A DIFFERENT LIFE

Prologue

"Tobias..." A welcome pressure on my shoulder, warmth on my forehead that's gone in a second, sleep even more inviting.

"Tobias, my darling boy, we don't have much time. Please wake up." I slowly open my eyes, my mothers black orbs looking into mine pleadingly. The purple and black bruise on the side of her face from earlier, prominent against her ivory skin. The same skin as me.

"What's going on? Is Daddy being mean again?" My lip trembling, she helps me out of bed and put on my slippers and dull grey robe. Crouching in front of me, she brings her hand up to rest on the side of my face, her thumb stroking my cheek.

"No sweetheart, Daddy's asleep. I want you to be real quiet so we don't wake him, okay?"

"Okay Mommy."

"Alright," taking my hand, she stands and walks me out of my room to the stairs, picking me up to go down. Her every step is quiet as a mouse. Moving slowly to the last step, the wood creaks with a loud whine, my mothers foot leaving the surface instantly. Stepping to the floor, she looks up the stairs, obviously listening carefully into the dark Abnegation home. When the only response to our noise comes from the crickets outside, she lifts me again, grabbing the black duffel bags to the side of the door with her other hand.

"What are those-"

"Shhhhh." She says, giving me a stern look. I look down at them again, rapping my arms around her neck. Opening the back door just enough to fit our bodies, she walks out without shutting it.

Being as early as it is, and my lack of sleep from the night before, I fall asleep for I don't know how long. By the time we reach our destination, the sun plays peek-a-boo with the clouds above. Far into the factionless sector, I know because we've ventured just before this place to give food to the factionless, my mother meets up with a man in black pants and a grey shirt. I pretend to still be asleep as to not cause my mother anymore anguish.

"Did you have any trouble?" The man asks, taking the duffle bags from us.

"No, but I had a couple close calls. I made sure to get Tobias last to make it easier on the poor boy."

"Does he know of anything that's going on?"

"No, I didn't have time. He fell asleep anyways. He can deal with the grown up stuff when we get up in a couple hours. Do you have the room ready?"

"Yeah, I made sure to put you on a higher floor nobody likes to go on. Either way I'll be in the next room though."

"Thank you again. I don't know what would have happen to us if we would have stayed there much longer." The two begin walk toward the abandon building in front of us.

"Of course, anything you need... How bad did the boy get it?"

"Ever since he was 3 years old the bastards been on him. I just don't know how someone could do what he has to a child, to Tobias if all children. You should see how bad his back is. He'll never be the same." Stroking my hair, she walks up a long flight of stairs while conversing with the man for what seems like forever. Walking into a conjoined room, the place seems like an abandoned hotel from before the war.

"I'll leave you two to sleep. Call for me if you need anything whatsoever. I'll just be in the next room. Keep the doors locked and the windows covered please."

"Thanks again, I'll see you soon." Closing the door leading to the other room, my mother carries me over to a lone mattress on the floor, different blankets and pillows thrown on top. She lays me down towards the wall, kissing the side of my face.

"You don't have to worry anymore, my sweet boy. We're on the path to a new life. A different life." Laying one more kiss on my shoulder, she rolls over to face the doors.

With her last words ringing in my head, sleep over takes me.