Thanks so much for the support, I've decided to continue this story!


"You're up early," Marcus says. He stares at me from across the kitchen table.

"I fell asleep early," I say. Tobias has his eyes on me but I don't return the stare. Honestly, I didn't go to bed early. I fell asleep a few hours after Tobias finished talking to me, and it mainly consisted of me staring at the ceiling. Midnight thoughts are the worst type of thoughts. Tobias opens his mouth, as if to say something, but we are interrupted by the kitchen door opening. It makes a loud squeaking noise. Caleb stumbles in, eyes half closed, looking like he just woke up from a coma.

"You look like you slept well," Tobias mutters. His voice is harsh.

"I did, actually. What's for breakfast?" Caleb asks, addressing the empty table. My stomach is full from the plate of eggs that I was served a few minutes ago.

"You missed breakfast," Marcus grunts. His eyebrows are raised and he doesn't look ashamed to say it.

"Oh. Well, I can cook up something else-" Caleb replies. I am about to get up to help him, but Marcus throws his hand on the table. It makes an ear- splitting noise. Tobias's shoulders hunch, and his eyes remain on me.

"Kitchen's closed. You're late."

"I wasn't told that there was a time-" Caleb starts to speak, but Marcus cuts him off.

"All of you need to get dressed and start working. Best to get outside before the sun's too high in the sky," Marcus says. He stands up from the table and he looks like a giant. I have to raise my eyes to look at him. With one last eye roll, he leaves the room.

"Well." Caleb stands frozen. He looks more confused than nervous. Tobias just shakes his head, and I stand up. My feet glide easily to the fridge. Inside, it is filled with random food- fruit, lunch meat, sodas, beer. I grab a bowl of sliced watermelon and pass it to Caleb.

"Put that back," Tobias says. He reaches over and grabs the bowl.

"Why? Caleb hasn't eaten."

"My dad just said not to."

"I don't really care about what your dad just said. He's not going to starve," I reply. I take the bowl from his hands without touching him, and once again pass it to Caleb. Caleb gives me a small smile before piling the first piece into his mouth. For a second, however, I feel on edge. My eyes wander to the window to make sure that Marcus isn't looking. The house seems to be empty.

"With that mindset, you're not going to survive here," Tobias says. He's staring at me as if his strong gaze will somehow impact my decision.

"Survive? This is my house now, not the wild. I don't mind going to sleep and waking up at certain times- but we'll eat whenever we want to." I don't mean to sound so cruel when replying, but Tobias is bothering me. He's going to need to learn to stand up to his father. Marcus is strict, but not unbeatable. He doesn't pose too much of a threat to me.

"Tris," he says. His tone sounds like glass- but for some reason, I like how my name sounds in his voice. "Don't be irrational. You need to trust me when I tell you that it's not a good idea."

"Seems like a fine idea to me," Caleb butts in. His mouth is filled with watermelon.

"And I stand with my brother. Finish up, Caleb. There's chores," I say.


Sweat pours down my face like I've just taken a shower. And with my hands covered in dirt, I can't even push my hair behind my ears. Marcus wasn't joking when he said chores. The entire yard needs work- and apparently, it's our job to do so. I don't understand why Marcus doesn't just call somebody professional. He's practically bathing in extra money. But instead, I am sitting with my knees on the ground, hands pushing a shovel into cold earth. Tobias is next to me. He hasn't spoken since the incident at breakfast- but I can tell that he keeps wanting to say something. Caleb is in the other side of the yard, digging up flowers that have died.

"Why doesn't Marcus pay someone to do this?" I finally break the silence.

"He has to keep us busy so he doesn't have to deal with us. Therefore," Tobias just points to the pulled weeds on the ground. That explanation probably makes the most sense out of everything that he's told me between yesterday and now. Still, it seems like a lot of extra work to just keep us off his hands. He could have just sent us to the movies, or to a coffee shop down the street. Chicago is filled with plenty of other options besides yard work.

"And you never ask him to let you do something else? Hang out with friends?" I respond. I don't have many friends. A few from my old high school, Christina, Will and Al. But Christina hasn't spoken to me since my parents died. I don't think she knows how to respond to such a terrible thing- and I don't blame her. I wouldn't know what to do if our roles were reversed.

"He doesn't like me having friends." Tobias shrugs.

I just look at him for a second. His eyes don't meet mine, but I can still see them from the side. They are concentrated, but also shattered. Something inside of him has been destroyed- I can just tell. I don't know if it's simply his childhood, considering he grew up with a man like Marcus, or if he, in general, is just an unhappy person.

"I'd consider us friends. You're breaking rules without knowing it," I reply. My voice is light but I still don't smile. I can't manage to smile- I haven't for months. It's become a task that seems close to impossible to accomplish.

"I don't consider us friends." His words are strong- and so pushy, that I practically close my eyes. My attention goes back to the shoveling. Nothing else- not the boy beside me, just the garden work that I have been assigned. And we sit here, in nothing but silence, until Marcus calls us back in for a late lunch.


"You're done in the yard for today. I need help inside," Marcus addresses us. Caleb raises an eyebrow.

"Help with what?" My brother asks. His words are ragged and out of breath. We're all already exhausted, and I can't understand why we are being put up for even more work.

"There's going to be a party here tonight. Some of my business workers are coming to meet here."

"You have a job?" I can't help but ask.

"Yes," Marcus states, "A very important one, actually. You three all need to stay in a room and don't come out until the night is over. I don't want you to ruin this for me. Upstairs floor needs to be cleaned, and the windows washed."

"And why exactly are we the ones doing this?" I dare to ask. My tone is challenging. Tobias shakes his head at me, but I ignore him.

"Don't fight me on this. Do what you're required, or I'll make sure they put you in a foster home. You'll be doing way more work there. Got it?"

I stand frozen for just a second, trying to come up with some reply to that demand, but for once, it seems that I have lost my voice.


Reviews are loved and will keep me writing :)