CHAPTER 9

TOBIAS POV

I walk with the Priors' down to my fathers' house. I just hope they stay close to me when I see my father again. I really don't want to be by myself with him this morning. It is like Natalie can sense my apprehension for as soon as we reach my fathers house she steps forward and knocks on the front door.

My father opens the door with a smile on his face. Seems he is going to play the game today. Here comes doting dad, as if nothing happened last night or any other night for the last seven years. "Good morning Natalie", he says in a booming voice. Taking all of us by surprise.

"I hope Tobias was on his best behaviour last night? I hope you enjoyed your little sleep over with the Priors son", as he says this he puts an arm around my shoulder and hisses is my ear so no one else can hear, "there are going to be consequences to what you pulled last night". He lets go of my shoulder. I can see everyone looking at me as I try not to cringe with him touching me or cry out with the pain his touch causes me. I put my head down and avert my eyes to the ground. Tris is so short that when I look down my eyes catch hers. I can see that she is looking at me with a mix of confusion and concern. I try to give her a small smile to reassure her I'm ok. She gives me a smile back which just warms my heart.

"Good morning Andrew, I hope you are well?", Marcus nods to Mr Prior.

"Morning Marcus, we are all fine this morning"

"Good, good. Caleb, Beatrice nice to see you both again. Not long now until it will be choosing day for both of you. Such an important day for our young people", as Marcus keeps talking I tune out, not wanting to have to listen to whatever rubbish he is spouting out of his mouth. The man has two faces and the wonderful, caring Abnegation leader is on full display for the world to see today.

We get to the bus stop just as the bus is pulling up and we all hop on. Like all good Abnegation we stand in the aisle and this gives Marcus his chance to talk to me without anyone else listening. There is quite a lot of noise on the bus this morning, the excitement of the Choosing Ceremony always brings out cheeriness in the people. It will be a different story on the way home especially if their children have transferred factions.

"You know what to expect," he whispers into my ear. I nod slightly so he knows I am listening. "You'll stand in your place, when your name is called you will go forward to get your knife. Then you will cut yourself and drop the blood into the right bowl." The emphasis on the word right that he makes almost has me laughing. Right bowl, the words seem so ridiculous to me, I know I have to keep my eyes down and just nod. I don't want him to see into my eyes, I can't let him know that I am leaving, I just have to last a little bit longer and I will be free.

"The knife will only hurt for a moment. Then your choice will be made and it will all be over."

"Don't worry about me handling pain," I say. "I've had a lot of practice."

He grabs hold of my arm and squeezes as tight as he can without making it obvious to the people around us. The bus is full with people now so it isn't obvious to anyone what he is actually doing to me. I now realise that no matter what the future holds, whether my dream was really what will happen or not. I just have to get out. It is the same desperate thought that I had in the dream about the Choosing Ceremony the first time I had to choose. I had been so caught up in my fear of being so close to my father I had almost forgot about the night befores dream. We reach our destination and Marcus lets my arm go, there will be bruises there later. I suppose Marcus thinks it won't matter because my Abnegation clothes will cover it. Hopefully it will just make me look tough to the Dauntless.

We walk into the Hub and towards my fate. I have never understood how it could be selfish to ride in the elevator. Why the ceremony has to be on the twentieth floor is beyond my comprehension, the last thing I want to do is walk up all those stairs. Then it happens, it is like the people part and Caleb, Tris and I are pushed into the elevator along with a large group of people. We have been separated from our parents. I hear Natalie call to us saying they will meet us on the twentieth floor.

I can't believe my luck, there are so many people crammed into the space that Tris is pushed into me. Suddenly I don't feel so lucky, as the doors close I can feel myself feeling faint and my breathing has become short and rapid, my heart feels like it is about to burst out of my chest. Just when I thought I was getting a few minutes alone with Tris the terror of being locked in our hall closet is coming back to me.

Caleb looks at me and can see the beads of sweat starting to form on my forehead. "Are you claustrophobic Tobias?" Caleb asks. All I can do is nod and a sort of grunt comes out of my mouth almost like I'm a deranged animal. This is so embarrassing, I just wish we would get to the twentieth floor as quickly as possible. All of a sudden I feel a small hand lace with mine, Tris turns her head and looks into my eyes and she whispers, "it's okay, we will be there soon." A warmth runs through my body and although I can't relax I know I will survive to get out of this box. It is amazing how many stops the elevator makes before we reach our destination. I lean over and whisper, "thank you," into her ear and see the blush come over her face. This makes me smile, I have always loved her modesty. When I move away I can see Caleb glaring at us, but I don't care we haven't done anything inappropriate.

He is about to say something when the doors suddenly open and I feel like I can breathe again. We wait outside the doors to the ceremony for Marcus and the Priors to arrive. Caleb starts rambling on some useless facts and statistics about the Choosing Ceremony. I look at Tris who is rolling her eyes and try not to laugh, neither one of us are listening to a word he says. I'm just enjoying being able to be in such close proximity to Tris. I know this is the last time I will be able to be this close until after her Choosing Ceremony two years from now. At least I know she's alive. I just have to hope that she still chooses Dauntless.

The parents arrive and start to usher us into the room. Just as I'm about to be parted from Tris I lean down and say, "see you in two years Tris." As I'm moving away from her I look her in the eyes and wink. I then have to turn and walk into the room with my father leaving Tris with a surprised look on her face. I don't think I've ever had to be as brave as I just was and I can't seem to wipe the smile off me face.

My father sneers at me as he says, "wipe that smile off your face, you are embarrassing me." If only he knew just how embarrassed I was about to make him feel.