We Bent Fate

Chapter 13.

MARTHA

"Hope is the only God remaining among mankind; the others have left and gone to Olympus. Trust, a mighty God has gone, Restraint has gone from men, 

and the graces, my friend have abandoned the earth. Men's judicial oaths are no longer to be trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal Gods; 

the race of pious men has perished, and men no longer recognize the rules of conduct or acts of piety."

"She has to do something. Only she can save us."

"Only she can end what she had created."

"Martha."

"Martha?"

My eyes flew open and I jumped on my seat when I found something shaking me. The first thing to come into view was Austin's chocolate brown eyes and concern etched in them. I sit right up in my seat and he smiles softly before saying, "We are here."

I rubbed my eyes with my fists before finally stumbling out of the car. I yawned as I stared back at the cute box shaped house standing in front of us. Not remarkable piece of architecture by any means- it was square, white and grey, old and had four windows but the only thing that came into my mind when I looked at it was the warm feeling to call it 'Home'. 

Austin was looking at it with his hands on his hips and his back just slightly leaning back as if admiring it. I smiled at him and then at the house. A path made out of leftover bricks made a shallow S-shape between the road and the front door. I follow after Austin as he rings the doorbell. A minute after a tall slim woman, probably in her early forties opened the door and smiled widely at us. Austin's mother. 

"Oh, you are here." She almost squealed, admiration filled in her small eyes as they passed through each of us and stopped at me. "You must be, Martha. It is so nice to meet you, darling!" She pulls me into a hug before I can even form a 'hello'. 

"Let them come in, Jenna." A middle aged man stood in the doorway and smiled when he looked at me. It didn't reach his eyes but I tried not to think too much. "I am Peter." He looked at me and then clapped Austin on his shoulder, "This man's father. And this is my wife, Jenna. We're happy to have you here, Martha....and family." He said and ushered us in. 

I looked around a little, trying not to look very sneaky and nosy. The house was intimidatingly huge from the inside and its interior was sand brown in color with orange and maroon curtains. The floors were polished concrete and the furniture scandinavian.

 Austin was smiling down at his feet, his cheeks flushed and his eyes moving between his parents and me. My heart fluttered when our eyes met and he gave me a cute but nervous shrug. I sighed, thinking I wasn't the only one to feel nervous. 

"Please sit down. Jenna was way too jumpy the whole time, fretting about the lunch and the little details..." Peter laughed a little, his eyes closing and I realized that's where Austin gets his eyes-closed-laugh from. 

"You didn't have to Mr. and Mrs. Templeton. We were thinking about staying in at a hotel but Austin insisted. Apologies for the trouble." Chloe said. 

"Oh, its okay, sweetie." She said and then her eyes stopped at me. "Look around, dear. Don't be shy. Feel yourself at home." She came towards me and held my palm, giving it a little squeeze. "You must be cold. Sit there." She pointed at a grey sofa, near the fireplace. It was a moment after that when I realized that I was visibly shaking.