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?