Alone(A Fourtris Story)

30: where art thou Toby-O

Tris POV:

Tobias never came back to the car after practice, which had ended thirty minutes ago, so I'm headed towards the field.

The wind whistles through vacant field, stirring the long, thin strips of grass. No one is there though, it's totally empty.

Behind the bleachers, grey and tall, something glints in the grass. Wet grass soaking my knees, as I kneel to get it. My hand closes around something cold and hard, a phone. Tobias's phone. Without a passing thought, I dash toward the locker rooms, where I hope to find someone.

Sure enough, Zeke, Will, and Uriah all sit talking by the lockers. I don't get their attention by doing anything short of banging on the lockers. At the sharp banging, they whip their heads around to me.

" What the heck Tris?" Uriah exclaims

" Guys have you seen Four?" I ask, hoping and praying that they have. The simple shake of their heads is enough to through my mind whirling into a tempest of possibilities.

" Why? I thought he was supposed to meet you." Zeke says

" I think someone took him" I explain hastily.

"WHAT!" They exclaim in unison. They dash out to the parking lot, with me hot on their tails, and begin scanning the mostly empty space for any sign of life. The only movement is a slight rustle of bushes from the wind. Uriahs breath catches, drawing our eyes to where his are. The tail end of a dark green car is visible from where we stand. Since no one else was here, that must be who took Tobias. The four of us scramble to my car, hardly buckling in before I'm driving away. The back end of the car trails about fifteen feet infront of us, taunting us with its close proximity.

As quickly as it came, it was gone, lost in the sea of cars. I pull over to the side and smash my hands down on the wheel, making the horn blare in my ears. Curses fly from my mouth as I bang my had on the dash.

"DANMIT" I exclaim. Zeke puts his hand on my shoulder. With tears waiting to spill from my eyes, I drive back to the school.

" Whose car was that?" Uriah wonders.

" Peters" I growl

Tobias POV:

The foggy darkness that had encased my vision for a while finally clared, leaving me to stare at a plain stone wall in an empty room. The only source of light was a small bulb hanging out of reach on the ceiling.

A screeching sound echoes off the damp walls, setting my teeth on edge. I attempt to cover my ears but find it impossible due to the tight ropes wrapped around my wrists and ankles, binding me to the chair.

A dark shape, it's features hidden by the dim light, struts into the room. They close the door behind them before turning and walking towards me. They stop a few feet away and flick a previously unseen switch on the wall, illuminating the room.

Peter stands before me, a victorious smirk playing on his lips. His hands are looped in his pockets with his thumbs curling around the lip.

" Good morning sleeping beauty" he mocks. I growl at him, not offering a response.

"A little on the quiet side today, are we?" Peter sneers " well that's good to know"

He steps closer to me and crouches so he's at eye level with me. A smirk crosses his face, flashing his stark white teeth. A white hot pain races through the right half of my face as his hand connects with my cheek, a smacking sound echoing through the room.

"Well if you refuse to talk to me lets see if we can find someone you will talk to, shall we" He says as he stalks out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

A few moments later, another dark shape passes over the threshold, hands held behind their back. My heart pounds so fast I am afraid that it will jump from within my chest as they emerge from the shadows. None other than Marcus Eaton himself stands there, grinning maliciously at me. His polished shoes smack atop the grey concrete that lines the floor as he stalks toward me. His hands leave from their spot behind him, revealing the object that he clutches in a white fist; A belt. But something is odd about the belt, the fact that it glints from metal on both ends. One end is obviously the buckle that is laced into the leather, the other though, is a barbed fish hook.

My entire countenance tenses at the sight of the belt, and Marcus, my muscles tightening beneath my skin. He growls at my sudden panic, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

" Well hello son" he mocks " long time no see" I keep my mouth shut.

" What were you thinking?" he spits " I gave you everything and you just run away, you ungreatful swine"

His hand rises above his head, preparing to strike down on me, but before he has the chance, Peter pops his head in, scowling.

" Make sure you don't kill him" Peter states. Marcus stays poised to strike. "That means no vital organs"

Peter unties me from the chair and throws me to the ground, pressing a boot to my spine. He soon stalks out of the room, leaving Marcus to do as he pleases with me.

The moment the door is closed, Marcus takes his chance, raising the belt and bringing it back with a swishing noise. The world moves slowly as the glinting metal sails towards my waiting back, moving with a sickeningly intruiging grace. The pain is immediate and intense when the belt meets its target, searing pain blossoming from my skin into my bones. A scream escapes my mouth without my permission, giving Marcus a reason to smash the buckle into my side, causing a sickening crunch to eminate through the room.

The belt sails through the air over and over, tearing through the already raw skin covering my back. At some point, the door is flung open and a voice shouts into the empty room. By Marcus's scowl, I can assume that they've told him to stop. He turns on his heel to leave, but not before nailing me in the ribs once again.

I can't find the strength within me to rise from my spot on the ground, where I rest in a pool of blood, so I simply lay limp until a black void consumes me.