Dying Flames

III

After the girls left, I crawled under the bed.

The mattress on the bed was way to soft, it felt like a cloud. I'd end up sleeping for days if I slept on it.

I loved sleeping on the roof, but it was raining, so under the bed it is.

The bed was high off the ground, with just enough space for me to be underneath.

I covered myself with the duvet, falling into a comfortable slumber

_______________________________

"Tris?"

It was Four.

"Where are you?"

Silence.

"You need to eat."

I stretched out, causing the floor beneath to creak.

"There you are." He murmured before tugging me gently out from under the bed.

I proceded to squirm as he picked me up.

"Hush, kitten."

I stopped, staring at him with wide eyes. Kitten?

"Always hiding when you sleep, squirming when you are picked up, you're like a kitten. But like all kittens you need to eat."

I moved my eyes down. Didn't he just snap at me yesterday?

"I'm sorry about yesterday " He said reading my mind, "I don't know how to act around you."

I started squirming again, not liking the foreign feeling his arms gave me.

"Okay okay, I'll put you down."

He placed me on the ground and we walked to what I assumed was the dining room.

Wait, what if he took me to some random room like Peter's 'play room'?

I shuddered and stopped walking.

"C'mon you need to eat."

I stared at him.

"Would you like me to command you to eat? No, you would not. So start walking, food's this way." He all but yelled.

I flinched, and he stared at me.

I pointed to the wall, and he glanced at it confused.

I bolted. Breaking the number one rule, turning my back on my master.

I ran until I got to my room, shutting the door and crawling back under the bed.

I pulled the cover over my head and shook, awaiting his reaction.

Kitten? What the hell? I was exhausted and starving, but didn't want to eat. I drank, a little, but I just felt sick.

I don't know how long I lay there, until my vision went dark with a pinch in my arm.

________________________

"I'm sorry to have done that, Beatrice."

I blink, adjusting to the light. In front of me is Four and a doctor.

Beatrice? I don't think anyone has called me that.

I advert my eyes, quickly, knowing I'm in serious trouble.

"Four had called me, saying you will not eat. I can't make you eat, but I will have to give you vitamins to get your nutrition back up."

I stayed quiet. I was nothing to them. Why go through the trouble of fixing me if I'm unfixable?

The doctor left shortly there after, Four following behind.

I crawled under the bed, letting the tears fall.

I wish someone would let me leave. I'd rather not eat or take vitamins. I'd rather wither away and leave.

"Tris? We need to take out your stitches." Christina said softly.

I opened my eyes. I guess I had fallen asleep.

"Normally we leave them in for a few weeks but it's probably really uncomfortable."

I nodded and layed on my stomach.

I felt nothing but numbness.

After a while, she whispered "Done."

I sat up, relishing in the fact that I could stretch peacefully.

"Wait, you need to eat." She handed me a bowl of a weird colored liquid.

"What is it?" I murmured.

"Soup. You'll like it, trust me."

I lifted the spoon to my mouth. It smelt really good.

The flavour was unfamiliar but delicious.

I took a few more bites, and handed her the bowl.

"That's it?"

I nodded.

She sighed, "Alright, but you need to take this pill."

I glanced at it questionably. Was I supposed to chew it?

"Swallow it whole with some water."

I was suppose to swallow the whole thing, without chewing?

"Listen, it's filled with medicine. If you bite it, you'll get a repulsive taste in your mouth. Just swallow it."

I nodded and drowned the pill in water, scraping my throat.

"Good. Do you want to come down and meet everybody? I think you've met everyone but Will."

I shook my head.

"Okay. I'll see you later."

___________________________

It was late. The house was quiet.

I wanted to see the rest of the house.

I tiptoed downstairs. The foyer had three doors, and of course the grand staircase.

One of the doors was a dining room, another was the kitchen.

The third one was a magnificent ball room.

The room had double doors, that let in beautiful moon light.

The floors were polished, the walls bright. Even at night, the room was full of life.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice behind me said.

I jumped, but didn't turn around. What if he was here to give me a punishment for earlier?

I cringed away.

"At night, I like to go and sit out there, but its raning, now." Four said, referring to the double doors.

"Hmmm, Beatrice doesn't suit you. Do you go by another?" He glanced at me.

"Tris, sir."

"Tris," he tested the name out, "It does suit you, very much."

He continued, "What are you doing up at this time of night?"

"Exploring, if that's okay, sir." I mumbled, my eyes trained on my bare feet.

"By all means, I won't stop you." I could feel him smile.

"Goodnight." He said, leaving me in the quiet room.