Tobias POV
I trudge home from school, ready to take another beating from my dad. Literally. One little thing wrong, which he always finds something wrong with me, and the belt thrashes at my back again. Today I have a miniscule spot of dirt, the remains of mud, from when I was chased down by a few Candors and interrogated why Erudite is starting to release their suspicions that we a hoarding resources. Even if I told him this story, I know there is no hope for me.
Suddenly, I feel something very un-Abnegation stirring in the space between my ribs and stomach. A growl from a monster who was thought to be permanently killed. Something that reminds me of the faction Dauntless. I want to fight back. After I have that weird stirring thing, I know that I have to fight back. Why not beat HIM down for once? I can do it. I can do it.
I stop on my front step, which is identical to every other house on this block. We are the same, at least on the outside. What goes on INSIDE of the sameness is what terrifies me. Dad. This strange Dauntless feeling. I open the door and walk inside, in a manner which, I hope, is passive.
"Good afternoon, Father." I try to keep my voice from shaking from this newfound defiance.
"Hello, Tobias. How was your day today?" He gives me a pointed look like I should've known to ask that first. Maybe that will be his reason. I will him to take me upstairs, where The Belt waits, and eventually, he does, after some small talk and empty ramblings about work.
I climb the stairs per the nightly routine, but today something is boiling inside of me, ready to burst out at him. I glower as I take off me shirt and wait for the whip to slice my skin. I am ready. When I hear the whoosh of the belt, I turn and thrust a hand out just in time to catch the leather string. It stings my hand, but I pull it out of his grip, and stand above him, victorious.