Travis stood at the base of the ladder, taking in his dim surroundings. He had been one of the last to climb down, desperately wanting to get a moment to speak with Kat. This was not to be though for, as the last few trickled down the ladder, Kat climbed into one of the Jeeps and they all drove away, leaving Travis alone with another older gentlemen with graying hair and a permanent frown.
Now Travis looked around, noticing how dark in was, and how oddly refreshing it was after being blinded by the brightness of the scientists' white paint obsession. Here the walls were made by the carving out of dirt, and the floor was just tightly compacted dirt as well, stretching forward until it broke off into three completely dark tunnels. The people who belonged here seemed to gather in a far corner, smiling and chatting with one another. The rest, completely out of their element, stood spread out in the tiny area, the realization that they went from one hole to another seeping in.
Emma was off to one side, sitting next to Logan whom she had propped against the wall. She brushed a hand across his forehead, moving the dusted hair from his face. Taken aback, Travis found his eyes start to water. He did not understand why he felt so sad, or if that was even what he was feeling.
"It's strange isn't it." Raven whispered from behind Travis.
Clearing his throat and making sure the tears were under control, Travis half-turned to Raven. "What do you mean?"
"Her and him. Before my mother died, my father used to care for her and just... I don't know, touch her in a way that showed he loved her without making a big deal out it. Like brushing hair out of someone's eyes." Raven glanced back at Chandler who was intently watching the other group of strangers. "I guess you never saw much of that."
Travis frowned. "Tch. Whatever." He snapped.
"I know your story. You never stopped thinking about it, all of us were practically drowning in it when we first arrived." Raven calmly explained.
He looked at her over his shoulder, an overwhelming sense of unwanted vulnerability begging him to knock her out or run away. "You don't know what it's like to be number one." He said between clenched teeth.
Raven gave Travis a pitying look that a mother gives a knowing child. "We all have stories." She said, turning to walk back to Chandler.
Travis knew this, after all Raven just said her mother had died, but they still didn't understand what it was like to be the first experiment to survive, and to see so many die before the they came along. They didn't know what it was like to feel alone and isolated before even arriving to the science lab, that no amount of pleasure could stave it. Travis pushed his fingers against his temples. They just didn't know.
While concentrating on forgetting his past, Travis looked up to see one of the tunnels starting to light up and people emerging from the darkness. A tall, friendly looking man holding a lantern was leading a young woman and a fairly older woman. He had a thick red beard and eyes framed by crows feet. Travis moved closer to these new people, as did everyone else who was waiting around.
"How's it going Mr. Brown?" One of the younger guys who came in the Jeeps asked, holding up his hand for a high five.
Oh shoot, it's her dad. Travis thought, taking a small step backwards and bowing his head.
"Jefferson, I told you not to address me like that." The kid lowered his arm, and Brown smiled, grabbing a hold of Jefferson's forearm as Jefferson clasped onto his. "Glad to see you alive, kid."
Jefferson beamed with pride as everyone began to follow to two women who came with Mr. Brown. The five and Logan were left behind with Mr. Brown, looking at him with an uncertainty, but also hope.
"Are we safe here?" Chandler asked at barely above a whisper.
The man smiled, taking a knee next to Logan and checking his pulse. "You can call me Steve." He said, standing up and brushing dirt off of his jeans. "And as far as I am concerned, you can relax now. Welcome to your new underground family, kids."
