The Selfless and the Brave

It was now after school, and I was about to walk into my house. My mind was racing, and I couldn’t get Jack out of it. Back in the restroom, the way he acted to me made me feel some way. Some way I couldn’t explain. I didn’t know how to explain it.

At the end of the day, he told me that he would try and come by later. But he also said he wanted to have a little talk with Matt first. I wrote out a simple okay to him, and then we went our separate ways. I also wanted to tell him that I didn’t want him to leave, but that would be the most selfish thing I have ever did.

I entered the front door of the house, the only thing I could do was shut the door behind me before getting a slap right across my face. It was from my mother. “I can’t believe you took those medical supplies! Where are they?!” She shouted. I didn’t answer, which causing her to call father from the kitchen. I don’t know what got into me, but I sprinted away from my mother, up the stairs, and into my room. I knew the door wouldn’t hold them back, but it at least gave me a little less time away from the pain they always caused.

As expected, it didn’t take long for them to run up the stairs and burst into my room. Father rushing over to me, as I sat on my floor, belt in his hand. “Not only did you be selfish and take things from us! We got a call from the school saying they saw you jumping off the Dauntless train today! Plus one of them saved you from falling off the roof?! I don’t care if you are mute anymore! I want you to tell me why you were around them and tell me now!” Nothing but shouting came out of his mouth, yet, nothing came out of mine.

“You are acting just as selfish as Tom when he did what he did!” Mother screamed. Before I could even look at her, for the words she even said, father’s belt came down and clashed my shoulder. “Speak to us, Alex!” Nothing. Another lash of the belt, this time across my face. Only two swings in and I could already feel my body start to go numb. I deserved everything that was coming to me. I was a horrible Abnegation boy, and this is what I get.

Another slash.

And another.

More and more kept coming till my father left the room. I could feel blood dripping from my nose, and parts of my body already starting to swell. My little moment in ‘peace’ didn’t last long, as he came back with a switch. “Take your shirt off and turn around!” He shouted. I did as told. “So that’s where the medical supplies went. How selfish of you.” He spat. I could see out of the corner of my eye as he brought his hand up, getting ready to lash me.

I closed my eyes as tight as I could, just waiting for it to happen. But it didn’t. Nothing happened. The room was silent. I opened my eyes again, and a voice started speaking. “I suggest you step away from him. Or you won’t like what happens next.” I knew the voice, it belonged to the one and only, Jack Barakat.

“W-who are you and what are you doing in our house?” My mother spoke, stuttering a the start of her sentence, something she has never did in her whole life.

“You’re a Dauntless.” My father stated, shock evident in his voice.

“Why else would I be wearing black for?” A sarcastic tone dripping from Jack’s words. “Now, step away from us.” A second past and I could feel arms picking me up. “Don’t worry Lex, you’re okay now.” I didn’t react to anything, I just let what was going to happen, happen.

“Where are you taking our son?” Mother questioned.

“Somewhere safe. Away from you.”

Jack walked us out of the house, not before grabbing my notebook that was laying right next to the door, and set me down outside. “You okay enough to walk?” I nodded a bit. “Let’s go.” He started walking and I tried my best to keep up with him. I could tell just by the way he was showing himself that he was angry. So, I started writing on my notebook and then tapped his shoulder.

‘Are you mad at me?’

“No Lex, I’m mad that they hurt you again.”

‘I’m fine.’

“They could have done worse if I didn’t step in.”

‘Why did you?’

“Because I wanted to protect you. You shouldn’t be treated like that by people who ‘love you’.” I thought about what he said for a minute or so, but they were my parents. They did love me, right? They did it all out of love.

‘Where are we going?’

“If I tell you, you won’t agree to come. Do you trust me?” I nodded. “Then just stay close to my side, you will be okay.” We continued to walk for what seemed like days upon days. It was a long walk, honestly, a few hours actually. I still had no clue where we were going, but it was an area that I haven’t been to before. I was scared to say the least, but I had Jack by my side, so that helped a little bit. We made a few stops to rest our feet, but soon carried on. “Alright, we are here. Trust me, we will get stared at. Just stay with me.”

‘Where are we?’

We took flight of stairs down, and Jack opened a heavy door, into what looked like some underground base. “Welcome to the Dauntless faction, Alex.” I froze in shock. I shouldn’t be here, this was the worst idea possible. I tried to turn around but Jack grabbed my hand. “Trust me. You are okay.”

Notes

How do you guys feel about Jack taking Alex to his faction? Let me know in the comments! :)

~Jagk.