****Divergent and its characters are property of Veronica Roth-Non divergent characters such as Aria and the story parts belonging to me are MY property and are not to be infringed upon Copyright law** ©

So um yes to all my followers I did change this! Aria is currently under some minor construction! I promise nothing HUGE is going to change but then you never know...hehehe...more on this at the end! Please enjoy!

Chap†er Øne

Vestigial

Some say the simulations are like a dream. Others say they are more like a nightmare. Now that I've been in one I'd say it's more like a reflection then anything else. Like a mirror, hollow, empty, unnatural. At least my reflection is anyway. I suppose it is my good fortune then I was born to a faction that forbids the use of mirrors, except once every three months. And that day was yesterday.

When I stood before that mirror I was all but a ghost. A ghost in gray dress, with a gray expression as my neighbor, a middle aged widow named Tessa, cut my hair. To uphold the values my faction requires, I must submit or become factionless. Some say factionless is worse then death but I don't believe that.

The sun dips beneath the wall that surrounds this city and I sigh. It will be dark by the time I get home and that means there will be a fight. I get to my feet and stand on the edge of the ledge. The wind whips my dress around; I stare at the pavement below. I calculate the distance and how long it would take me to reach the bottom, the speed gathered, the impact ratio. Then I dismiss it and head for the stairs.

I fly out the door and into the factionless sector. A dangerous detour some would say but one I'm used to. The abandoned buildings don't bother me, I find they're desolation fascinating. I run toward home, nestled in between the tall buildings. The closer I get the more I feel myself tense, preparing for the battle ahead.

Finally I halt reaching the gravel paths of abnegation. I Smooth my dress and tuck the stray hairs away back in place. I'll bet anything he's in a foul mood today, he'll be nervous about the choosing ceremony tomorrow. He always has to appear perfect; his image is the only thing that matters to him.

The house looks still, quiet and orderly. Like every abnegation house should be, the picture of perfection, it makes my stomach twist and knot. A single light is on in the living room, where my father sits reading over his glasses. Quietly I close the door, pressing my hands along the edge, waiting breathless for the cold, stone faced man to say something but he doesn't. I begin ascending the stairs.

"Stop," he says in a calm monotone voice.

I do as commanded.

After an exaggerated sigh I hear the book slam shut. "Well come here," he barks, "do not test me tonight Aria I am in no mood."

Rolling my eyes I obey and move around the couch to stand in front of him.

"Well…"

"Well what?"

"You know what. What was your result?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Son of a-" he snaps leaping to his feet.

"I was told not to discuss my test results."

"Oh for the love of-" he stops abruptly and like a chameleon his features morph into a different shade. "Darling," he says smiling warmly, "I am your father, you can trust me. Now what were your results?"

"None of your business."

He latches onto my bicep and yanks me with a rough tug, "What did I just say hmm? I'm warning you young lady."

"Or you'll what?" I spit wrenching my arm free. I start to move away slowly, like you would if a wild animal caught sight of you in the woods.

He follows me just as slowly and we're dancing a very dangerous dance, one where only one of us can stand at the end.

"I like when you pretend your not afraid of me anymore, it makes it so much more interesting."

I scoff, "I'm not afraid."

"I always admired that about you," the smile returns to his face, only this time he doesn't bother hiding its malevolence, "your bravado."

"Thank you," I say sarcastically and push a chair out of my way as I circle around the living room. He takes it and rests his hands on the back of it.

"My little fighter," he says quietly and there's a moment of silence.

The chair between us goes flying into the wall; it splinters like kindling.

I turn to run but there isn't enough room to get away; he slams me into the wall next. "Get off me!"

"You asked for it, this is all on you," he presses his thumb into my throat.

"Let. Me. go."

"Never," he grabs onto my chin with his other hand, "No my sweetness. You're mine and you will always be mine."

"No!" I slap him across the face and he pins my wrist to the wall.

"Now, answer me," he growls and I cry out as he cracks my skull against the wall, "What was your result? Where were you? Who were you with?"

My hair falls free from its bindings cascading around me like a black cloak.

"No one!"

"Don't you lie to me!"

"I'm not!"

"Aria."

"I was alone, I was just walking!"

"Hmmm," he hums his bruising grip loosens; he pushes the hair from my face. "I suppose there is nothing wrong with walking. As long as you weren't with that boy again?"

The green eyed monster rears his ugly head again; I sigh heavily. "No I haven't seen him."

"Good," he says, "When and if the time comes for you to be married I will choose who it will be, understand?"

I don't answer him. He is seriously deranged if he actually believes I will let that happen.

"I'm still waiting for the rest of my answers."

"No."

A fist plants itself next to my face, "Why must you provoke me hmm? Hmm? You know I have a stressful day tomorrow why must you make me do this?"

A laugh bubbles up from inside me, "Amity."

"Yea right," he pulls me away from the wall and slaps me across the face then drops me to the floor; I can't help it and I don't know why but I laugh again. "You think that's funny huh?"

He slaps me again; I taste blood. After a moment in silence he reaches for me again; I flinch away.

"There now, we don't want that pretty face marked up for tomorrow do we," he grabs hold of me again but with a gentle disarming touch he tilts my chin to look at him, "You want to stay here with me right?"

I manage a weak nod and suck the blood on my lip. A feint metallic taste; warm and comforting.

"Of course you do," he says, "we're the only family we've got and we have to stick together."

A name forms on my lips and I know I shouldn't say it but I can't stop myself.

"Tobias."

"How dare you speak that name in this house!" He hauls me to my feet, "He left us he betrayed us!"

"No he left you," I say, "he loved me and you drove him away! Just like me!"

"You're not going anywhere," he shakes me a little, "you belong to me."

"I am not a thing you can possess Marcus," I struggle in his grip, "I'm your daughter, your blood! You don't own me!"

His fist collides with my face; I fall to my hands and knees. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest pumping blood to my extremities, making my body jolt with electricity. I fumble with the fuel; hatred is making me forget how to use it properly. I try to concentrate, to be calm but this is a long time coming and it's overflowing now like a pot of boiling water.

"You little bitch," he almost whispers, "is that what you think?"

I laugh, "I'm not your property your sick fuck!"

Lunging foreword he grabs onto my hair, "Watch your language," he scolds, "you're going to pay for that one."

"No," I say panting for air, "I'm not."

I slam my elbow into his ribs; I hear a cracking sound. He drops me and clutches his side.

Spinning around I thrust my hand into his chest; he stumbles.

"Today this ends."

"No," he wheezes, "It will never be over!"

With one swift kick I send him flying backward into the living room table; it breaks beneath his body like water. He lays there motionless and I contemplate all the ways I could finish him off but there is only one punishment harsh enough for this man and that is to be left all alone. So that's what I do.

After I pack a bag I head down the dark paths of abnegation toward the one house I know that will be safe. The one house he won't dare follow me into. The furthest one out belongs to Alexander Khan and his son Kris, they are not like any other abnegation I know. They are strong, brave and kind. Alexander came from dauntless many years ago they've helped me before.

I knock on the door and a light flickers on inside.

The door opens.

"Aria?"

A man squints into the darkness, a solitary sigh telling me he recognizes my dilemma. A large hand pulls me into the house, locking the door behind me. "Come, sit I'll get the first aid kit." I sit on the couch and let my bag fall at my feet.

"Aria?" Kris appears instantly at my side, I look at my hands folded in my lap. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine Kris."

"Hey, look at me," he says softly and I do. He is handsome with chiseled features and dark brown hair that contrasts his sharp blue eyes. They remind me not of sky or water but of electricity. Like someone trapped a thousand volts inside them. They are shocking to behold and when they catch you it's difficult to flee, though I'm not sure he even knows their power. When I was younger he used to make me go little weak at the knees. "Your safe here," his voice is low and almost fleeting.

"I know."

"Here we are," Alexander returns with the first aid kit, a bowl of water and a facecloth. He tilts my chin to inspect he bruises. "I told you not to go back there, you should have stayed with us," he says dabbing the wet face cloth onto my lip.

"I had no choice, they were going to throw me out of abnegation," I mumble.

"It would not have been the end of the world Aria, we have many friends among the factionless."

"I know Alex," I touch his hand gently, "but I have to find my brother."

"Aria," Kris sighs next to me, "he's in your past you have to let him go."

"Really Kris faction before blood? Don't you think that's a little hypocritical of you?"

"I just don't want to see you get hurt."

I smile at him, "I know but this is something I have to do."

"This ointment will heal you up nice and quick," Alex opens the tin and dips his fingers in. I turn my face and he smears it on, its cool and it tingles a little. "How stupid to do this to you the night before the choosing ceremony," he grumbles under his breath.

I glance around the room catching sight of a flicker by the window but its only a bird. "He was scared I would leave him here all alone."

Alex scoffs as he wipes his hands clean, "He should be scared. I know I'm scared of loosing you," he says and I feel something well up in my chest; it makes my eyes water. "Aria you have meant more to me then, well then I can ever express. I always wanted a daughter but my wife…"

Emotion overpowers him then and he lowers his head. I slide off the couch and gather him in my arms.

"And I don't know what I would have done without you two. You saved me."

"No," he says pulling away a little his hard features soften into the most gentle smile I've ever seen. "You saved us."

The tears run between my lips and I don't know what to say. He's the father I should have had.

"I love you."

"I love you my daughter, you will always have us."

"You swear it?" I say and he wipes my tears away.

"Of course," he takes a deep breath and releases it. "That's why I have to tell you Aria, as much as I want you to become part of this family, you have to choose what makes you happy."

"Thank you," I look away, "It's not easy…"

"You must be exhausted," he says, "Kris why don't you get her all set up in the spare bedroom while I clean up here."

"Sure thing dad," he nods grabbing my bag as he stands. He extends his hand down to me and pulls me to my feet.

"We've missed you at the community center," he says over his shoulder as we head up the stairs, "and you haven't been coming to visit with grandfather? Is everything ok?"

"Yea I um…" I pause on the steps and try to think of some excuse. I've been trying to distance myself from him, that way it will be easier when I leave. "My father-"

"Oh, yes of course," he interrupts and I'm grateful I don't have to lie. I hate lying to him. "Well everyone's missed you," he says opening the door.

"I've missed them too," I suddenly realize how much I'm going to miss them all when I go. I hadn't really thought much about them and what I was doing to them by leaving. How selfish of me. "Kris, I'm, I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

I take both his hands in mine, "For everything, Kris I, I care for you so much, its killing me. This is killing me you have to know that."

"Hey shhh," he hushes, "I love you Aria, I'd do anything to…" his eyes dart elsewhere, anywhere but at me, "I just want you to be happy."

I shouldn't but I gather his shirt in my fist and pull him closer; he lays his forehead against mine. Instantly I regret it as something starts to build in the space that still separates us. The thick muscles under his shirt rise and fall rapidly under my forearm.

All of this is against abnegation codes of conduct but we already broke that conduct before, when we kissed.

"I love you too Kris," I whisper. Both his hands wrap around my waist and he squeezes me.

I shouldn't allow it, any of it, I should stop now but I can't stop it. I don't want to. It feels nice to be loved.

He kisses me, slowly at first and it only seems to frustrate me more so I kiss him back harder. We've played this game before but the stakes have never been this high. I'm leaving tomorrow this is wrong; I don't want to do what's right. I just want to keep kissing him.

"Marry me," he breathes.

I break away from him immediately and back into the windowsill.

"I can't Kris."

I turn and press my hands into the sill; his reflection in it is so faint, like the shadow of myself in the mirror. I look away.

"I've asked you twice now and twice you said no."

"Kris I-"

"I wasn't finished yet," I find his eyes again; even in the weak reflection they are bright, all powerful. "I know your conflicted, I know you love me," I smile, "And I know I could make you happy. What I don't know is what you think you'll find that's better then this," he says wrapping both muscular arms around me.

I stare at our reflection in the window. What he offers, its steady, peaceful, I know I'll never have to worry about anything if I stay here with him. This life with him would keep me content but as I stare at the pale reflection of us, I realize that's what it would be for me. A life watered down. A life of submission and I've surrendered long enough.

Its not fear that compels me foreword away from him, from abnegation, fear of my father or fear of losing myself. Its desire. I desire more. A pang of guilt stabs my chest, how can I want more then him? He's right what could be better then being with him?

"What is it?" he tilts my chin back up, "hmm? What does my Aria want? Just ask and I will give it to you."

"Stay with me a while, until I fall asleep?

"Of course," he says huskily.

Quietly he closes the door and I slip out of my clothes and into something more comfortable. I slide under the covers and watch as he pulls his shirt over his head. It falls unnoticed to the floor. He climbs in beside me and takes me in his arms. We talk late into the night, we talk about abnegation, about dauntless and about us. There are so many memories we have together, so many experiences we've shared. It's hard to let go, to know there won't be anymore.

"Kris?" I whisper and I tilt my head to look at him.

"Mmm?"

"You remember that night, the night we met?"

He looks away, "How could I forget."

The memory is bittersweet, for both of us.

"I almost died that night."

"I remember," he twirls my hair around his finger.

"I was just thinking that if that hadn't happened to me we might never have met."

"Yes we would of."

"How do you know?"

"Because," he says absently, "I was watching you."

I immediately sit up, "What? What do you mean?"

He sits up and takes my hands in his, "I'm sorry I was going to tell you, I just was waiting for the right time."

"Kris what are you talking about?"

He sighs and looks away, "I saw your father mistreat you once, it made me so angry…"

"And?"

"I told dad and he had words with Marcus," his mouth tilts to the side a little. "Well it was a little more then words."

I picture Alex, tall, imposing well built man grabbing my father by the collar and threatening him. His knuckles turn white, his face red with anger, eyes full of rage. The thought of Alex roughing up my father makes me smile.

"I can't believe you never told me this."

"I kept an eye on you when I could but that day," he lowers his head, "I failed you."

"Kris no…look at me," he obeys, defying every abnegation teaching, every lesson we've ever had. I search his face, "Its not your fault. Don't ever say that again."

"I should go now. You should rest."

Sliding off the bed he retrieves his shirt and reaches for the handle, "No wait," I jump up from my seat, "don't go."

He turns to face me; I reach for him bringing my lips to his.

"Aria," he breaths almost warningly but I don't care I kiss him anyway.

Ok but seriously I chopped some of the unnecessary stuff out and I wanted to show more of who Aria is right away, that whole shy girl thing kind of bugged me a lot so i re-wrote it. It's totally different then then the original first chapter but to me it makes more sense because its not such a quick character change when she goes to dauntless. I also wanted to change the dynamic between Aria and Marcus, I did actually have a plan and there was a reason why Marcus did what he did to her but it was so far out to explain that, that I think it may have turned off readers. So here we see maybe more a rebellious teenager and her crazy pop! I actually love the way she came off here, I reveled in it actually. Idk maybe I'm getting a little tired of all the intrigue and I wanted to write something blatant right in your face, so there it is!

Please new and old readers alike let me know what you think! More changes to come! But yea promise nothing scary LOL!

Also these updates will be simultaneous so I will still be updating from the last chapter as well just be aware there may betimes where there beginning and endings of chapters don't match up, like chapter 2 will not make sense till I reconstruct. Thank you again!

Love you all & all reviews welcome! :)