I will Survive

Part 3: Freedom

I walk home, replaying the aptitude test in my mind. I've always thought of myself as different. Not the same as the other abnegation children. But I never thought I was that different.

Dauntless.

A genuine smile creeps onto my face as I pass the dauntless members jumping on the moving train. Am I really enough of a badass to truly be dauntless? I mean, the test said I was. Trust the test they say.

The skip in my step is gone once my feet hit the dusty pavement of the abnegation sector. Marcus was really pissed at me when I left this morning. Going back home probably isn't the greatest option, but I know that the inevitable beating will only be worse if I'm late.

My shaking hands grip the door handle and pull. Marcus is in the living room, sitting on the couch around piles of paperwork. I straighten my posture, I know how much he hates it when I slouch.

"Olivia, come here now." Marcus growls in a tone that can only be acquired by a rough day at work.

I am so massively screwed...

"Y-Yes sir?" I spit out. I silently curse myself for stuttering.

"Sit." He says, gesturing to the chair across from him. I gulp and slowly make my way over to where he pointed.

"COULD YOU MOVE ANY SLOWER, GOD DAMMIT!" Marcus yells, causing me to jump. I look down at the floor and quickly take a seat, scared of the consequences for my actions this morning. Once I'm seated Marcus looks at me, irritated when I don't say anything.

"Well? What was your result?!" Marcus says, annoyed. He throws the papers he was looking at to the floor, causing me to flinch.

"Uh...abnegation, sir." I say, my eyes looking somewhere south of his face.

"LIAR!" He yells as his hand collide with my chest, knocking me back in the chair. I cower before him, bracing myself for the beating. He twists my shirt collar in his fists, pulling me close. I can smell the faint scent of alcohol in his breath.

Why is the world against me?!

"I looked at the program and I know you got a dauntless result! First you have your little rebellion this morning, and now you actually have the courage to lie straight to my face?" He growls at me, expecting some kind of sarcastic comment like I usually say. I just keep my mouth shut. In already in some deep shit as it is.

"You know what happens when you disobey me....." Marcus hisses, unbuckling his belt.

He throws me to the floor as he coils the dreaded belt around his fist. I gulp and blink back tears.

"Stand up, you worthless piece of shit! Bend over the counter!" Marcus demands.

I stay on the ground, my muscles tense. There is no way I'm going to just sit back and let this monster whip me and tell me how useless I am. Not today.

Never again.

"No! You can't treat me like your little punching bag! I'm 16, I won't let you take advantage of me anymore! I won't!" I scream in his ugly face. My fists are clenched so hard, my knuckles are turning white.

I'm about to take a swing at him but he's faster. I'm pushed into the wall where I fall to the floor. I try to get up but Marcus is already there, punching and kicking at me. I can't recall where he hit me or hard he did I just remember that it hurt.