Amy was quite surprised that Cole insisted on following them into the house, but she couldn't argue.
She noticed his quietness on their way home, and he still maintained it in the house. He just stared at the TV, making no conversations with anyone.
He waited for Tris to finish his lunch, and then he asked to see Amy.
"Yeah?" She answered him.
"I want to take Tris out," he blurted.
"Okay. When are you bringing him back? And where are you guys going?" She asked.
"I'm... Today. I'll bring him back this evening," he replied.
"And where are you taking him to?" She repeated the last question.
"We.. we'll go to the park. Not too far away from here," he answered.
"Is it just the two of you? I don't have anything to do for the rest of the day. Are you sure I can't tag along-"
"No!!" He yelled.
Cole noticed that he startled Amy with his tone and he tried to correct himself.
"It's not like I don't want you with us, but this is some father to son thing. I just need some time alone with him. That's all I'm asking for," he pleaded.
Amy squinted his eyes at him.
"Cole?"
"Yeah?" He answered.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"You think I'm crazy for asking for some alone time with my son?" He questioned.
"No, not that! You've been moody since today. Up until this conversation, you've barely said a word to me. And right now, you're being a little salty. Did something happen? Is something wrong?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I'm... I'm okay. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he replied, trying to avoid eye contact with her.
"Cole, look at me.... Are you sure?" She asked.
He looked into her eyes, and he instantly felt weak. He couldn't tell a lie with her eyes staring into his. The love and attention he saw in her eyes almost made him pour out the hurt he felt for Tris.
But this was something he had to handle like a man.
Like his father.
"I'm fine, Amy. Trust me," he assured and left the kitchen.
"Tris, come on, let's go," he said as he reached the living room.
"Yayy!" He ululated and got ready to leave with his father.
He reached the door and saw Kayla.
"Thank you for calling and telling me about the PTA meeting," he said and she nodded.
He left with Tris and they soon got settled in the car.
"Dad?" Tris called his attention.
"Yeah?" He responded.
"Where are you going?" Tris asked innocently.
"Somewhere far away, where nobody will get us," Cole said and started the car.
***
The ride took them about four hours, and the night was already setting.
For the most part of the ride, Tris was asleep. Cole didn't bother disturbing him. Considering where he was taking him to, he needed all the rest he could get.
Tris finally woke up when he noticed the car had stopped moving. He looked around and he saw that this was not the park. He didn't know where he was.
The car parked in front of what looked like an abandoned building in the woods. They were in the heart of a forest.
"Dad? Where are we?" He asked, confused and scared.
Cole didn't bother to give him a reply.
"Get out of the car," he instructed and he got out himself.
Tris tried pushing the car, but he was too weak to do so.
"Dad, I can't open it. Could you help me?" He pleaded.
"If you don't get out of the car yourself, I'm going to get into that building and lock you outside. That means you'll spend the rest of the night out in the forest," Cole threatened.
Fear gripped Tris's heart at the mention of staying out in the forest, and he pushed the door open with all the strength he had in the world.
He finally got out panting and shivering in the cold at the same time.
Cole walked to the door, got out a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door. He entered the building and Tris quickly followed suit.
The room was dark at first, but at the flick of a light switch, dim lights brightened the room.
Tris squinted and when he got used to the light, he stared at what he saw.
In the middle of the room was a big boxing ring with slacking ropes. Behind the ring were all kinds of gym equipment - from dumbbells to barbells. All kinds of weights.
There were two iron beds at a corner in the room, and the rusty ceiling fan was the only thing circulating air.
"I thought we were going to the park. Why are we here, dad?" He asked, scared.
"You've gone to too many parks, and you've become too soft," Cole muttered.
"Did... Did I do anything wrong?" Tris asked, confused by his father's sudden cold attitude towards him.
"When those bullies injured you with sharp objects, did you do anything wrong to them?" Cole asked.
"No, I didn't," Tris answered.
"But they still injured you nonetheless, didn't they?" Cole questioned.
"Yes, dad," he answered
"You see, Tris, the world is not all sunshine and roses. It's meaner than you think. And if you keep having this soft attitude, allowing people to pick on you for no reason, you'll suffer when you grow up. People who are too soft die too early. They get miserable! Do you want to be miserable?!!" Cole yelled at him.
"N... No sir!" Tris shuddered in fear at his father's loud tone.
"Good! Tonight, I'll teach you how to be tough. After tonight, you'll learn never to let them bully you. Am I understood?!" He yelled again.
"Y.. yes, sir!"
Tris didn't have an idea what was going on. Barely hours ago, he was enjoying a nice, silent ride. And here he was, right now. In a musty old gym, in the middle of nowhere.
"Go on your belly and give me as many pushups as you can," he ordered.
Tris stared at his dad, confused.
"Do it!! Do it now!!!"