Atalia and Marta had just finished cleaning up the dishes, sharing girl talk about Isiah and stories about Ezra from his childhood while he sat on the couch denying the fact that he once broke his mothers favorite plate trying to jump off the kitchen table and then denied it all while he cried holding his broken arm. She shared the stories of him sticking up for kids on the playground and teaching people how to be nice. How he'd been pushed around, but never resorted to violence himself. He was the saint they had needed in their lives as kids and it was Ezra who had showed them all the path of right. 

Marta was standing behind the couch and Atalia was on the floor in front looking through the books to see which would better to start with when the door downstairs busted open. Footsteps came quickly up the steps and Atalia and Ezra were frozen in place when they finally emerged before them dressed in full uniform. Atalia shook her head and looked at Ezra who was struggling to stand. Marta had found her way to his side and was holding him up when the first man spoke.

"We're here for a Marta. We've got reason to believe her father has been part of illegal activity. Please step forward," the man said in a low voice.

Ezra refused to look at her scared he'd give her away. "You don't have any right to enter this house. This is private property. You can't come in here and harass my family," he said voice firm.

"This doesn't concern you rat. Marta step forward now or we take you all in. You seem like nice kids, but we won't hesitate to use force and that one looks like he's about ready to pass out already," another man said.

Atalia stood up hands above her head. "I am...I am Marta. I am the girl you are looking for," she said loud enough for them to hear.

The men looked her over in disgust. "You've even begun dressing like them. Disgusting. Sympathizer's are the worst. You're coming with us," the first one said grabbing Atalia forcefully by the arm.

She let out a small squeak and tears began to fall from her face as she faced the same men who had taken her father previously. She looked back at Ezra who had his hand over Marta's mouth. She could see he was using all his strength to hold himself up. Her body began to shake as they pushed her down the stairs. She stumbled a few times, but it only made them angry. Ezra could hear one of the men slap Atalia in the face as if she was struggling, but he knew the man did it just because he could. He flinched the echo of impact in the stair way. His body began to tremble and he let his hand fall when the door closed. He could hear the sobs from outside the window. Atalia's screams were almost deafening until the cars drove away.

Ezra fell back into the sofa eyes wide and glassy from the tears that refused to fall. His breathing was rough and he couldn't stop the shaking in his hands. He reached for his pendant, and then dropped his hand. He didn't deserve the star of David around his neck. He'd just betrayed his own people. He betrayed his best friend. He let his heart rule over his mind and he allowed himself to let Atalia go to her possible death. He kept trying to speak but all that came out was small squeaks. He looked at Marta to gauge her reaction. She probably felt just as bad as he did. 

"I couldn't let you...I had to stop you from coming forward. I got her killed Marta. It was you or her. If she doesn't come back...if Isiah finds out...her blood is on my hands. I stopped you. I betrayed her. Who..who am I? I don't..." his voice began to shake and the tears he'd been holding back finally drenched his face and he began to claw at his chest like he was trying to rip his heart out, "I can't breath. I don't know how to breath. What have I done? I turned on my people. I let her get taken. I didn't have a choice, no I had a choice...you or her," he was repeating the last phrase over and over trying to find the logic behind his actions. "You or her, you or her, you or her..."