The outside of the train car was a pitch black save the dull neon lights on the station pavement and the waiting area roof. As light as it was, it gave a strange mixture of comfort and anxiety. Luna was ecstatic that she could see where she was walking and not have to travel in worry of one fall or sudden jerk causing irreversible damage to the life within her. 

With her child in her, everything felt more scary, dangerous, worrying. She often worried about giving birth to her child in a dangerous world such as this, one without sunlight, scenery and the beauty of colour. She mourned the loss of multiple childhood, and these depressing thoughts led her mind to dark, frightening places. Shaking the hopeless feeling off, she stroked her belly, as she watched Stacy and Jerry inspect a smashed in vending machine together. 

They didn't speak much — they didn't need to. When Jerry pried open a rusted vending machine, Stacy was already there, her hand darting past his to grab whatever fell free. When she hoisted a broken pipe for self-defense, Jerry sent her a cheerful smile of approval and goofily raised his hands in a surrendering gesture as if scared. Their communication was effortless and fascinating to watch. Luna found herself lost in longing memories of a past when she was privy to what that kind of bond felt like — unspoken words saying just as much if not more than spoken ones, mischievous glances the comfortable feeling of simple dependency and trust. 

 Now, it was just her and the baby, moving in and out of sync, each new day a tug-of-war between hope and fear.

She forced herself to look away.

Victor had split them into pairs earlier, in the no-nonsense way he usually did, and had sent them off with three objectives- to hunt for food, weapons and a perimeter search. 

Luna had realised long ago that if their group of people with various personalities and opinions would listen to one person, it would be Victor, with his commanding and confidant voice, his awareness and ability to react in any situation, and his previous role as a government soldier that he had shown them proof of on the first day to assure them that he wasn't a scammer. Point being, she could see that everyone listened when he spoke, acted when he ordered, and were completely content to continue doing so. Except one person, that is.

"If I find one more broken flashlight, I'm starting a collection." Silas said, tucking it in his gear pack, nevertheless. Luna watched in half amusement and other half exasperation as he complained about every empty bag, can and inconvenience he came across. She could see though, behind all his lighthearted and frivolous commentary was doubt, fear and burden of something he was unwilling to speak about.

 Previously in the coach, when victor had asked him about the dead body who they found out was named Dayne, Silas stated that Dayne and Theo had tried to rob him of his belongings and had accidentally gotten their hands on toxic gas from his gear pack. He recklessly handled it causing the toxic gas to burst out and the rest was history.

Luna felt that there was more to the story that Silas was not willing to share, and as calm as he was pretending to be, he was just as on edge as the rest of them. He had just learned to hide it better.

Victor approached her when everyone's attention was elsewhere, whispering in a low voice. "Keep an eye on him. He's too calm."

 Luna whispered back, "He didn't speak of everything. I think there is more to what happened." 

She had a soft space for people who covered their emotion behind a cheerful facade, mainly because she herself took part in it on a daily basis. Still, she had the sense to know that Victor was the one protecting the group and so she ignored personal bias and admitted her thoughts to him. Victor's eyes darkened. "He can't be left alone until we're sure he's safe."

And with that, he took off towards Silas with a heavy expression.

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"Found a paperclip. Hey Vic, can I handle it without a permit?" he was clearly playing with his own life seeing how Victor looked a minute away from shooting him.

"Hey Victor, do I need clearance to open this empty can, or am I allowed to take initiative?"

Victor gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes. "You done?"

 "You tell me, boss. Am I?" Silas scoffed

Victor paused before whirling around. 

"Look, I have no problem with you treating your own life as a joke, but as far as others are concerned, they actually want to see things to the end so if you're going to continue with this, I'd suggest you take this elsewhere."

Luna could feel the tension rising. She could also feel Lawrence's excitement as he muttered "Fight, fight, fight..." under his breath.

Silas cocked a brow and tossed the empty tuna can aside. "You've been acting like you have a stick up your ass since the beginning. Do you know that leading a group does not in fact, include you ordering us like we're employed under you? You must not be very popular before all of this, huh?"

Luna noticed Victor's fist clench harder and by the looks of it, Silas did too as he snorted. "I'm sorry, did that hit too close to home?"

For a minute Luna thought she would have to interrupt because Victor was looking at Silas like he was a dead man. Before she could worry about that situation though, he walked back into the coach demonstrating patience Luna was surprised he had.

Victor's retreat should have ended it. Should have.

But Silus was still grinning, that sharp-edged smirk that wasn't really amusement at all. It was bait, and from the way Victor's shoulders tensed as he stepped into the train car, he damn well knew it too.

"You know," Silus called after him, tone mock-thoughtful, "for a guy so obsessed with control, you sure do let me get under your skin pretty easy. Kinda makes you wonder who's really the liability here, huh?"

Victor froze mid-step. Just for a second. A fraction too long.

Luna didn't miss it. Neither did Silus.

The next moment, Victor turned back, slow and deliberate, his expression carefully blank—but his eyes? Yeah, his eyes said try me.

Silus tilted his head, lips twitching up. "Oh? That got your attention?" He folded his arms, leaning against a rusted pole like he had all the time in the world. "Go on, then. Say it. I know you want to."

Victor didn't take the bait. Not directly. Instead, his gaze flickered over Silus, calculating.

"You're reckless," he said flatly. "Careless. And worst of all, you think it doesn't matter."

Silus clutched his chest in mock offense. "Damn, Vic, just say you don't like me and move on. All this analysis is starting to feel personal."

Victor's jaw clenched.

"It is personal. You don't get to play around with your own life when other people are directly affected by your actions."

For the first time, something in Silus's expression faltered. Just a flicker. There and gone.

Luna saw it.

Victor did too.

And for once, Silas didn't make a snarky comeback.

The moment stretched too long. Then, with a scoff, he pushed off the pole and turned away, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, yeah, Captain Morality, whatever you say."

Victor stared at him for a beat longer before exhaling sharply and walking off.

Luna caught Lawrence's disappointed sigh. "Damn, I really thought we were getting a brawl."

Mr. Simmons grunted. "Shame. I had my money on the military guy."

Luna just shook her head. Because that? That was not over.