A/N: I'm trying really hard to get back into writing so I'm publishing the first four chapters of my story on here to hopefully get some feedback. Please keep in mind that this story will be a slow build, and I have to work around caring for a tiny human (my son) while cleaning house. Constructive criticism is always welcomed!

A/N 2: This story will obviously be A/U but with elements taken from both the movies and books. For instance instead of the choosing ceremony taking place at sixteen it takes place when the characters are eighteen. Also I'm trying my hand at first person point of view. Traditionally I used to write third person so we'll see how this goes.

Chapter 1

Isabella Eaton

Tomorrow is my choosing ceremony, I know exactly what I'll choose. It won't be Abnegation like my father has been drilling into me since Tobi defected to a different faction.

I'm going to choose Dauntless. The irony of it isn't lost on me. Running to the faction that prides bravery, running because I'm afraid to stay in Abnegation. I'm afraid of my father, afraid of what he'll keep doing to me if I stay. Afraid that if I don't leave I'll slowly loose myself bit by bit until there's know fire left inside me.

I can't wait to see the look on my father's face when I stand in front of him, slice my hand, and choose Dauntless. It probably be a similar look to what he gave Tobias when he chose a different faction. Father refuses to tell me what faction he chose, it doesn't matter though, as long as he's happy where ever he is.

My father gets home while I'm chopping vegetables for dinner. It's my night to cook and do dishes. "What did you get?" is Marcus Eaton's way of greeting me.

"Abnegation," I reply, it's the truth, he knows it is because he walked me through what I was supposed to choose about half a dozen times.

"Good," he says as he places a hand on my shoulder, I have to make a conscious effort not to shrink away from his touch. "You know what you're supposed to do tomorrow."

It's not a question but I nod my head anyways as I put the vegetables in the boiling water of the pot. "Yes, sir." I can't afford to get the belt tonight, I have to remember all my manners and be on my best behavior. I need to be able to keep up with the Dauntless tomorrow when we make a run for the trains.

"Good girl," he says. "Let me take over you must be tired from your test today."

This stuns me, this is the first time he's ever been nice enough to do something like cook dinner for me on the night I'm supposed to cook. I look into his eyes, the same blue color that Tobias and I share, I try to see if this is a test. He gives nothing away though. "It's alright dad I don't mind," I say hoping it's the right thing to say to him.

"I insist, go take a nap you need your rest," his tone of voice leaves no room for arguments.

"Thank you, sir." I quickly retreat to my room to do as he says.

My room is plain and gray, there is nothing that would tell an outsider anything about me. Laying on my bed I wonder what it would be like to have things that belong to me, that I wouldn't have to worry about getting the belt over.

Once when I was five and Tobi was seven, we stole some cookies from the school cafeteria, the other Abnegation who were helping out that day didn't even notice us. They probably thought we were there to try and offer help to anyone who looked like they needed it. Tobi found the cookies and I hid them in one of the layers of my little dress. No one suspected a thing. When the bus dropped us off at home we made a bee line to my room to hide the cookies under my bed.

Somehow our father found them. That was the first time I remember him taking off his belt and striking my back with it; it was also the first time Tobias took the belt for me. He got three hits in before Tobias rushed into the room and convinced our father that he had taken them and hid them in my room. Our father hit him with the belt five times. It was the first time he took a beating for me, but not the last.

Father never came up and got me for dinner or if he did he let me sleep. Usually I'd be punished for not being down for dinner on time. I guess he's trying to convince me to stay in Abnegation. Maybe he just thinks he has nothing to worry about. I hope that's it, it'll make choosing Dauntless so much more satisfying.

Silently I get up from my bed and creep out into the hall way. Carefully I go downstairs making sure to avoid the third step down that creaks. If I'm lucky my father has already gone to bed. I look into the living room he's not there. He must be up in his room. When I reach the fridge there's a note on the door:

Isabella,

I know you'll make the right choice tomorrow. I'm proud of you.

-Dad

I put the note back on the fridge the same way I found it. I've lost any appetite I had. Turning around I quickly but quietly walk back up to my room. The faster I go to sleep the faster tomorrow will come.

Sleep never comes to me.