Rebel

Prologue

Catherine POV

Three years earlier...

"I'm sorry, Catherine." I heard Tobias say.

"For what?" I asked.

Tobias glared at me.

.....

Seven years earlier...

Marcus raised his belt. Even though I'm only six, I am bulletproof. I am titanium. I always will be.

"Don't touch her!" Mom screams through the hallways.

"Don't you dare, Evelyn!" Marcus roars.

I run off to someone I need to see. Marcus chases after me, belt in hand through the halls of our Abnegation house. Marcus is close to me. I do a flip in the air and run. I need to warn Tobias. I ran to my older brother's room. I knocked on the door. Tobias opened it.

"Catherine?" He asked in astonishment.

"I need to warn you. Marcus beat me." I said.

"I don't believe you." Tobias replied selfishly.

"I'm not lying." I said firmly.

"Father would never do that." Tobias replied.

"Yes, Tobias. Yes, Marcus would beat me. And you. Escape!" I yelled.

"Catherine, you just had a hallucination." Tobias said.

"No!" I yelled firmly.

"You're six." Tobias said.

"I thought I trusted you." I mumbled to myself.

"Catherine!" Tobias yelled.

I didn't listen. I saw Mom jump out the window. I followed her.

Mom looked at me.

"Catherine," Mom cooed, "Remember to rebel."

I nodded.

She sang,

"Are you, are you,

Coming to the tree,

They strung up a man,

They say who murdered three,

Strange things have happened here,

No stranger would it be,

If we met at midnight,

In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you,

Coming to the tree,

The dead man called out,

For his love to flee,

Strange things have happened here,

No stranger would it be,

If we met at midnight,

In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you,

Coming to the tree,

It told you to run,

So we both be free,

Strange things have happened here,

No stranger would it be,

If we met at midnight,

In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you,

Coming to the tree,

They strung up a man,

They say who murdered three,

Strange things have happened here,

No stranger would it be,

If we met at midnight,

In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you,

Coming to the tree,

The dead man called out,

For his love to flee,

Strange things have happened here,

No stranger would it be,

If we met at midnight,

In the hanging tree."

"Run, Catherine!" Mom yelled.

I ran after her. Someone lifted me up and brought me back home. I was released.

"Tobias," I said, "How could you?"

......

"Oh." I said to my brother, "I remember.

I look at Tobias, as I see his head in his hands.

"Tobias, my dear, are you okay?" I ask like Abnegation is supposed to.

He lifts his head up high, revealing a tear or two.

"I've never seen you cry." I mumble.

"This is why I don't let you in my room when I am crying. It's not polite." Tobias replies, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with his pointer finger.

"Leave, Tobias. Don't set yourself up." I mumble to him.

He shakes his head, a tear streaming down his face.

"I have to stay here." Tobias said.

"No, Tobias. Leave. I will follow you." I said.

"Catherine! Are you insane?" Tobias asks with concern.

"No. I'm trying to help you out." I reply.

"I can't leave you here with a monster like Marcus!" Tobias yells.

"I might transfer if you stay." I plead.

"You leave. I stay. I can't see you get hurt." Tobias snaps.

"No way!" I yell.

"Yes, way." Tobias replies.

"TOBIAS! JUST LISTEN TO ME, GOD DARN IT!" I yell with frustration.

"I've never heard you talk like that." Tobias mumbles.

"TOBIAS MARCUS EATON!" I yell again, feeling my vein under my left eye pop out of my forehead.

"No. Catherine don't ever speak of my middle name again. It's Marcus's name. It's weird." Tobias mumbles.

"I've never heard you talk like that." I mumble.

He nods.

"Tobias, leave please, for me?" I ask pleadingly.

"Okay. I will leave. Only if we try to find each other." Tobias said.

I nodded. He wraps his arms around me.

"I'll try to find you." I mumble.

"Catherine," Tobias said, "When you try to find me, don't tell me who you think I am, because you're probably wrong."