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New Year… New story!
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Hope After the Storm
*** Like always, I have no claim over the Divergent series or the characters, all rights belong to the one and only Veronica Roth. ****************
Trigger warning: This story will contain sexual content, mentioning of child abuse, mental and physical abuse and possible other trigger warnings. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
About: Tris escapes her abusive and power hungry husband to not only find a new life in a safe and small beach town, but she also finds what true friendship and true love is really all about.
Chapter 1
How they met
"Night, Tori," I call out as I push the heavy glass door open, letting myself out.
"Night, Beatrice. Thanks again for coming in." She calls back. I smile as I let the door close behind me and breathe in the cold air. I close my jacket, squeezing into it a little more as I begin my all too familiar walk home. The stars are bright for the city of Chicago, as it's very rare to be able to see them at all. The moon shines just as bright, lighting the city.
The streets are empty as usual for this time of night, there are only a few people out and about. Tori my boss called me in, not that I minded, I had nothing else better to do. Not to mention I need the money. My tuition is due next week and although my mom and dad help out with the expenses, I hate the thought of them struggling all because I wanted to go to an out of state school. I wanted something different than what California life could offer me, something that I could be taken seriously and not just for my surfing skills. My parents supported me a hundred percent with my decision, like they always have. My brother, on the other hand, had decided to stay close to home. Just last week he had called me, excitedly telling me that he finally popped the question to our childhood friend and neighbor, Susan. I was happy for them, truthfully, it's about damn time. I seriously believe that Caleb has never been with anyone else other than her.
It was as if they were joined at the hip from the moment Susan and her family moved in next door. Everyone could see that those two would become inseparable from day one. Both families even took bets on when they would get married. Of course, they did the same to me and her brother, Robert.
Although Robert and I were amused by the idea of being together for a short time, it was quickly figured out by the both of us that we wouldn't last. We were just too different and not compatible at all. Robert tends to be a little too friendly and easy going for my liking. Parties and large social gatherings are his thing. I felt like I was trapped in a fish tank being looked at and being told what and how to live my life, never allowed to be free in the ocean to find my own way.
The sound of loud footsteps wakes me from my deep thoughts. I quickly realize that although the walk home is all too familiar, I also realize that I have slowed my foot steps in a dark alley, making me vulnerable to anything as my mind lingers in places where they shouldn't be right now.
"Hey there, where are you going?" A man calls out from behind me. I don't stop, I quicken my steps. My hand tightens on my handbag in my right hand. The strap is long and strong. I prepare to use it to my advantage if need be. I ready myself for a fight. I recall the little self-defense that I learned long ago in high school. Drop my weight, the little that I have. Hit them where it counts, make them distracted by pain long enough for you to get away. As I take a deep breath, readying myself for the worst and hoping for the best, my stomach drops when I see another man waiting for me at the end of the alley. Another man, smiling, taking small steps towards us.
"Hey, well lookie look what we have here." The man in front of me says.
"She looks like she could use some fun!" The man behind me calls out. I can hear the excitement in his voice, disgusting.
"She looks like she isn't a day over 12." The man in front of me calls back, his index finger going up and down as if it's referring to me.
"Well, I guess we should check and see what she has hiding under there," the man suggests. Oh God no, please, please.
"Stay away from me!" I yell out with all the force I can muster.
"Oh, come on, don't be like that sugar," the man in front of me says. He steps closer towards me, his hands held out, openingly as if he expects me to just walk right into his arms. Pig. Fuck that!
"Yeah, we just wanna have a little fun. Come on, we will make it worth your while," the man behind me says. I can hear his voice getting closer to me without looking. I look around the empty alley, looking for any source of weapon or door to escape through. But no such luck. I stop, panting uncontrollably as I turn my body glancing between them both. The man in front of me is skinny and dirty. While the one that is behind me looks as if he has been drinking as he sways from side to side. I figure I could probably take down the drunk one, if I get a good enough hit. But the other one could probably take me down. No question, he is taller and walking straight and seems just fine on his own two feet compared to his friend. I continue to glance between the both of them, panting, this can't be happening. I feel the sting in my head as my body slams into the concrete wall behind me. For a moment I get the air knocked out of me as I force myself to hold it together. I can't lose it now, or the worst could happen. No, I need to be strong. I need to fight.
The man, the drunk one, has his hands on my shoulders, holding me against the wall as his friend smiles disgustingly as he licks his lips. Yuck! When he smiles once again, I can see the space between his teeth, he's missing a few. I bite my bottom lip, trying to keep the bile from coming up. I wait patiently, letting them think they have me right where they want me before I give them one final warning, "get away from me!" Then I take the only advantage that I have, I kick with all of my might.
"Oh, this one is a feisty one," the other man says, as his grip on me tightens as he throws me back into the wall. My eyes close, threatening to black out. No, damn it.
"Hey!" A deep voice calls out from a distance. I am filled with both relief and fear all at once. Please, God.
"Hey man, mind your own business-" The man that has me begins to say, but he doesn't have a chance to finish his thought as the man punches him in the jaw, forcing my attacker to release my shoulders. I nearly lost my balance, holding myself against the wall. The other man is still on the floor holding his groin whining like the disgusting man he is.
"Stay down!" The man orders the men. Luckily for them, they do as they are told. The man steps closer towards me, his hands are up in the air showing me that he means no harm to me. "Are you alright? Can you walk?" He asked me. I nod my head, pushing off of the wall and heading down the alley. He follows me, glancing back towards my attackers making sure they do in fact stay where they were told to.
"Thank you," I say, my voice lower than I expected it to be. My body is shaking uncontrollably. I can't control it. He acts quickly, taking his jacket off and wrapping it around my shoulders.
"No problem. Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor? Did they hurt you?" He asks.
"I think… I'm okay…. They… I hit my head," I stutter, reaching up behind my head feeling the swollen bump that is beginning to form. I watch as he slowly reaches up, feeling my head.
"I'm a cop. I can help you report this," he continues, "or get you to a doctor." He offers.
"No. No, I'm fine," I say. Embarrassed to admit I don't have any health insurance at the moment. "I just want to get home," I admit.
"Then the least I can do is walk with you, make sure you get home safely," he says, letting his hand fall down to his side. His hands dig into the pockets of his jeans, keeping them warm. My lips press into a tight line, determining if I should trust him. What am I thinking? After tonight, what he just did… of course I can trust him. He could have easily turned away, pretended not to hear, pretended to not have seen… but he didn't. He saved me.
"Okay," I say nodding, walking in the direction of my dorm.
"Who the hell are you?" Christina asks, answering the door to our dorm room. My eyes open against my will, glancing towards Christina, my roommate and the man that stands in the doorway.
"I'm Eric…" Eric answers, his voice revealing he isn't taken by Christina's hostility. I shut my eyes even tighter than they were before. Please let this not be real.
"I see… are those for me?" She asks. I once again glance towards the two interacting. Eric is carrying a tray with two coffees and a small bag.
"Nope," he says, simply. He pushes by her coming into the room and sitting himself on the edge of my bed. Seriously?
I admit it was comforting to have him walk me home last night. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe walking home. Of course, that didn't help the uncontrollable shakes that threatened to show. I loathe being shown as anything close to weak, and in that moment when my attackers had the best of me that's exactly what I was… weak and vulnerable. Eric kept the conversation light between us, which I was most thankful for. As I'm sure my voice wouldn't have worked. But still, he kept the conversation going, making sure that I was alright on my way home. He refused to leave my side until he walked me all the way up to my door and made sure it was shut and locked when we finally said our goodbyes.
Christina wasn't home when I got back, which I was thankful for, as it gave me the chance to shower and collect my thoughts on the night's events. To say I was still slightly shaken up was an understatement to say the least. I'm not sure when Christina finally came home, I must have been asleep. I haven't had a chance to tell her about last night.
"Um… excuse me." Christina says, furious while glancing at Eric. I laugh at the sight of her being outraged and him not giving a damn. She finally gives up throwing her hands up in the air and grabbing her toiletry bag and leaving us be.
"So, I wasn't sure what you liked… so I brought you a black coffee, but I also brought a few sugar packets and cream just in case. I also took the liberty of bringing you a few pastries," he says, smiling down at me. I slowly sit up, keeping my comforter over my lap. I reach out, taking one of the two cups from him.
"Thanks, black is fine," I say, smiling in appreciation as I bring the cup up to my lips and taking a sip of the delicious hot liquid. "So what are you doing here?" I ask, eyeing him.
"Just checking on you. I wanted to make sure you're okay," he admits. I can't help my smile that widens up at him. His eyes are genuine and kind as they look over me. My stomach begins to feel like there are thousands of butterflies flying around. "I also wanted to see you again."
"Yeah?" I begin to wonder if I'm still sleeping. Can this really be happening?
"Yeah." he smiles.
A/N
And so another story begins… We will be going back to our weekly updates. So check back every Tuesday for a new chapter.
Like I always say, "You keep reading, I will keep writing." There are many ideas that both FDFobsessed and I are working on for my future stories. I may not know exactly how long this story will be, but I do know that once this story is done more will follow.
Revised by: FDFobsessed
I hope you all have a wonderful new year.
Like always, happy reading, be safe and stay healthy,
Trini