Four POV

I look at my phone, I'm ten minutes late. The thing I call a father is going to beat the hell out of me. I slowly open the door and creep into my house but he's there waiting for me. He's always waiting for me.

"Tobias, your late." He says angrily but not looking at me. " I know I'm sorry but-" "No excuses Tobias, if your late you know the consequences." I would beg him not too, or say I'm sorry over and over again but over the last 10 years I've learned it doesn't make a difference but in fact makes it worse.

My father slowly edges towards me by the front door, each footstep that he takes vibrates through the floor sending fear through my body. As he moves closer, he takes off his belt, the rattle of the buckle sending fright into my very bones.

Before I met Tris, I was only scared truly of four things. Heights, small spaces, hurting someone innocent and my father. But now there's one more fear and it weighs down on me more then anything. I'm scared my father will hurt Tris and my daughter. It would kill me to see them hurt and therefore by taking these beatings I'm protecting them. Then again I think I just tell myself that to makes this whole situation less painful. If I believe I'm doing it for the greater good, then surely it shouldn't hurt so bad? However sometimes I simply just think it doesn't make a difference.

As my father hits me for the first time tonight I can tell it's going to painful, he's angry, so angry. I guess alcohol has played a part in his fury against me this time. I try and contain my screams because I don't want give him satisfaction of him hearing me in pain.

Every hit hurts more then the last. Every hit stings longer then the last. Every hit is harder then the last. Why does he do this? Why?

As he carries on my brutal punishment I feel myself slipping away, my vision blurring as pain takes it's toll on my body. I feel myself falling into darkness, he might stop now. But he doesn't, he keeps hitting, punching and whipping until I loose conscious.

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I wake up startled when I hear the door slam, he gone, he's left. My moment of happiness is immediately lost as the pain of my beating washes over my body. I can't help grunting as I try and move my hand to my pocket to reach my phone. The pain is agonising, it's like my flesh is being torn apart. I eventually reach my phone, and I dial Tris' number. It's barely rings before she picks up, she's confused I can tell. I don't know at what hour I'm calling but it must be late because she sounds sleepy too.

"Tris, h-help me, please." I barely croak out,

"Tobias where are you?" She asks frantically.

"H-home. Please help." I can barely speak now, the pain is becoming too unbearable.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She shouts down the phone, "Tobias can you hear me? I'm coming, I promise."

I try and reply but I can't, it's all too much. All I think to myself is Tris to come quickly. It's never been this bad, never. I try to not move while Tris comes, but it's hard as I can feel blood oozing out of my back. There's so much, too much. I know it's not a good sign, they always tell you in those first aid classes to put pressure on wounds, to stop the bleeding. That's what I need right now, I just hope Tris doesn't get here to late.

It's not long until I hear someone banging on the door,

"Tobias, Tobias, are you in there? Please speak to me!" It sounds like she's crying. I then hear her move a flower pot outside, thank god I put that key there. I would have never been able to open the door.

I hear the ringing of the key as they smash against the key hole, with the occasional sob from Tris. The door slams open, and I feel a cool breeze as it glides over my back, I sigh as it momentarily dulls the pain.

"Oh Tobias, what happened?" She cries, I simply grunt out. "Dad."

"I need to phone 911, I have too." "No, no, can't. Dad, will hurt me more. Please." I breathe out. "Okay, okay." I hear her then run into the kitchen to grab something but I have to close my eyes to help cope with the pain. I know I called Tris here but I want to minimise the amount of pain she's see me in, it won't be good for her or the baby.

"This is going to hurt bad Tobias, I'm so sorry, I love you okay." She then places a clothe on my back and I can no longer hold it in as I scream. Tris immediately withdraws the clothe, and stokes my sweat invested hair. "Shhhh, I won't do it again I promise." I sigh.

"Tobias, why does he do this?" "I don't know." I cry out.

I'm still laying on my stomach in the hallway as Tris grabs paracetamol,

She quickly gives to me and I crack a smile, well I try. "How can you smile?" "Because your here." "I'm serious Tobias, I don't know what to do. These cuts are far too deep." "I will just be fine." I have to stop to catch my breathe as pain sweeps over me. Tris looks at me in concern as she sits on the floor in front of me stroking my hair.

"J-just promise me, if he comes back. Run. Don't look back. Just run." I croak, "I can't leave you like this." She says sadly, "And I can't let him hurt our baby girl." "Tobias you matter too you know, I'm-" Tris stops in the middle of her sentence as there is a bang outside the door, and there is a rattle of alcohol bottles. Marcus is home. Tris' eyes balloon with fear,

"Tris. Run."

A/N Thank you for the favourites and follows on this story, I'm amazed by how many followers I've got so I massive big thank you to all of you. Also trissypoo your review made me laugh so much, coincidences eh?