You Have To Jump Before You Fall **DISCONTINUED**

Home

I have to walk home through the factionless sector of the city.

It's not like I don't know my way around the factionless sector, it just, the factionless are not necessarily scary, they just creep me out.

I am walking passed a woman in a cardboard box when I hear a bloodcurdling scream. I take off running toward the noise.

When I get there, Beatrice is trying to get out of the grasp of a factionless man.

"Let her go!" I half growl, half yell.

"What are you going to do about it?" he says gripping her harder.

"Brianna, don't," she whimpers.

I ignore her and say, "She's my best friend, let go of her." With every word, I take a step forward. He lets go when I'm at least six feet away. I mumble 'thank you' and we leave.

"What was that for?" Beatrice asks.

"What? I can't help my best friend that is practically my sister? Gosh! You're weird!" I say.

"You can come over if it happens again, you know you're always welcome!" she says before she goes inside of her house. I nod, and suck in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. I open the door slowly, and shut it without making a noise.

I quickly head to my room without being noticed.

"Brianna?" my dad's voice bellows from downstairs. I huff silently, disappointed that he must have heard me. I quickly go downstairs.

"Yes dad?" I say.

"What were you're results?" he asks me.

"Isn't that suppose to be confidential information that no one else is suppose to know except me, until tomorrow at the choosing ceremony?" I say, sarcasm flooding from my voice. I smirk, when all of the sudden, a punch is thrown at my jaw and I fall to the ground.

"Tell me you're results!" he says as he takes off his belt, probably for another whipping.

"I can't!" I say. I quickly scramble up to my feet.

"I'm sure you will when I'm done with you!" he bellows. He grabs me by my hair, and whips me around, and starts thrashing me with his belt. This is exactly why mom left, and became factionless.

I muffle a scream.

"Are you screaming? It will be over as soon as you tell me you're results!" he yells. I shake my head furiously.

He whips me again and again and again, until he gets tired and leaves to get a drink. I quickly get up and run to my room.

I grab a set of clothes and head over to Beatrice's house. I knock on the door quickly, always checking over my shoulder.

"Brianna?" Mr. Prior asks. I nod, and he lets me in.

"It happened again?" Beatrice asks when she sees me. I nod. There are tears streaming down my face by now. She quickly gets up and rushes over, and gives me a hug. I start bawling. I crumble to the floor. "Mom! It's Brianna!" she yells to her mom. Mrs. Prior rushes in with the first aid kit, and some food.

"Brianna? What happened this time?" she asks as she gets me stomach down on their dinning room table.

"He wanted to know my test results, but I can't tell him, he would beat me even more if he knew!" I say curling my arms up, so I could lay my head on them.

Mrs. Priors response is simply a nod. She was, and always be my second mom. She always takes care of me whenever this happens.