Marta felt torn as she sat at the small table in her and Ezra's room. Both people she cared about sat in silence in the room. Atalia was on the chair next to her, twiddling with her necklace between her fingers. While Ezra was pacing around, constantly looking at his watch. She knew that they were both worried about one person: Isiah. And Marta was extremely worried too, Isiah has become like a brother to her. But her relationship could not even come close to the one held between the three of them. They grew up together, they laughed together, they suffered together, they loved together. Marta was so grateful that they let her into their circle, but there was no denying the envy as she watched the way they all interacted together.

Marta reached over and patted Atalia's arm, "Don't worry. I am sure everything is fine."

But obviously she couldn't know that for sure. They were completely in the blind. Marta knew how much the men planned for this mission. They had every detail and scenario they could imagine planned out. It was one of the more risky plans they have come up with, but the result would prove so beneficial. Aside from getting Ezra's father back, which Marta was most excited for, they would be gaining strong men and women into their community. These men would only fortify their numbers, and allow for the fight to go on. Marta knew how much Ezra put into this.

Looking up at her husband to be, a small smile graced her lips. She looked down at the ring on her left hand again, still feeling a bit of shock. She couldn't believe everything she dreamed for was finally coming true. She was officially a Jewish woman, and she would be rightfully married to the love of her life. After the ceremony of her conversion, Atalia and Marta spoke with the rabbi. He agreed to marry them together, two days after the mission was complete. So if all went according to plan, that would be in approximately three and half days. There was so much to do, but Marta didn't even consider trying to arrange anything, not until the mission was complete.

Standing up, Marta walked over to Ezra, who finally stopped pacing for a moment. She stood next to him, reaching over and taking his hand in her own. "Would you like to read us some Shakespeare?" she asked with hopeful eyes. Maybe even the smallest distraction would help the two of them. They were going to drive themselves mad with worry at this rate.

Ezra shook his head and kept his gaze on Atalia. She had begged him days before to refuse Isiah for this mission and he hadn’t listened. Now that everything seemed to be happening he started to regret his choice. He had let one of his best friends go out there without him. He hated forcing them to risk their lives while he stayed safe in their home. If any of the men died he wasn’t sure if he would ever forgive himself. He felt his chest growing tight as Marta tried to speak with him.

“Marta, now isn’t the time,” he said a little harshly.

He saw Atalia began to hyperventilate and it looked like she would cry any second. He moved passed his fiancee and sat next to his friend holding her gently in his arms as she began to cry on his shoulder. He could sense the hate building inside of her towards him. She had no shame in letting him know her frustration either.

“You are the reason I am like this. Marta gets you safe and sound and I have to worry. Do you not want me happy, Ezra?” she cried into his body as her small hands balled into fist and he pounded on his chest a bit.

He held her tighter. “Ata, you know I want the world for you. He volunteered. I couldn’t turn him down. He’s one of our best soldiers. I can’t play favorites when I’m in charge,” he said, “I’m sorry, but this is the world we live in. We can’t just sit around and wait for things to get better. We need to make it happen.”

He let his arms fall away as she shoved him back. She knew he was right, but she still wanted to be angry at him. He let out a low sigh and took his spot by Marta once more. He reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly in his own.

“I fear she’ll hate me forever if anything goes wrong,” he whispered trying not to think bad thoughts.

------------------

Isiah felt a bullet rip into his leg and he did his best not to scream out. He held his hands to his mouth and closed his eyes hitting his head gently on the rock behind him. He heard the footsteps began to walk away from him and he reluctantly stripped Daniel’s shirt off his body to wrap his leg up. He looked at the body of his friend laying on the floor next to him. Rain began to fall and it started to wash some of the blood off his face, but he could smell it fresh. He waited a little longer before pulling himself up onto his good leg and then bent down to pick up Daniel. He was heavier than he looked, and with only one leg to stand on bringing him back home would prove difficult. All he had to do was make it to the car. Once he was there he could see Atalia.

He began the walk holding Daniel half on his back and half dragging on the ground. He was beginning to lose feeling in the leg they shot and stumbled a few times before falling right by the drivers side door. He pushed the dead body off him and reached for the handle of the car to lift himself. The rain was falling harder and he prayed that it would let it up by the time he began to drive. He opened the back seat of the car and put Daniel’s body in the back trying his best to be careful. He felt a pit growing in his stomach knowing it was his fault that his friend lay there dead. If he had been more in tune with their surroundings he would have heard the men sneaking up on them, but he was too confident in their mission. He was too proud of himself. He shut the door and sank to the ground a moment. His tears mixed with rainwater and he could feel the blood still seeping out of his leg. He tightened the makeshift bandage and was about to stand up once again he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder. The sound of the gun didn’t register until he was laying on the ground. He could hear the laughter from the man who’d just shot him.

“Bullseye. Killed another rat,” he said chuckling as he watched Isiah’s eyes began to close, “Next time I’ll kill your friends too.”

Isiah tried to open his eyes, but they refused to obey. He heard the man walking away and he rolled onto his stomach using his right arm to prop himself. He could hardly hold his head up as he opened the driver's side door and turned on the ignition. He slammed the door shut determined to make it back home with Daniel in tow. He knew he was losing blood quickly, and if he didn’t start heading back now he might not make it. He slammed his foot on the gas peddle and began to drive to the farmhouse. His eyes struggled to stay awake and his head kept falling down.

“Atalia...I will make it back and I will never leave again,” he whispered as he sped through the night.

Marta flinched slightly when Ezra told her no to reading poetry. She didn’t let him see how his comment upset her, it wasn’t important how she felt at that moment, yet it didn’t stop it from hurting. She was at a lost for what to do in this moment, she didn’t know how to comfort her best friend and her fiance. She was not being a very good support system. Marta stayed back as Ezra went over and comforted Atalia, letting him be her punching bag. Marta felt tears clinging to her eyelashes as she watched the two. They just wanted the person they both cared so deeply for to return.

When Ezra stood up and was by her side again, Marta reached over and ran a caring hand along his face. She frowned at his comment, “She won’t hate you” she whispered quietly. Marta had no other words of encouragement for him. She didn’t believe Atalia would hate him, would she be upset and unable to forgive him for a long period of time? Possible. But Marta does not believe Atalia has it in her to hate. Marta just continued to prayer that everything would be alright.

Stepping over to the table, Marta sat back down next to Atalia. She didn’t say anything, just wanted to show her friend she was near for support. Atalia glanced at her, an odd look on her face. Marta quirked an eyebrow, “Is everything ok Atalia?”

“No. It isn’t ok. Everything's not ok. And you know why?” Atalia was suddenly flaring with anger, “Because of you. All of this has happened because of you! You came into our world, you ruined everything! If you never met Ezra, he wouldn’t have ended up in that hospital, multiple times, and he wouldn’t have been sent here and he and Isiah wouldn’t be the leaders of the resistance!”

By the end, Atalia had stood, her fists clutching the end of the table, knuckles white. She was glaring at Marta, who say that speechless. Every word that just came out of Atalia’s mouth was the truth. Marta has always known it, and it was always her fear people would want her blood for it one day, but it didn’t change the fact that hearing it come from Atalia’s mouth made it felt like a knife stabbing in her chest. Marta knew Atalia spoke mostly from anger and sadness, but it was still something she has been feeling inside. She has just suppressed it. Marta stood from the table.

“I will go” she said softly, her hands shaking, as she made her way to the door. She turned to Ezra, “I will be in the mess hall.”

Without another word she turned and left, leaving the two childhood friends alone. As she walked along the corridor of the fortress, she had to use the wall as support. She didn’t want to let the words Atalia said get to her, but emotions began swelling in Marta and she had to stop walking. She leaned against the wall and slide down, bringing her knees in her chest. Suddenly she felt like a brick wall had collapsed on her. How long until others wanted her blood?

Ezra stood ready to go after her when Atalia yanked his arm forcing him to look at her. He could see the pain in her eyes and the way she wanted to blame him the same way she did Marta, but she held it back. Her hand fell from his and shook his head a little defeated. He wasn't sure which person needed him most and he wasn't sure how he was supposed to chose. The love of his life or one of his best friends.

"Atalia..." he began when he heard the main door push open and heard a crowd of men pouring into the main entrance. He saw his friend perk up and they both went to see who had returned. They passed by Marta and Ezra stopped to pull her up gently. "Marta. She didn't mean it. You can't let her words hurt you. She just misses Isiah. How would you feel if it was me?" he asked pulling her with him as they went to greet his people.

He kept a firm arm around her shoulders as he scanned the crowd for the face of his father. When their eyes met he could feel himself grow weak in the knees and the man hurried over pulling him and Marta into a tight hug. Ezra could feel his fathers body shaking and drops of water hit his neck as he cried.

"I didn't think i'd see you again," Abe whispered pulling back but keeping a hand on his sons shoulder.

Ezra smiled through blurry eyes, "You can't get rid of me that easily, pa." Ezra urged Marta forward a bit as he gave his dad a nod. "She's my fiancée. She converted just a bit ago. Now that you and Isiah are back we can wed," he said as his eyes scanned the crowd for his friend.

Abe bowed his head as Atalia came over in a panic, "He isn't here ezra! Where is my Isiah?!" she asked as her voice began to rise.

"He and another were left behind when we got ambushed. They forced us to continue without them. We left a car, but i don't know if they radioed in," Abe said sadly. He looked up to his sons face fall.

Atalia looked at Ezra and shook her head fiercely. He tried to meet her gaze but the look she gave was pure hate. He felt like the air had been knocked from his lungs and he couldn't even began to imagine how she was feeling. "Atalia..." he began.

"Don't say a word to me Ezra," she said as he shoved passed him and Marta to her room.

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Isiah could see they were getting closer. The landmarks he passed where just a short 10 minutes. He felt himself falling in and out of consciousness almost crashing multiple times. His body was getting cold and his skin had turned ghost white. He tried talking to himself so that he would stay awake. After a few moments that felt like forever he jolted his head up and found himself speeding towards a tree. He tried to react but his one arm refused to move and he yelled out. Everything went black as he felt his body jerking forward and then back. His chest hit the steering wheel and he felt the air leave his body. He heard voices around him but he couldn't make them out.

He tried to call out for help but the words wouldn't form. The most he could manage was a low moan as arms yanked his body from the vehicle. He wasn't sure where he was exactly and if the arms were friends or foes, but at the moment it didn't matter. He let out another moan when his body was lifted off the ground. He heard his name but he couldn't figure out the voice. He tried to breathe but his chest refused to listen. He heard talk about blood loss and near death but his brain couldn't piece it all together.

"Mmmmm" was all he could manage.

"Isiah! ISIAH!"

Who was screaming his name? It sounded almost female. It sounded close to his body but it was quickly taken away as he was laid down on a hard surface. His shirt was ripped open and taken off along with his pants. He heard the gasps at his wounds and he could only imagine red in the sea of darkness he was in.

Marta sat on the stone floor, willing her body to stop shaking. She didn't want to believe Atalia’s words, she shouldn't. The war was happening regardless of Marta's choices. Yet somehow, the personal situation, the group of people she was surrounded by, she truly began to wonder if everything happening was her fault. What would have happened if she hadn't stepped foot into that bakery almost a year ago? Would Atalia and Ezra be married? Would Ezra's mother be dead? Would Isiah be on this mission? It was a terrible game, the “what if” game, but Marta couldn't stop all of these thoughts. She loves Ezra so much, and she knew he loved her in return, and they couldn't change the past, so Marta would just have to learn to live with the fact that her presence was sometimes not for the best.

She heard commotion in the hallway, glancing up she saw some of the men come from the other direction. From the few words she caught, it sounded as though the cars have returned from the mission. Marta did her best to control her emotions. Now was not the time to be selfish, she was the least important person in this camp. She saw Ezra come out of the room, Marta standing when he helped her up. She listened to his words and just nodded her head. Marta didn't want to start an argument; she didn't believe it though, she knew deep down Atalia meant all of her words.

As they walked outside, the night sky being illuminated by the full moon. Marta kept her place by Ezra, no matter what her place was by his side. She saw Abe approach them and Marta couldn't help but feel her heart swell. Though their time together had been brief, Marta respected Abe and truly cares for him. After being tossed aside by her own father, Marta didn't know if she would ever feel that affection a child gets from their parents, but when Abe pulled her into his arms, Marta felt that familiar warmth again. When Ezra said that she was engaged to him and she had converted, Abe took a step back and looked at Marta. Then without a word, he leaned over, placing his hands on her shoulder and kissing her on the forehead. Marta couldn’t help the surge of emotion that washed over her, resulting in a few tears falling from her eyes. Abe was a man a few words, so she knew this was his way of showing him he was happy and excited for them.

Hearing Atalia's panicked voice, Marta stepped back, knowing her presence and words were not wanted. And then the new that Isiah wasn't with the group, Marta looked down at her shoes, stumbling when Atalia shoved by them.

------------

Marta and Abe were sitting in their bedroom, around the table. Ezra had gone to check on Atalia, like he had every twenty minutes, but it was futile, Atalia refused to open her door. Abe was sipping a cup of tea, having taken a shower and getting a new set of clothes. Marta couldn't help but take in the elder man's state. He has lost quite a bit of weight, and his grey hair now thinning and bags under his eyes. He glanced up catching her eyes and Marta smiled.

“Marta… I need to apologize.” Abe began, “I am truly sorry for ever doubting your sincerity in converting. I see the way my son looks at you, how he always has. You truly are the best thing to ever happen to him.”

Marta flushed, glancing down at her lap. “There is nothing to forgive. He is your son, and his well being is what matters to you, and I understand how nerve-racking my presence has been. I love your son truly and deeply, though I am not sure if I am the best thing that has happened to him sir.”

“Hush now child. Don't say those kind of things.”

“I am sorry sir. I just...I look at all the things that have happened to your son and I can't help but worry they all happened because of me.”

“Marta dear, bad things were and are going to happen to Ezra, to all of us. This war is a dreadful thing. But you are the light, the hope that my son needs to continue to survive and live for. Your love is his salvation.”

Marta felt tears swelling her eyes. She believed Abe's words, Ezra saying similar words to her before. She may not understand why, but she would forever be grateful for the Ezra's love.
---------

There was a commotion outside. Marta had been half asleep in bed, Ezra being too tense and worried to sleep, and Marta never slept well without Ezra next to her. Marta sat up, reaching for dressing gown as she got out of bed. Without a word, she followed Ezra outside into the courtyard. She watched as men pulled a bloodied Isiah from the car. By this point, Atalia was running out and over to Isiah, but the men held her back. Even from here, Marta could see how badly injured Isiah was. Ezra was standing there in shock and Atalia cane over clutching him.

“Ezra please, tell them to let me near him!” Tears falling from her eyes.

Marta watched as Isiah was lifted in a stretcher and carried to the hospital ward. By this point, most of the camp had risen, the sun beginning to rise. As she stood there, one of the men came over to her. “Marta, they've requested you in the hospital.”

For the past few weeks, Marta has been volunteering in the hospital wing. She briefly mentioned it to Ezra, but neglected to tell him, she had quickly picked up on things and was being asked by the Doctors for help more and more. Nothing intense, but Marta had a way to keep the patient's calm, since the doctors didn't have access to anesthesia, so many surgeries were done only using morphine. Looking over and Ezra and Atalia, she turned back and nodded her head.

“Tell them I'll be there shortly. I must change.”

She walked over to Ezra and Atalia. “I won't go if you two don't want me to.”

Atalia looked at her, her eyes hard and her gaze unfaltering. But she nodded her head, “You watch over him Marta. Bring me back my future husband.”

Marta smiled gently, before looking at her fiance.