The Selfless and the Brave

I was hoping that the rest of the day would have gone better.

Oh, how I was mistaken. I tried, I really did . I tried to be the perfect little Abnegation boy. But people just wouldn't leave me the fuck alone! I kept my head down. I respectfully nodded to people as I passed them. My day was full of offering people to go through the door first, letting people go in front of me in line, and letting them borrow my belongings.

I hated it.

I was now sitting at a lunch table, alone, staring down at my bland Abnegation bread. I tried my best to blend in with my surroundings, not wanting any trouble. All too soon, however, I heard the taunting.

"...weird Abnegation boy.."

"Did you hear he was mute?"

"Did you see him this morning?"

I could feel eyes on me as I stared, determined, at my bread. Suddenly, I felt someone sit down beside me. A few others sat down at the empty round table, and I began to shake. But I refused to lift my head.

"You gonna eat that?" I heard someone ask. I slowly nodded. I promised I would try to eat something. I needed to eat something. I didn't want to, but I promised.

"But isn't that a little selfish of you?" the same voice sneered, emphasizing the word 'selfish'. I made the mistake of looking up.

It was Matt.

I quickly looked back down at my bread, only it wasn't there. Matt had taken it from my plate. I didn't mind at all. I heard him take a large bite out of it, before gagging and spraying it all over me. I flinched and stood up, trying to shake the bits of bread and spit out of my hair.

"What the fuck is this?" Matt spat, spraying more saliva onto my face. By this point, most of the cafeteria was watching intently. I wiped it off my face and glared at him, before I remembered I had already screwed up once. Selfless, selfless, selfless. I thought. Then I grabbed my notebook and wrote out carefully, 'Would you want me to get you something else to eat?' Matt just smirked and grabbed my notebook from my hand for the second time today. What did I do to piss this guy off?

" 'Would you want me to get you something else to eat?' " Matt read aloud with a cruel laugh. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I looked back down at the table. But then I felt Matt grab my too long hair and pull my head up. I clenched my jaw tight so I wouldn't cry out. Matt noticed.

"What's the matter, Stiff?" he smirked. "Want to say something?" I kept my mouth tightly shut. I wouldn't make a sound. I'll never make a sound again. Matt continued, "Isn't it kind of selfish for you to not let me hear your voice? Isn't it selfish to keep it all to yourself?" he nagged, pulling on my hair. Their was silence throughout the cafeteria. I could feel my breaths quickening as I began to fall into a state of panic. I could see Matt's friends standing from their seats, and I sucked in a quick breath, preparing for what was about to happen.

I could feel the whole cafeteria hold their breath with me.

Then I received a violent punch to the stomach. I tried to double over, but Matt's grip on my hair stopped me short.

I did not cry out. I did not make a sound.

"Why won't you talk, you fucking freak?!" He shouted as he and his friends continued to punch and kick me. This was a new experience for me. I usually hide away, no one bothered me. It was lonely, but at least it wasn't painful. I must've done something to deserve this, I must've done something horribly wrong. It was my fault. I was too selfish. That's it.

Matt continued to yell profanities and names in my face as he beat me. The edges of my vision were going dark. I didn't fight back. That would be selfish. Matt must have a reason for beating me, and I shouldn't bug him. Damn, I thought. The Abnegation have taught me well.

"Make a sound, dammit!" Matt shouted, as I felt blood on my face and bruises forming where they were kicking me. I clenched my jaw even tighter. I haven't talked in four years, there was no way Matt was going to force a sound out of me.

I was finally giving into unconsciousness, the crowds staring face swimming and spots appearing in my vision. I could see nothing but black. Just as I was about to give out, I heard someone yell desperately from the back of the crowd.

As they shouted again, I could barely make out what it had said.

"Alex!"

Then there was only black.

Notes

HEY GUYS GUESS WHAT GUESS WHAT GUESS WHAT????? I AM CURRENTLY READING INSURGENT, AND I HAVE ALLIGENT IN MY POSSESSION AND I HAVE ABOUT 48 HOURS TO READ THEM BOTH.

IMMA DO IT BITCHES.

and btw, thanks for all the great feedback, you remarkably fantastic kangaroos of the arctic.

-Jagk Skellington