Fuck.

Out of everything that could have gone wrong with her plan, why did the worst case scenario have to come true?

"Hello, Marcus." The words hardly escaped her mouth before pain seared across her cheek. Marcus had slapped her.

It was only a matter of time.

"Cut the crap Beatrice. What were you doing on that train?"

"I-I was-" what was she supposed to say? All the excuses that she could think of would just cause her to fall further into Marcus's trap. "I was visiting Tobias in Dauntless."

It was the answer he was looking for, which was why it pained her so much to say it. Marcus smiled crookedly. His eyes narrowed, glinting dangerously in the sun. Toby must have seen that look every night before he took a beating at the hands of this monster. The realization only fed the fear crawling across her skin.

"And why were you visiting Tobias, Beatrice? Did you not think to ask permission?"

She wiped the sweat of her hands on the rough, outer layer of her dress. Taking a deep breath, Beatrice braced herself for what was about to take place. There was no getting out of this. She was in deep trouble. Marcus already knew she was with Tobias, he proved that when he beat Tobias for going outside to meet her.

"I guess I wanted to make sure he was okay." She hated how weak her voice sounded. She was in a vulnerable position, especially by the train tracks where no one could see them, and if there was one thing Beatrice hated it was vulnerability. Marcus glared at her.

"So you skipped school and caused your father to panic about you all day, just to," he raised his pitch to mock her, "make sure he was okay. Not to mention the numerous faction rules you broke."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry si-"

Before she could finish her sentence she was shoved to the ground. Beatrice groaned at the impact of the hard, dirt road.

"Don't lie to me," Marcus hissed, stepping on her chest with his foot. "I know why you visited him, so don't waste your breath or my time lying. Now get up. Andrew is out of his mind with worry. I can't see why, though. I mean, look at you."

Beatrice pushed herself up and followed Marcus along the path that lead to her house.

How could she have been stupid enough to think that she could escape Marcus? Why did she tempt fate by sneaking around?

What would Tobias think?

Would he be disappointed in her? Ashamed? Mad? All bad options. It was clear to her there was no way he could know, she would have to hide this from him.

Just like he had hid it from her.

Look how that turned out.

Marcus turned towards her once they reached her house, holding her shoulder to prevent her from moving forward.

"I won't tell your father about your relationship with my good for nothing son. You can tell him after we discuss your punishment" He dug his nails into her shoulder before letting go. "Just consider yourself lucky that I'm not deciding it on my own."

Beatrice figured it wouldn't matter either way. Her father didn't have the power to do much, even if he wanted to. Marcus would have his way regardless. Her insides twisted together. She didn't know what he had up his sleeve, but he was Marcus. Anything he proposed would not be good.

The door silently opened as Beatrice followed Marcus through into the living room where her father. At their presence, her fathers head looked up from the floor where he was pacing. When the door opened, his head looks up. He stopped mid-mutter to scan them and rested his eyes on Beatrice. A moment later, he ran over and wrapped his arms around her in a big hug.

"Thank you, Marcus, thank you." Her father stood up again to look Marcus in the eye.

How could her father work with him every day for the past 10 years and not know what kind of monster he was? How could he thank him?

Maybe he did know, and he chose to hide it to keep Marcus' reputation. And his job.

He wouldn't do that.

Would he?

It was becoming apparent to her people weren't what they look like on the outside. Everyone had their own dark, hidden secrets. Even those who appeared calm and collected could have a raging war of emotions on the inside.

"Where did you find her?" Her dad asked. Beatrice winced, knowing what was coming. She dropped her head to stare at her toes as if she felt ashamed.

"By the train tracks. She said that she was visiting Tobias in Dauntless, to make sure he was okay." Her dad scoffed. Looking up, Beatrice saw his face flushed red in anger. "Andrew, why don't we speak about this in the kitchen."

Her father nodded and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll make some tea." Marcus nodded in agreement then turned to Beatrice.

"Don't move, or there will be consequences."

Beatrice gave a quick nod and sat on the stairs while Marcus followed Andrew into the kitchen.

Beatrice focused on the weight of the necklace against her chest, trying to ground herself amongst the overwhelming realization that Marcus had the power to do whatever he wanted to her. She kept imagining Tobias's face finding out she failed in her promise to him.

Nothing has happened yet. Focus.

Her father walked back into the living room, Marcus close on his heels. Compared to Marcus's calm demeanor, her father looked aged. He had wrinkles on his forehead from his eyebrows furrowing and the corners of his mouth were turned down. Beatrice's stomach sunk. Even with all her problems with Abnegation and their leadership, she hated disappointing her father.

"Beatrice, I am extremely disappointed in your behavior today." Her stomach turned at his sharp tone. "Marcus and I have talked, and we have decided on your punishment."

"Yes, father."

"Clearly, I haven't done an adequate job of teaching you the true values of Abnegation, which means I'm not doing a good enough job as a father."

"Dad, no that isn't it at all-"

"Let your father speak." Marcus's voice sent chills up her back.

"We decided that if I can't teach you, someone has to. If anyone is able to teach you what it means to live here in Abnegation, it is Marcus. Marcus can set you on the right track. You're a good girl, Beatrice. It just seems like you have had some bad influences."

Rage momentarily took over any feeling of disappointment or dread. How dare her father insinuate Marcus was the perfect Abnegation role model after what he put Tobias through.

"Marcus's son left him for Dauntless-who's to say he can teach me any better than you?"

Beatrice immediately regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She had never once argued with her father or her mother for that matter. Ridiculous ideas led to ridiculous actions.

"Speaking of influences, we decided that the other factions have been a bad influence on you at school. So for this last year, you're going to homeschool with me." Marcus said. She hated how he spoke as if he had won some type of sick game. "You won't mind, right? Since you're obviously so willing to skip school."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"You'll be able to visit your family, of course. But we can't have you tainting them. They don't deserve that. So I'll be limiting your interactions with them, for their own good."

"Dad-you agreed to this?"

"Yes, Beatrice. Listen to Marcus. He's doing you and us a huge favor, you should be thanking him."

"Thank you, sir." The words felt like glue in her mouth.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then. Goodbye Beatrice, Andrew." She nodded goodbye as he walked out the door. Once gone, her father turned to her with a face flushed with anger. She forced her face to remain relaxed and calm, resisting the temptation to shrink back.

Stay strong like Toby, stay strong for him.

"Do you have any idea what you put me through today?!" He yelled, ruining her calm demeanor in an instant. Beatrice flinched at his sudden anger. She had never seen her father angry before. He rarely showed any emotion, but never anger. "How could you be so stupid? If Marcus wasn't so understanding, I could have been fired! How did I raise someone so selfish?"

Beatrice stared at her dad, shocked. Where was this coming from? How could her kind, caring father act like this? The same person who carried her when she was a child, who comforted her when she was sad, who let her tell him about all of the interesting things she learned in school. That same person was sending her to live with Marcus.

"I want you to go to your room for the rest of the night. Stay out of my sight, I don't want to see you. I'll tell your mother and brother what happened, you can talk to them when I decide you can."

Beatrice resigned to her bedroom, figuring it wasn't worth the fight anymore. She sat on her bed, trying not to think wonder when the next time she would get to sleep there would be. Instead, she let the day run through her head. The kiss, Dauntless, Tobias. Marcus, Abnegation, anger. She was about to spend 11 months with Marcus, sleeping in the same bed Tobias did. Acting friendly with his monster of a father.

Her hand drifted towards her necklace and pulled it from under her robes. She ran her thumb over the engraving.

Two months.

Then what? What would she tell Toby? It was near impossible for them to lie to each other, and even if she tried he would notice immediately. Telling him about Marcus...that would destroy him. She couldn't do that to him, especially before she transferred. Who knew what he would do if he knew she was living with Marcus? It wouldn't surprise her if he confronted Marcus himself. Which was just a bad idea all around.

How was she going to train? There was no way she could leave at night, Marcus already knew Tobias did that. Plus, there was a good chance she wouldn't physically be able to work out at night anymore. She'd have to find sometime in the day to sneak away.

Dread seeped into her skin and crawled through her body until it was covered in the sickening feeling.

Stay strong. You will be fine. It's just a year. Tobias survived Marcus for ten years. Don't be a coward.

Beatrice changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she forced them back. She already missed Tobias. He seemed so happy in Dauntless, and honestly, she just wanted him to be happy. He deserved it. And soon enough, she would be there with him.

Seeing how happy and free he was made her yearn to live in Dauntless anymore. It reignited her desire to keep training to prepare for Dauntless.

After tossing and turning for hours, hoping to prolong waking up and moving into Marcus's room, Beatrice gave into her exhaustion. Nightmares fought their way into her dreams, seeming to foreshadow what was lying ahead.

I hope you guys enjoy!

DFTBA,

thebooktrooper