Chapter Three
Starlight

For once he had not been the one to find her.

It seemed as if every time they were together, it was because Mark had seen her and for some mystifying reason, he approached her. He usually just talked or listened, sometimes for a few moments before he had to leave, others for longer, like yesterday.

For several days now it had been that way. Today had been the exception, and she had not seen him at all.

Even on days where he wouldn't somehow run into her in the morning, Maddy usually saw him sometime in the afternoon. Unfortunately he had not been sighted at all today; not even when she had meandered through the town, seeking him out.

The sun had long since fallen and the velvet sky was alit with diamond lights. Magnificent as they were, the stars were still not enough of a distraction for the fact that there had been no sign of him at all today. It was disheartening, and she knew there was a word for why she was feeling so depressed right now.

Dependent…

Maddy was becoming dependent on him to brighten her days.

After staring absently at her untouched journal all day, Maddy knew she had to find a way to get over this. She had gotten along just fine without him before, and really, she could not expect to be the only friend that he had; even if he was the only one she had.

Another depressing thought. Maddy had only one friend in this entire place. She had seen several people her own age congregating and laughing with each other, discussing meaningless topics such as video games or cosmetics, or whatever it was that other teenagers spoke of that probably held no interest to her.

People sometimes intimidated her, especially her peers. She was different, she thought differently than they did, and most of the time that meant that they hated her. She had always disliked school. Even if Maddy loved learning, even though she'd possessed the highest grade point average in the school's history… school was miserable.

It wasn't even the curriculum, boring and oppressive as it was, that made her dread walking through the halls every day. The curriculum wasn't why she had tested out of three grade levels just to escape, or why she had so willingly fled to prehistoric times for a new beginning.

Maddy was hoping that it would be different here.

Everything she had encountered so far truly fascinated her. The few people she had met had seemed nice so far; though granted, Maddy had not spoken to many, and most of them had been adults or at least older than her own sixteen years.

It made no difference though, if she failed in her attempt to find some actual friends here. Maddy always had the option of falling back onto her studies.

Honestly Maddy was more interested in the world itself rather than the people inhabiting it… save for one. She doubted that she would ever tire of just marveling at this new world and everything in it, even if she was secretly terrified of what lied beyond the safety of the fence.

It was a fear that Maddy knew she would have to brace if she ever wanted to do anything productive with her time here, especially since there was still so much undiscovered. The biology division posted on the bulletin board out in the market, requesting volunteers to help identify samples, and it had mentioned nothing about an age limitation.

Maddy would have to get through the mandatory survival training before she would even be considered for weekly expeditions. She had gone over her resume a hundred times over and though she lacked any real field experience, she knew if they gave her the chance, she could prove herself.

School began in only two days; the survival course was on the schedule for over three weeks. Eight hours a day for three weeks, and every teenager and child who had been part of the Tenth Pilgrimage with her would be escorted outside the perimeter and into the jungle. She had already been out there, but to be fair, at the time she had been more concerned about what would happen to her family once they reached the city than what they could encounter.

It would be an entirely different experience this time around.

Maddy had been pondering exactly what survival training would be all day long, because she was already quite knowledgeable in everything she could find in the archives she had brought with her. She had never really put any of it to use before—she'd never had the need to—and books could only get her so far before they ran out of words and left her helpless.

It was a peaceful night. She had been lured outside as the sun had melted into the horizon with brilliant shades of crimson and violet that surged throughout the entire sky before the starlight had eventually come into focus with startling clarity.

Darkness was not an issue due to the overwhelming presence of the moon, casting silver light upon the otherwise uninhabited playground. Moonlight, she realized, did not present the same warmth that sunlight did. She felt a bit cold, out here in her favorite dress, her journal clutched loosely in her lap as she swung idly on the swing.

Shrouded in the night, Maddy had almost overlooked him entire, save for the flash of silver from the moon that had reflected off of something on his utility belt. Even at this distance, she could see that he looked exhausted, and thought perhaps she should not bother him at such a late hour when he obviously was on his way home.

However at that moment, the chains of her swing made a soft, almost indistinguishable noise. He spun around suddenly in that instance, his hand instinctively resting atop his weapon.

Maddy had never seen him move so quickly before. He had always seemed so relaxed around her that it was easy to forget that he was a soldier, and apparently, no matter how tired he must have been, he was still incredibly attentive to his surroundings.

Even just the slightest sound; it was startling.

Mark spotted her the moment he had turned, and she watched as he changed course and approached her. There was something of a bemused expression on his face instead of the usual smile, and he frowned at her. "What are you doing out here this late?" he asked her. His voice was tired, and a bit agitated, though he was obviously trying to hide it.

Maddy bit her lip, not entirely certain if he was angry with her or not. "… Watching."

"… Watching?" he repeated skeptically.

Something was wrong. She could sense it just by the way he was holding himself, and the anger in his tone. Maddy hoped it was nothing serious; or at least, something she could help him with. "What are you doing?" she asked softly, having already decided not to pry.

If Mark had something on his mind, she wouldn't push him for answers.

"Outpost duty on the fence," he told her with a heavy sigh, running a hand down his weary face. "Just a long, boring shift of standing around doing nothing unless something happens. Nothing ever does. Even the Sixers keep indoors at night." He gave her a rather pointed look, which she gracefully ignored.

"You don't need to keep me company, you know," she said gently. "You can go home and get some rest, especially since you look like you need it.

Mark lifted his eyebrows, shaking his head. He then moved to take the swing beside her. It creaked as he sat; the metal chains obviously unused to someone of his age and weight. "What are we watching?" he asked, casting his gaze out onto the rest of the playground. He seemed to find nothing of interest, and turned to her as he waited for an answer.

Maddy herself was swaying gently in the swing, listening to the tranquil sounds of nature around her. Her eyes drifted lazily, not settling on any one thing in particular. "Just… watching," she replied. "… and listening… listening and watching."

"… To what?"

"Nothing. Everything."

Closing her eyes for a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of their combined breathing penetrating her senses. It was just so calming and peaceful. He did not seem to understand, and that was okay. She knew she had a different and unique perspective that no one but her really understood.

Special, in his words.

"Do you ever just lie beneath the stars after watching them slowly fade into sight?" Maddy asked him quietly, leisurely opening her eyes and turning to him. He was watching her curiously, and he shook his head slowly. She smiled, rising to her feet and setting her book aside.

Maddy extended her hand in waiting, and seeing his apparent surprise at the gesture, she realized that this was the first time she had purposely initiated physical contact between them. He was the one who wormed his way past her defenses and clasped her hand at will, or cupped her cheek as he gazed at her.

Smiling pleasantly, Mark slipped his hand into hers. She walked just a few steps away from the swing set, looking up to try and decide where the best place would be for observations. She finally paused, and sank to the ground, her hand urging him to do the same.

Mark seemed to realize her intentions, because he smiled finally, and joined her a moment later, though not before first discarding the plated armor he wore. He settled into the sand beside her, his hands cupping the back of his head as he cast his gaze toward the heavens.

Maddy thought he might have been trying to see what she saw in them. His willingness to humor her, combined with his closeness, caused gooseflesh to erupt all over her body, and she smiled to herself.

"Do you know how many stars are in just this galaxy alone?" Maddy asked, keeping her tone soft as to not disrupt the tranquil atmosphere. He made a soft sound of acknowledgement. "Before the skies got so polluted, astronomy was the study of the stars and planets. A lot of the more visible stars were recognized by forming familiar shapes; constellations… but the stars are a bit different here."

"Do you recognize any of them?" he asked inquisitively.

Maddy smiled, lifting her hand to point at the one star that seemed to produce more light than any others around it. "I'm pretty sure that one there is Polaris… the Northern star, and part of the Ursa Minor constellation. Sailors would use it as a form of celestial navigation, and astronomers later used it as a fixed point to measure the stars. It could also be used as a reference to find Ursa Major, which was essentially just a larger version of the same constellation." she concluded. "Big Bear and Little Bear…"

Mark was silent for a moment, and then he asked her, "Are you going to try and rediscover any of these constellations?" She laughed quietly, shaking her head. "No? You already seem to know more about the stars than anyone I know…"

"Just what I've read in books," she smiled. "It's beautiful, and would I be interested in a telescope? Probably… For now I am content to just study things here on the ground. My journal is already completely full of everything just here on the settlement, so tomorrow I am probably going to have to use my plexpad to write down information. There's no room for another field of study."

"… Did you only bring one journal?"

Maddy felt her smile dim a bit, and sighed softly. "I could only fit a few things. I was so excited to come here, but I just didn't realize how small my bag would actually be. I guess I was under the misconception that it would be just like moving. We all had to leave so much behind…"

"Did you…" Mark trailed off, his voice cautious; as if he wasn't sure he was overstepping his bounds in some way. "Did you leave… someone behind?"

Maddy breathed in deeply at his inquiry, her heart beating rapidly. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noting that he was steadfast refusing to even look in her direction. Did that hold some significance? Even though she was clueless about her own feelings and even his, the fact that he was questioning it meant something… right?

"No," she told him honestly, highly aware of the way some of the tension in his shoulders eased at her words. It made her feel lightheaded to realize she could have such an effect on him with a single word. "Not even friends. People tended to avoid me for the most part…"

Mark turned his head, a bewildered frown pinching at his brows. "How is that possible?"

Biting her lip, Maddy simply shrugged it off.

It was not a part of herself that she wanted to discuss; not with him or anyone else. Josh knew quite a bit considering they had shared a room in the apartment for several years, and her big brother had never asked questions. He just scooted over in the bed that was already too small for him, and let her join him when she was upset.

Maddy knew that if Mark asked, she could give him several reasons off of the top of her head why people wither ignored her existence entirely, or only acknowledged her when they were in the mood to ridicule her. She would not lie to him, even if it was a wound she did not want to reopen when she was just beginning to settle in here, yet she knew she could not deny this boy anything.

It had been one of the biggest contributing factors for her decision to come here though.

This was a fresh start in a new world. No one here knew her or her mannerisms, and she could be anyone she wanted to be; reinvent herself. She had failed to present the persona she had created in her mind though. A calm and collected girl, one who did not know more information than was absolutely necessary and who didn't have the compulsive urge to constantly sprout off facts when she became nervous.

Honestly, it had been Mark's fault that she couldn't even last a single day pretending.

Maddy had been walking beside her sister near the elementary school, having just taken the tour with the orientation group, when he had approached. He must have had excellent hearing, because she realized now that he had actually be quite a few feet away from them when Zoe had mentioned wanting to see the dinosaurs again.

Mark had been so kind to the young girl; crouching down to her level and sweetly explaining that if the dinosaurs ate too much, then they would fall asleep and according to him, dinosaurs were quite loud when they slept.

It had been endearing to watch this stranger interact with her sister so nicely. She had opened her mouth to introduce herself, and her sister, in a polite and sane manner… but what came out of her mouth was a winded talk about incisors and small retiles, and even Zoe had given her a strange look by the end of it.

And Zoe was accustomed to her insanity by now, having grown up with it.

In hindsight, Maddy was grateful that he had approached her when he did. She might have lived her entire life here in a lie, pretending to be some other person until it would have eventually become ingrained into her actual personality. She had been able to keep the persona up once her brother had decide that orientation was useless and had parted ways… she had only been herself when she and Zoe were alone.

Mark had taken her off guard with his sudden interruption, crumbling the mask with a few simple words. Now here she was, still the same bookish and wordy science geek she had always been, still awkward in social situations and too knowledgeable for her own good… and for some reason, he seemed to have no problem with her she really was.

It inspired an incredible feeling within her soul to know that.

Maddy drew in a breath, and steeled herself for what could be utter disappointment. "Did you leave someone behind?' she asked him. "Friends or…"

Please don't be in love with someone else… she pleaded internally, not even aware of her own thoughts as she waited in agony for the answer. She knew that if he was waiting for someone like her brother was, waiting for someone who might not ever come… that her heart wouldn't be able to take it. Please don't have somebody waiting on you…

Maddy had never felt more fragile in her life.

Mark turned slightly, rising to lean against his elbow as his bright eyes met hers, dark and serious. She held her breath in waiting. "No," he said, and just like that she could breathe, exhaling slowly in a way she was sure he could hear but thankfully didn't comment on. "I was only a little older than Zoe when we first came here… so even if I had, it probably wouldn't have lasted anyway,"

There was an underlying current of humor in his voice as he said that, and Maddy felt laughter bubbling from her chest as she smiled up at hm. He had just cut through the tension they both must have been feeling with ease, a smile of his own tugging at his lips as he stared down at her.

Maddy quieted down a moment later, struck by the way his eyes changed. The intense look was there, his eyes drifting lazily over her features as they darkened from a soft jade to a slate blue. She licked her suddenly parched lips, and watched with enthrallment as his pupils suddenly expanded until the iris was nothing more than a thin ring of color around the black depths.

Heat was emanating from his body as he leaned over hers a bit more fully, warming her cool flesh gently. A tremble surged through her, and her body felt tight and shaky and hot, even as the gooseflesh from earlier came back with full force. She gauged both of their reactions tentatively, not quite sure she was ready to understand what was happening between them.

Dilation of the pupils held a significance, that was something she was certain of, but for the life of her, the reason for it eluded her. Her own body was alit with foreign sensations, a type of anticipation settling deep within her as she waited for something, anything to happen.

Mark closed his eyes a fraction, his face tilting down slightly.

Maddy saw the strain in his muscles, the way a vein in his neck was abruptly quite visible, and all at once his demeanor changed. He released a ragged breath and was suddenly just gone, flopping himself back down to the sand with a forearm resting over his eyes.

It happened so unexpectedly that she wasn't even sure what had happened.

Maddy felt an odd pang of disappointment lingering in the wake of his sudden retreat, and she exhaled a breath of her own. She turned slightly as she rose onto her knees, twisting her hands together as she watched him timidly. He was drawing in several deep, steadying breaths. His hand was opening, fingers flexing, only to close into a fist in intervals.

"… Mark?" she said softly. He made no attempt to answer her, and she lifted her hand, hesitantly hovering over his rapidly moving chest.

Slate blue eyes flew open widely as Mark quickly caught her hand before it could make contact, and she saw his throat bob as he swallowed. She felt a bit scared. Not by him, never by him because somehow, she knew that he would never intentionally hurt her in any way. She was just a bit… frightened by how he was making her feel; intimidated by her own emotions.

Mark soothed a course thumb over the soft, delicate skin of her inner wrist, and her eyes fluttered shut before she could stop them, a gasp escaping her. She was certain he could feel the steady thrum of her pulse, beating wildly against the pad of his thumb; betraying her nervousness to him.

Maddy was prompted to open her eyes as he gave her wrist a gentle, though yielding pull. She followed his silent invitation as he spread one arm out. Slowly, carefully, she settled against his side, her head resting against his chest as he secured the arm around her waist.

Warmth filled her at the embrace, his arms protecting her from the chill of the night and she found herself relaxing against him completely. Whatever intensity had been kindling between them had now dissipated into a kind of tenderness. She felt at ease, the tightness inside of her releasing as she rested her head in the crook of his arm.

"… Are you okay?" she asked quietly, burrowing closer to his warmth. He didn't answer right away, and she carefully slid her arm across his chest, wanting to comfort him somehow. His breath hitched slightly, and she felt his chest rise as he sighed heavily. She could feel his heart beneath her fingers, the speed of the powerful muscle keeping pace with her own.

Using his free hand, Mark scrubbed at his face wearily. "… Yeah. Everything is fine."

Maddy bit her lip softly, not quite believing him. She wasn't even thinking about whatever had just occurred; in fact she was actively avoiding that particular event for now. "… You seemed upset earlier."

"… Yeah," His jaw tightened.

Mark seemed unwilling to elaborate any further, so she curbed her concern with a sigh of her own, adjusting her position so that her head was pressed more fully to his chest until she could actually hear the steady beating of his heart. She would not push him for answers, even if she wanted only to help somehow.

Minutes passed by in silence, the world around them quieter still save for the occasional sound of the swings creaking or a rustling among the trees due to the gently blown breeze. Eventually Maddy could hear the rhythm of his heart calm into a more sedate pace, and she smiled to herself.

"Best lullaby in the world," she whispered.

"… What is?" he asked, and Maddy lifted her fingers and brought them back down in a gentle pat, in time with the sound. His chest shook as he laughed quietly, and he grabbed her hand, stilling the movement. His hand contrasted with her own nicely, she though, and she smiled as he interlaced their digits together, keeping their hands resting upon his chest, above his heart. "Someone is tired."

"Mm," she hummed in agreement, her eyes falling shut.

"We should probably get you home."

"Mm…" Maddy was content to stay where she was. "What time is it?"

Mark lifted their hands briefly to look at his watch. "A little after midnight…"

Maddy was suddenly wide awake, her body jackknifing upward in an instant. She grasped his hand and pulled it closer, much to his amusement if his chuckling was anything to go by. Taking a look at the digital screen for herself, she groaned, running a hand tough her hair. She was supposed to have been home an hour ago. Had they really been out here for that long?

"I am in so much trouble," she breathed out. "My father is going to kill me. I will never be allowed to leave the house ever again. He's going to ground me for the rest of eternity; I will be under house arrest until I am an old woman…"

Mark laughed at her, shaking his head. "Give me a minute to get my things," he told her, gesturing to the discarded metal plates of his armor. "I'll walk you home."

"You should get home too, and I should probably just run all the way there so I'm not any later than I already am," she told him, hurrying to get up, only to be leveled with a stern look.

"You are not walking home this late by yourself," Mark said evenly, his voice completely serious. She blinked, taken aback by his unyielding resolve, sinking back onto her heels obediently. He softened as he noted her confusion. "Maddy, I don't want you out here by yourself at night."

"Mark—"

"Promise me, Maddy," he said. "It is dangerous at night, even inside the gates. Do you think that wall will stop an airborne predator from hunting here? If something comes from high enough up, and far enough away from the outpost, even the guards don't notice them sometimes." He frowned at her imploringly. "Promise me."

"I promise." Maddy said solemnly, nodding her head. "Next time, I'll wait for you before coming out here."

Mark closed his eyes briefly, a reluctant smile on his face as if she had misinterpreted his words. "You better," he told her. He stood soon after with his belongings in tow, and waited for her to retrieve her book. His hand brushed against hers as they walked side by side, and she slid hers into his shyly, smiling to herself when he accepted the contact.

Lights were still on in the kitchen, illuminating the dimly lit porch as they slowed to a stop. Neither moved once he guided her to the front door. She didn't want him to leave.

Maddy sighed, already preparing herself mentally for the inquisition. "Better go face the music," she said, resigned to her fate. She was just beginning to turn when his hand tugged her back, and he spoke up.

"Wait,"

Mark was frowning as she waited patiently, curious why he stopped her. Unexpectedly he leaned closer, his free arm not weighed down by heavy armor going around her shoulder before he pulled her close, tucking her against his chest and resting his chin upon the top of her head.

It was different from when they had been on the ground, their sides pressed together in the sand. Here, standing in front of him and wrapped in his warm embrace, she could feel every muscle of his abdomen pressed against her own, his knee brushing her thigh.

"Thank you."

With confidence not quite her own; Maddy brought her own arms up and returned the embrace. She was not sure what had brought this on, but she was unwilling to let the moment go to waste. She would savor it, probably for days to come. "For what?" she asked.

Instead of answering, Mark gave her one last tight squeeze before pulling away. His eyes were smiling at her, his face warm and kind. "Goodnight, Miss Shannon," he said quietly.

Maddy smiled in return, unable to suppress her apparent joy. "Goodnight, Mister Reynolds."

Dilation of the pupil is a physiological response that varies the side of the pupil in the eye.

The response is an involuntary reaction to dim lighting, and the pupil will dilate to expose more light in so you can see better in the dark. However, there is another reason the pupil will dilate unexpectedly, even in very bright settings…

Sometimes it can indicate an interest in the subject of attention… or indicate sexual arousal.

Just thought I'd throw that fun fact out there ;p