The Other Prior

Prologue

   Adelaide was the perfect little Abnegation girl during the day, around the other adults of Abnegation. Her brother and sister, Beatrice and Caleb, knew. From a young age, she was interested in learning everything she could she was observant. She was kind and forgiving, but she also didn't hesitate to stand up for others it didn't matter who against. Despite her kindness, she had only one friend. One friend who she knew was the only person she couldn't protect all the time. His name is Tobias Eaton.
    She was 8 years old when she first meant Tobias, who was 10 at the time. They were at school, and she had seen a group of Erudite boys started to pick on him. All of a sudden, a tiny girl it all Grey with fiery red hair pull into the standard Abnegation bun came barreling towards them and knock over the leader of the group. The Erudite boys stood there shocked for a moment until the leader got back up and got in her face. "Watch where you're going baby stiff" the boy growled out at her. She assumed in an attempt to intimidate her.
    " Why don't you pick on someone who will fight back. Or are you too scared to? Why not go bother a dauntless or even a candor? Or are you afraid that the Dauntless will kick your ass and the Candor will hurt your little feelings? And we all know you won't say anything to Amity because the other factions will defend them. No, you pick on Abnegation because we're supposed to just keep our heads down and take it. You just want to fuel your fragile ego. This boy behind me is an Abnegation boy through and through, so he's the easiest target for you. But I won't let you continuously pick on him, and if you try, then I guess I'll just have to teach you a lesson." Little Adelaide fired back, glaring at them. Waiting for one of them to try something.
    "Aww, the little stiffs so scary. Look, I'm shaking in my shoes." The leader of the group said mockingly. The rest of them laughed along with him.
   Adelaide slowly growing angrier with the boy, brought her fist back while they were distracted, and punched him in the stomach. As he bent forward in pain, she punched him again in the face, hearing a loud crunch that almost made her feel bad for hitting him. "Next time just walk the fuck away when I warn you. Do. you. understand." She said slowly while wiping the blood on her knuckles off in the grass.
   "You won't get away with this little stiff just you wa-" the Erudite said before Adelaide interrupted him.
   "Wait for what? You gonna go tell an adult? Try to get me in trouble? Who's gonna believe you? Ask around all the adults know me as the perfect little Abnegation. Why would anyone believe and Erudite who has a history of picking on us over me? Maybe if you were candor you'd stand a chance. Besides you really wanna take that big of a hit to your ego? Admit that you got your nose broken and a bruise on your stomach from a, how did you put it? Oh yeah, a little baby stiff" She said back with a smirk on her face "Now run along you might want to go see the nurse to fix your nose if you don't want it crooked for the rest of your life" Adelaide finished before turning to talk to the boy who had just been sitting there in shock.
   "Hi there, my names Adelaide. Adelaide Rose Prior. What's yours?" She introduced herself like she didn't JUST punch a boy in the face.
    " H-hi. I'm Tobias Eaton. You didn't have to do that. What if you get in trouble?" Tobias asked worried for the girl.
   "Like I told that boy, whoever the hell he was, whose going to believe him and his group? Besides I'm not afraid to get in trouble as long as it happens because I was protecting someone who can't protect themselves." She smile, a real genuine smile not a sarcastic smirk she had given the boys earlier. Tobias was shocked to say the least. Never has anybody stood up for him before.
   "How were you able to break his nose like that? He's a lot bigger that both of us, I think he's like 14 so 2 years away from choosing." He asked confused
   "Promise not to tell a soul I'm telling you this Tobias?" He nods his head patiently awaiting her response. "Well even though I know how to be Abnegation it doesn't make me happy I want to be free. While I know that the faction system is important to some extent it feels like it's just a prison. I might be only 8, but I'm smart enough to know that I don't want to be just 1 thing. I already know how to be selfless and kind. Those things go hand and hand. But I want to be brave and smart and honest too and I'm working on it. Slowly but surely. I know I'm 8 years away from my choosing ceremony, but I already know where I'm going." She says smiling at the boy who again looks shocked at her.
   "Your the first person I've ever heard criticize the faction system like this, but you're right and I never thought about it before. I want to be more than just one thing too" He said coming to a realization.
   "Let's start by working on your candor then. You want to tell me who covered you in bruises and I'm assuming cuts?" Adelaide asked cautiously.
   "H-how did you know?" He asked scared that he somehow let the bruises show.
   "The way you move. It's like you're in extreme pain, but you're trying to hide it. You do a good job at hiding it by staying away from others but up close its a little more noticeable" she said moving next to him. Sitting there looking at him sadly.
    "No one but you can know about this, ok?" She quickly nods her head. "I-it's my father.." he whispered almost inaudible.
   "I'm sorry Tobias.. I can try to help you." She whispered back to him.
   "How?"
    "If you don't want others to know then I can easily sneak in to atleast help your wounds heal so you aren't in pain. We can train together so you don't have to be completely defenseless anymore. I can be here for you. We can make a plan so you can escape him in 6 years. So that you can be free." She said, her voice determined. Wanting nothing more than to save the poor boy who as it stood now wouldn't make it to his 16th birthday.
    "OK, let's do this." He said noticing her determination and it rubbed off on him a little bit.
   "OK. We should head home now, we'll take the long way so we can start training now and so we can stop at a friend of mines for medicine to help with the bruises."
    "But what if my father asks why I'm home so late?"
    "Tell him that you stopped by and helped some factionless. The long way takes us right through the heart of factionless territory anyway. When we're done with the training and we get back to Abnegation, I'll follow behind you to your house so I know where it is. Then tonight I want you to keep your window open. So I can get in to help you. I'll be in at around midnight. That way everyone will be asleep by then and no harm will come to either of us. Not while I'm there" she smiles gently at him.

    For the next 6 years they trained together. Hard. Then when the day came for his choosing they meant early in the morning, before the sun rose for one last training session together. At the end she treated his wounds one last time before looking up to him
    " Toby. Go free yourself from that son of a bitch. Go join Dauntless like we planned. I will join you in 2 years. I will also be there for visitation day. I'll have my friends in factionless keep Marcus busy so he won't be able to get to you that day and I'll sneak away from Abnegation so you aren't alone on a day when the entirety of Dauntless is filled with other initiates family's" she smiles up at him
    "Thank you so much Addie. For always being there and helping me to be free." He started tearing up.
    "Come on now future dauntless. No need to get all mushing on me. I will always be here for you. I promise. But now we have to hurry so you can go get freed. Do you understand me soldier?" Adelaide said jokingly.
    "You're right. Let's go!"
    "I'm always right!" She said laughing.

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