Chapter 4
Two days after my outburst at the Abnegation headquarters, I find myself back there, once again surrounded by everyone, going through the same ceremony of Tobias asking my father for my hand in marriage. This time, I actually follow the others into the room where the marriage license will be signed by both me and my new husband.
Tobias is the first to sign, and I can see his hand shake a little. He has been as somber about this whole thing as I have been, and I hate everyone in this room for smiling at us. There is nothing to smile about, you fake shitheads. You just forced two strangers, two kids, to get married. I hope you are proud of yourselves, you self-righteous bastards!
Marcus gives yet another speech, while both Tobias and I stand to the side watching the others having fun. I hope you all choke on your food, you selfish motherfuckers!
"Tobias," I hear Caleb's voice, and look toward where it came from. I see my brother standing in front of my husband, glaring with great intensity. "If you hurt my sister, I will kill you," Caleb growls. If I wasn't so frustrated with this situation, I would find his comment endearing. I love my brother. Tobias keeps a straight face.
"I won't move a hair on her head. I will keep her safe, no matter what," Tobias vows. That was an odd thing to say. Is it because of Marcus? Does he know that Marcus came to threaten me? Or was the mad version of Marcus I got to experience two days ago a regular appearance in his home?
"You better," Caleb warns, and then turns to look at me. He hugs me, despite the obvious frowning we receive, but I don't care. In the midst of all the crap that has happened to me, Caleb is what is still normal in my life.
When the festivities are over, and everyone is heading home, I walk past them, to hurry back home. I am halfway to my house, when Marcus calls for me. I curse under my breath, before putting a smile on my face. I turn around, to see what this bastard wants.
"Yes, Marcus?" I question politely.
"You are going the wrong way," he states matter-of-factly. What? I've been walking this way for sixteen years. I think I know where my home is. Whatever must have crossed my face, prompts my father to speak up.
"Beatrice, you have to go with Tobias and Marcus to your new house," dad says, and I can see mom's face fall. She must be hearing this for the first time, too. I watch her as she takes a step toward my father, calling his name, but he ignores her.
"Are you serious?" I ask incredulously.
"Of course, I am. You are married now. You need to live with your husband."
"Andrew, we never agreed to this," mom says, pulling my father's arm.
"Quiet, Natalie," dad says, his tone harsh. I've never heard him talk to mom like that. "Beatrice, you will go live with Tobias in Marcus's house, until Tobias becomes a member, and receives his own living quarters." I look from my dad to a smirking Marcus, and then a mortified Tobias. What should I do? I can't protest too much. But I also don't want to live alone with two men I don't even know.
"What if we stayed at our house? My room is big enough for the both of us," I suggest. Mom immediately agrees, but dad shakes his head.
"No. You will live with Tobias in Marcus's house. End of discussion. Your mother will gather your things, and bring them over tomorrow morning."
"What if I refuse?" I ask defiantly.
"You can't. Now that you are married, you have no place in my house," my father says harshly. I can't believe what I'm hearing. My eyes go wide, and I feel tears stinging them. Did my father just kick me out of the only home I've ever known?
I watch as dad drags mom away, but the latter protests, telling him they can't do this. Caleb tags along, but tries to stay behind as much as possible. I feel the tears finally roll down my cheeks. I let them. They are the sole reminder of the life I once had, a life that I will no longer have from here on out.
"Let's go," Marcus commands, his tone firm, and unforgiving. I remain rooted to the spot, unwilling to move even an inch. Doing so would mean I finally give up the last thread I hold of my old life. "I said let's go," Marcus growls. He walks toward his house, and I feel Tobias gently pushing me toward the path that leads to it.
We enter the house, and the familiarity of the place hits me like a brick wall. It looks just like my living room, but it's not. From the outside it is just the same, the same gray walls, gray couch, gray everything. But the space seems cold to me, like a tomb. Maybe because I feel dead inside, and this is my grave.
I decide to just play along. I have nowhere else to go now that my father banished me from my home. I still can't believe he did that. In fact, I can't believe anything he has done so far. I sometimes feel like I'm in a nightmare, and that I'll soon wake up, and everything will be like it used to. But that is just wishful thinking.
I wait for one of them to tell me what's next, but when none of them do, I just blurt out.
"Where am I going to sleep?"
"In Tobias's room, with him, of course," Marcus says as if I was a retarded child.
"What? I can't sleep in the same room with a boy," I argue, my anger seeping through.
"You will do as you are told," Marcus growls, and stands in front of me trying to intimidate me. It works.
"But I can't do that," I protest weakly.
"He is your husband. It will do you good remembering that piece of information!" Marcus yells at me. What the hell?
"He is only my husband because you and my father forced me to marry him!" I shout, and before I even realize what is happening, I feel a blow to my face that sends me stumbling to the ground.
The first thing that I feel is a numbness. I am so shocked by what happened that I can't even bring my brain to process it. Then I feel the pain catching up with the blow. Tears form so quickly that they spill out almost immediately. I let them rush down my face. Then I taste something metallic on my tongue. Blood.
My momentary shock is replaced by horror, when I see what is happening. I look toward my right where Tobias is crouched down on the floor, his shirt off, his back bare and gruesome scars all over his body. I try to understand where he got them from, when I see the belt coming down on his back.
"This is for your own good," Marcus says, as he abuses his own son. I cry even harder, not because I am afraid for myself, but for Tobias. He looks half-dead, and maybe that would be a much better fate than living like this. Where did my father send me?
I have no idea how much time passes until Marcus is finally done beating his son. He puts his belt back on, and then looks at me with wild eyes.
"If you disobey me or talk back to me one more time, you will take his place." With that he turns around, and leaves the house.
All I want to do is run far away from this house, but I can't. I look down at Tobias's bloodied body, and my heart breaks for him. Is this what life with Marcus Eaton looks like? How long has this been going on? And why isn't Tobias fighting back? I push these questions aside, and look for a way to help him. These wounds need to be cleaned out before they get infected. I wish my mom was here. She'd know what to do.
A/N: They are married. But what a honeymoon.