the factionless for a few hours," I lie.
"Did anything interesting happen while you were out?" My father enquires.
I shake my head politely, "no." I wonder if they know that I am being dishonest with them.
I assume not as they move on to discuss what Caleb had been doing that day. He tells us all about the volunteer work he had been doing in the hospital earlier, how much admiration he had for the doctors who worked there and how glad he was that he could help them in any way possible.
After we finish our meal, Caleb and I are sent to bed. It is a Sunday so school begins again tomorrow and we must be well rested for the day.
I bid my parents goodnight and then follow Caleb upstairs where we part and go to our separate rooms.
After I have brushed my teeth and changed for bed, I find myself thinking of the boy I met. His blue eyes flash behind my closed ones. How I hope to see them again. I wish I had asked for his name and then maybe I could find him. He appeared to be close to my age so surely he attends my school. I wonder if he is in my year but I know that he could not be because I surely would have noticed him before.
The last thought that floats through my mind before sleep finds me is him.
I must see him again.