Free The Divide (The Divide Series Book 1) by Kaitlyn Kroner Page A

came up and started punching him. I could feel the man returning Tyler’s punches because his elbows kept jamming into my back. I tried to cough to get some air into my lungs, but it didn’t work. The man’s head slammed into my back, and I screamed. It felt like someone had just hit me with a large hammer. Tears sprang in my eyes, threatening to fall. 
    My hands clawed the cold concrete floor, trying to grip and move myself from under them, but I couldn’t budge. Tears blurred my vision as I reached out to grab the leg of the chair next to me, hoping I could topple it on top of the guys, but my fingers only grazed it. I tried again to move with everything I had, but nothing. Darkness was starting to cloud my vision. This whole not being able to breathe thing was becoming a problem. One minute, darkness was coming closer, and the next, the weight was off of my back and I was being lifted into the air. My eyes connected with Gregory’s, his eyes burning with anger while mine were burning with tears. He gently put me down on shaky legs, away from the fight.
    “Thanks,” I whispered. 
    Gregory nodded his head and went back over to the fight. A couple of other guys helped Gregory break apart the fight. Gregory pointed to Tyler. “Get your friends and leave.” Tyler just nodded. “And don’t ever come back,” Gregory said. He shoved Tyler toward the door. George, Mandy, and Sarah followed Gregory and Tyler. 
    I started to follow when a soft hand pulled on my arm. Looking over my shoulder, the old man—who had served us—was holding a handkerchief out toward me. “Here you go, dear. You have blood down the side of your neck.”
    “Thank you,” I said. I took the handkerchief and walked out of the bar, catching up with the others. As I tried to clean up the blood, I couldn’t tell if I had a wound or if it was one of the guys’ blood. Nobody talked as Gregory led us up the street. Tyler was holding his nose, George was holding his arm, and Mandy and Sarah had their arms entwined, whimpering. It took me a few minutes to realize that Gregory was taking us straight to the gatehouse. I shivered, knowing I would have to face my parents. Looking down, I watched my feet as we walked; I didn’t want to go home, but I also didn’t want to go back where we came from. 
    “This is where I leave you,” Gregory said. I looked up to see the gatehouse just a few feet up ahead. The others walked up to the gatehouse, but I stayed where I was. Gregory walked toward me and stopped and lowered his voice, “if you were smart, you wouldn’t want to be friends with them. Especially the guy you kissed. He started that fight. He might not have thrown the first punch, but he egged them on. He put you in harm’s way because of that. Think about that the next time he wants you to do something stupid.” I looked up, but he was already walking away. Taking a deep breath, I made my over to the gatehouse. The soldiers were already asking everyone for their passes, and since none of us had them, we told them who are parents were and watched as they called each of them up. We waited in silence for half an hour. Tyler looked like he couldn’t care less, and Mandy was still whimpering, saying something about her neck hurting. Sarah cried silently. George looked as scared as I was. Was he going home to a monster? Finally, the door flung open, revealing my father—every inch of his face etched in anger.
    “Let’s go, young lady.” My father grabbed my arm and dragged me out the door. As we got to the car—the only car that was used outside of the army—my father all but threw me in the backseat and then followed. The car ride to the house was a very long and tense five minutes. Before the car was even stopped, my father opened the door, grabbed my arm, and pulled us both out. He rushed us up the steps, and when he opened the front door, he threw me in. I hurled onto the tile floor, smacking my jaw, pain radiating up my face. That