I'm back with a new story! I hope you all like this story and I hope that this story is different than the other modern day Four and Tris stories. The beginning is going to be depressing so I'm warning you all now. I'm going to try to keep this story rated 'T' so don't ask me to change it to an 'M.' The last story I wrote that was rated 'M' didn't really sound good and I'm actually thinking about revising that one, as well as the first Divergent fanfic I wrote.

Anyway, without further ado, I give you the first chapter of Because of You.

I don't own Divergent.

Chapter 1

I'm on my bed in my room, with my teddy bear clutched tightly in my grasp. My father was yelling at my mother earlier about something so when I got downstairs and heard my father yelling, I started to get scared and tears appeared in my eyes. I've never heard my father yell before so I didn't know what was going on. As my father continued to yell at mommy, I saw him raise his hand and I instantly feared for my mother. I yelled at him to stop and when he turned to me, I flinched at how much anger was in his eyes. Mommy turned to me, her eyes fearful and nervous. She told me to go back upstairs and that she'll come tuck me into bed in a few minutes. I stared at my parents before going back upstairs to my room.

Suddenly, I hear my door opening and I look up to see momma walk in. "Mommy, are you all right?" I ask her, noticing that she looks hurt.

"I'm fine, sweetie," Mommy answers, tucking me in. "You have nothing to worry about."

"But daddy was yelling really loud."

"Did he scare you?"

I nod.

"Daddy was just stressed, that's all." Mommy kisses my forehead. "He's been very busy and sometimes his work gets to him. I promise that he won't be like that again."

"Promise?"

Mommy smiles. "I promise. Now, I need you to do me a favor."

"A favor?"

"Yes. No matter what happens, you have to be brave and never let fear get you down. Can you do that for me, sweetie?"

"I can do that, mommy."

"That's my girl. Do you want me to sing to you?" I nod and mommy gets into bed beside me, holding me in her arms. She sings me a soft lullaby and I can feel my eyes slowly start to close. Right before I fall asleep, I hear mommy say: "be brave, my sweet Tris." I never knew that the next time I would wake up, mommy would have left me.

"Girl, get down here!" My father, no, Marcus yells. I refuse to call that monster my 'father.' Eight years ago, my mother ran away for she couldn't handle the beatings Marcus was giving her. Ever since she left, Marcus had been taking his frustration out on me. I have scares on my back, some are still healing while others are fresh from the beating I got last night. Marcus gets made over the stupidest of things, like if I didn't wash the dishes right or that I didn't clean some part of the house. If I don't do something he tells me, Marcus would take off his belt and whip me. Depending on his mood determines where I would sleep for the night. He would either put me in the closet or the spare room. I'm not allowed in my room anymore for he uses that room for the random women he brings home on some nights. Basically, I've become a maid to him; I'm no longer his daughter in his eyes.

I walk into the living room, where Marcus is standing in the middle of the room, waiting for me. "Yes, sir?" I ask him.

"I will be having my work colleague coming over with his family for dinner. I expect this house to be spotless when I come home, understand?"

I nod. "Yes, sir."

"Good." He grabs his coat and briefcase then leaves the house. As soon as the car starts and drives away, I run to the kitchen. I keep a hidden stash of food underneath the floorboards and I only go to it when I haven't been fed for days. I remove some of the floorboards and take out a Twinkie. I take a bite of the delicious treat and I try to savor it but find myself scarfing the whole thing. I take out another Twinkie and scarf that one down as well. I throw away the wrappers then take out the trash, getting rid of the evidence. I then start cleaning the house, making sure everything is spotless. I mainly focus on the downstairs for whenever Marcus has friends from work come over, they rarely go upstairs. I do clean the upstairs as well just in case so that Marcus won't get mad at me. Just as I stare to clean the windows is when I see the school bus drive past the house. I sigh then lean against the wall.

Marcus took me out of school two years after mom left. The excuse he gave the teachers was that he wanted me home-schooled when he actually wanted to use me as his maid. I haven't been at school since I was ten and I miss it. I know some people would think I would be crazy for saying that but school was my get away from Marcus' beatings. Now that I don't have that option, I'm stuck with Marcus 24/7. I think the reason he took me out of school was that he was afraid that I'll ruin his reputation as mayor of Chicago.

I turn back to the windows and start to clean them. By the time I finish cleaning the house, it's almost three o'clock. Marcus should be home soon. I take one last look around the house to make sure everything is ok and that nothing is out of place. Just as I finish looking around, I hear the sound of the car pulling up. I hurry downstairs and make it there just in time for Marcus to open the door. He stares at me then starts walking around the house. I stay where I am, afraid to move from my spot. I hear him go upstairs and walk around before coming back downstairs.

"Go make dinner," Marcus says and I internally sigh, knowing that Marcus has been pleased. I go into the kitchen, to the fridge, and take out the chicken. I preheat the oven then take out some potatoes, cutting the skin off them. I cut the potatoes and put them in a pot of water, putting it over the oven. I then take out a can of corn and put it on the counter for later. When the over beeps, I put the chicken in the over and set the timer for thirty minutes. While the chicken is cooking and the potatoes are boiling, I walk over to the cabinets to get the dishes to set the table. I then realize I have no idea how many people are coming over tonight.

"Set the table for five," Marcus says, startling me. At first, I thought he was going to include me in when I quickly erase that thought out of my head. Never has he ever let me be down for his work dinners. I take out five plates and set the table. I then get the acquired silverware and glasses and place them on the table as well. I hear the water bubbling and walk over to the stove where the water is boiling. I turn off the heater then carry the hot water over to the sink, getting a colander as well. I pour the hot water into the sink, making sure the potatoes fall into the colander. After all the water is out, I put the potatoes back in the pot then grab a masher. I mash the potatoes up then put the mashed potatoes into another bowl. I take the corn, open the can, and pour all of the corn into another pot. I place that pot on the stove and turn on the heater. As I'm waiting for the corn to boil, the oven beeps and I take out the chicken. I cut it into pieces then place those pieces on a plate. Just as I put the scraps into a trash bag, the corn starts to bubble so I turn off the heater. I place the corn in another bowl then carry all of the plates to the dining room, putting them on the table.

Marcus comes in and nods in approval. "Take something from the fridge then go upstairs, girl." I nod then walk to the fridge, taking an apple, then walk upstairs to my 'room.' I go into the room where a single mattress lays in the corner of the room with only a pillow and a thin blanket on it. A notebook lies not far from it, with a pencil lying on top of it. There is a pile of clothes, which consists of holey T-shirts and jeans, in the other corner of the room as well as two pairs of shoes. When I close the door, I turn around to look at the small mirror that hangs there. My dull blonde hair lays flat on my head and it flows down to the middle of my back. My grayish-blue eyes are full of so much pain and suffering I've been through. I can see the bruises that have caked on my skin as well as the dark circles under my eyes.

I walk over to my make-shift bed and sit down, grabbing my notebook. I open to a free page and start drawing, while taking small bites of my apple. I'm hoping that this family that Marcus invites over will have someone that will get me out of this hellhole. Because if someone at least cares about me, it'll be worth putting up of the years upon years of Marcus' abuse.

Just so everyone knows, I'm keeping Tris' and Tobias' ages the same. So Tobias will be 18 and Tris will be 16. I will introduce the other characters as I progress with the story. Please review and let me know if I should continue or not. Bye :)