Shared Pain

Chapter One- Pain

Tris POV

My back was burning. It felt like the air it's self was causing my pain.

One lash, two lashes.

It's been like this every night, for the last two years.

I'm Beatrice Prior. Daughter of Natalie and Andrew Prior.

My parents died for an unknown reason two years ago, forcing me to have to live with our head of government, Marcus Eaton.

Every night, he lashes me ten times with his belt because I'm "not a perfect Abnegation child".

That's what's happening right now, my ten lashes.

Five lashes.

Six lashes.

The first five alway hurt, but by the time we got to the last five, my back was numb, so I didn't feel a thing.

"Beatrice, this is for your own good". Marcus said.

I pulled my knees close to my chest, holding my head in my hands.

Seven.

Eight.

I heard the front door open, to see my brother Caleb.

Loosing my parents was hard, and I wasn't sure what I'd do if I lost Caleb, so I made sure that I got all the beatings. To keep him safe.

He walked to the stairs and up to his room. He knew better then to interfere, it would make my beating worse.

"Why can't you be like you brother"? Marcus asked.

My brother was a perfect Abnegation boy. Always helping others and giving to the factionless. But I wasn't like that.

Nine.

Ten.

Marcus put his belt back on and left.

Two years ago, Marcus' son left. Where? I'm not sure, but I understood why.

With a father like this? I was barely able to last two years with him, let alone sixteen.

Tomorrow will be the day that I learn if I can leave this hell hole or not. The day of my test.

I pulled my grey shirt back over my head and slowly tried to get to my feet.

My back screamed in disapproval. The new cuts felt like a giant bee was stinging my back.

I wobbled on my feet, but made it to the stairs.

The stairs were always the hard part.

Every step made me want to scream in pain. I bit my lip and continued up the stairs. Pain was just a message to the brain, I can power through it.

I made it to the top and stumbled into my room, flopping down on my bed. My lip was bleeding for how hard I had bit down on it, but I didn't care, my lip was nothing compared to the pain in my back.

My door creaked open and Caleb came in with the first aid kit.

He sat on the edge of my bed and pulled up the back of my shirt to examine the wounds.

"Bea, these are really bad". He said.

He said that every night. It freaked me out at first but now I don't even listen to him.

"Beatrice, you have so many scars, you need to get away from him".

I winced as he dabbed my cuts with rubbing alcohol.

"I'm planning on that". I said.

He continues to clean and bandage my cuts.

"What if you get an amplitude for Abnegation"? He asks.

"Then I'll be factionless". I say, with no hesitation.

"Alright, try not to move to much". Caleb stood and packed up the first aid kit.

"Remember Bea, I'm here for you". He kissed my head and left my room.

I honestly didn't know what I would do without him, and that just meant I had to protect him, even more.