"Lily," Bellamy's voice woke her up from her slumber, he had his hand on her shoulder, one of his hands to shake her away gently. Lily had rubbed her eyes to clear her vision, feeling how soar her side was feeling after a night on the hard rock. Then suddenly, she realized that the entire night had passed, and that they had not gone back.
Jasper, she thought, putting a hand in her pocket to make sure the plants were still there, gripping them in between her fingers when she found them. But they didn't appease her mind.
"It's already morning," she said, feeling her breath growing short, and her eyes water, "It could be already too late."
Bellamy hadn't removed his hand. His thumb shifted slightly against her shoulder, a subtle motion that made her look at him. His eyes were already on her, unreadable, darker than usual in the dim light. For a beat, neither of them spoke. Then he glanced away and withdrew his hand.
"The fog's cleared," he said, standing up. "We'll find the others and head back."
She didn't move. Her body was heavy with dread, the kind that made every second feel stretched and fragile. If they returned too late—if Jasper had died during the night while she was sleeping here—
She couldn't bear the thought.
Bellamy's voice reached her again, softer now. And when she looked up, he was holding out his hand for her to take.
"He could still be alive," he said.
Lily hesitated. Still, her hand found his, fingers curling into his palm, and as he helped her up, the warmth of his skin against hers sent a strange jolt through her, noticing how close they were in that moment.
"You don't believe that," she murmured, looking at him.
Their eyes locked, their faces only inches apart. Bellamy's gaze didn't waver. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't," he said, his eyes lingered just a moment too long on hers, while she noticed how the tension in his jaw softened when he looked at her.
And then suddenly he let go.
He stepped back without a word, glancing once over his shoulder.
"I'll wake Charlotte."
Lily stood there for a moment, her hand still tingling where they were touching before. And her heart beating fast in her chest.
What's happening? She thought, refusing to follow Bellamy with her gaze. She turned already walking towards the entrance, feeling the need to take some air. She had never been that close to a boy like that before, she felt strange, but not in an uncomfortable way. She looked down at her hand, touching her own fingers, still feeling it warm.
What am I doing? She asked herself, suddenly feeling silly. She was supposed to run back to the dropship to help Jasper, not doing whatever she was doing.
"Alright, let's go," Lily felt her body get stiff, when he heard his voice, as he walked closer, passing her by to reach the exit. "Stay back," he said as Charlotte stopped next to Lily, "I'll go first."
Lily tightened her lips, observing him stepping out. That fog seemed to be some kind of toxic, since it had given a reaction to Bellamy's skin, what if there was still some out there? She observed him stepping out, as she reached out a hand, to bring her arm around Charlotte's shoulder, to keep her against her.
But Bellamy did not hissed, or screamed, or ran back inside. "It's all clear," he told them, and Lily let out a shaky breath. Then she turned to look at Charlotte, giving her an encouraging look, before letting her walk before her.
When Lily stepped outside, she could feel the difference immediately. The air, once thick and suffocating with the weight of the fog, was now crisp against her skin, cool enough to sting her cheeks. She inhaled slowly. It was clearer, lighter—almost deceptively clean. But despite the change, the forest around them looked untouched, as if nothing had happened. The leaves still shimmered with dew, impossibly green under the filtered morning light, and the grass swayed gently with the breeze, innocent and silent.
"Anybody out there?" Bellamy called out, his voice cutting through the trees. The echo bounced back at them with eerie emptiness. "Jones!" he shouted again, louder this time, when no response came.
Lily glanced around uneasily. The silence was too complete. No rustling of animals, no voices, not even birds. It made her stomach tighten.
Then, finally, a voice cracked the tension.
"We're here!" Jones called from deeper in the woods.
Relief flashed across Bellamy's face, and Lily exhaled softly as they exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, Bellamy started moving toward the sound, and she followed closely behind. The trees stretched tall above them, casting dappled shadows as the sunlight filtered through the canopy. The air felt strangely hollow, as if the fog had stolen something intangible in the night.
It didn't take long before figures emerged in the distance—Jones and three others, mud-streaked and tired but alive.
"We lost you in the stew," Bellamy said, slowing his pace as they approached. "Where'd you go?"
"Made it to a cave down there," Jones answered, gesturing behind him toward a rocky slope now barely visible between the brush. "We waited it out."
Bellamy looked down at his hand, frowning as he flexed his fingers. "The hell was that stuff?"
"It could be some kind of fog of radiation," Lily said, her voice soft but clear, drawing their attention.
They all turned to look at her.
She took a small step forward, brow furrowed as she tried to piece together what little she knew. "Not pure radiation—if it were, we'd have felt burning or nausea by now. But maybe it's a chemical byproduct of whatever's left down here… gases reacting to sunlight, decaying matter, maybe even remnants from old weapons."
Her words hung in the air, thoughtful yet uneasy, as the others listened in silence.
Bellamy shifted slightly, his gaze still on his own hand, now clean. Then, without warning, his eyes snapped up.
"Where's Atom?"
The question sliced through the group like a blade.
Lily blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. Jones looked at him with no answer, and Bellamy's eyes changed with worry.
"We… we got separated when the fog rolled in," one of them said, not quite meeting Bellamy's eyes.
Bellamy took a step forward, his voice harder now. "You lost him?"
"No!" Jones protested quickly. "He said he'd follow… but he never made it to the cave."
A beat of silence. Then another. The birds were still gone.
Lily felt a knot form in her chest. She looked at Bellamy, whose jaw was clenched tight, his shoulders tense.
"We have to look for him," he said, already turning toward the trees. "He could still be out there."
Lily stepped forward, "I'll go this way," she said, Bellamy nodded, sharing a look with her, "Charlotte," she said turning her attention to the girl, "You stay with Bellamy, alright?"
Lily stepped deeper into the forest, leaving the group behind and following an invisible line drawn by instinct. The air was still cold, damp with dawn, and filled with that unsettling silence that refused to lift.
"Atom?" she called out, her voice more uncertain than she would have liked. No answer. Only the soft rustle of her shoes against the wet grass.
She kept walking, eyes scanning between the trees, checking every patch of shadow, every bush. From time to time, she looked up, hoping to glimpse a figure among the branches or hear the faintest movement. But nothing.
Then, suddenly, a scream. A high-pitched cry, broken by terror.
Charlotte, she thought with dread.
Lily froze for half a second, then turned and sprinted toward the sound, adrenaline driving her legs. Branches whipped past her, the sharp edge of fear slicing into her ribs.
She hadn't gone far when she saw a figure moving fast through the trees—Bellamy. He was heading toward the scream too, and when he spotted her, their eyes met. They veered together in the same direction, running toward the girl.
They found her standing in a clearing, looking in front of her as she screamed, her shoulders trembling violently.
And then they saw him.
"Son of a bitch, Atom!" Bellamy exclaimed, running towards him. Lily followed immediately, gasping in horror at the sight in front of her. Atom was laying down, his skin was blistered, raw, and oozing. Large patches of flesh are burned away, exposing raw, bleeding wounds. He was still alive, but his breathing was ragged, shallow, each gasp sounding more like a struggle than a sign of life.
He wasn't speaking—he couldn't. Only faint moans escape his lips, almost animalistic in their pain. His eyes, barely open, were clouded with agony, Lily wasn't sure he was not fully aware of his surroundings. Every twitch, every strained sound, speaks of unbearable suffering.
"Kill…me…" he was whispering, Lily's eyes sank when she realized what he was asking, "Kill…me…"
Her stomach twisted painfully at the sound of his voice—so faint, so broken, yet firm. He was begging for release.
Lily's breath caught in her throat. This wasn't just pain. This was something beyond human endurance. And in his eyes—barely open, clouded by suffering—there was no more fear. Only a desperate plea for mercy.
She had never thought she would have witnessed something like that. She never thought someone could suffer that much, to the point that he didn't want to be helped.
And Bellamy—he just stood there, knelt frozen next to Atom. She could feel it in his posture, the battle inside him, knowing that he had to do something warring with the horror of what that something had to be.
Lily took a few steps towards him, before reaching out so that her fingers could tight on his shoulder. He let out a shaky breath at the touch, but he didn't move away. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know if there was something she could do to help Atom, but his body was too damaged.
Lily felt her eyes filled with tears, but when she heard him choke and trying to breathe, she dropped on her knees, next to Bellamy, so that she could touch Atom's hair.
"I…can't…breathe…" he whispered with fatigue.
"Sshh… It's going to be alright," she whispered, trying to be as sweet as possible, and to not let any tears slip to her eyes. He was already scared. As she stroked his dark hair, she heard the others approach, gasping as they saw the scene.
"Don't be afraid," Lily heard Charlotte say, but she didn't turn away from Atom.
"Go back to camp," Bellamy said from next to her, and Lily heard some steps getting far from them, "Charlotte, you too." He kept saying, then after a moment he moved closer to Lily.
"Lily, you don't have to stay," Bellamy whispered, only now she noticed the knife in his hand. Lily looked up, and their eyes met—his were full of conflict, of reluctant resolve. He was going to do it. She could see it, the way his jaw tightened, the tremble in his breath, he was scared, even if he was trying to hide it.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. But Lily reached out, her hand lightly resting on his arm, just above the arm that was holding the knife.
"You don't have to be alone," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
"I'll stay."
Bellamy didn't answer, but from the way he was looking at her, she knew that he didn't want her to leave.
Lily went back to look at Atom, touching his hair again, but the pain in his face was unbearable. He kept asking them to kill him, it was hurting him only breathing. Lily lulled him once again.
She could feel Bellamy still frozen beside her, the blade unmoving in his hand. He wanted to do it—she could see that. But something in him held back. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it could be fear. Lily didn't ask herself too much, she could not blame him for not doing right away.
Her hand moved slowly through Atom's hair, careful, almost maternal. The way her mother used to do when she had nightmares on the Ark. Atom didn't have a mother here. He didn't have anything but the sharp air in his lungs and the burn on his skin.
"It's going to be alright," she whispered, even though the both of them knew it was a lie. But they exchanged a look and Atom let out another shaky breath.
She could hear Bellamy breathing beside her now. Unsteady. Quiet. Still not moving.
Then—footsteps getting closer. And when Lily looked up, she saw Clarke kneeling down at the other side of Atom. Her eyes were wide, shocked by what she was seeing.
"I heard screams," she said, scanning Atom's body.
"Charlotte found him," Bellamy said from next to Lily, his voice shaky, "I sent her back to camp."
Clarke looked down once again, "It was the fog," Lily said quietly, "Can we do something?" she found herself asking the other girl, hoping that maybe she could find some kind of solution to save Atom. But she was sadly not surprised when Clarke shook her head, and even if she knew that they could not help him, Lily could not help but let the tears in her eyes free to run down her cheeks.
She had her eyes closed, when she heard Clarke take a breath, "Okay," she was saying sweetly, "I'm gonna help you, alright? Just look over Lily," Lily opened her eyes at the mention of her name, and sharing a quick glance with Clarke, she returned to Atom, forcing a little, sweet smile, hoping that that little gesture could give him some kind of comfort.
Lily kept stroking Atom's hair, as she heard Clarke humming a calming toon. But then from the corner of her eyes, Lily noticed that Clarke was taking the dagger from Bellamy's knife. And Lily had to do all she could to keep a calming expression, and not let more tears fall from her eyes.
And then Atom let out a last final breath and a little gasp when Clarke pushed the knife in his neck. And Lily felt her lips quiver when she saw Atom close his eyes for the last time.
She had not had the chance to share many words with Atom, but she started to cry like she had known him forever. That should not have happened, they didn't know about that fog. They did not know anything about the Earth. How could they prepare themselves? Will other people die?
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her movements slow, almost automatic. The silence that followed felt deafening, just the wind through the trees and the weight of what had just happened pressing down on them all.
Lily didn't move. She kept her hand on Atom's head, until he stopped his breathing. He was dead.
Clarke was taking deep breaths, as Bellamy had his hands closed in fists, his knuckles getting pale.
"We have to go back to Jasper," Clarke said with a quiet yet urgent voice. Lily looked at her, her eyes widening at the mention of his name. They could not lose Jasper as well.
Suddenly Finn and Wells appeared in the clearing, they both observing Atom's body on the ground.
"Oh my God…" Finn muttered, as Bellamy passed a hand over his face before standing up.
"Can you help me get him back?" He asked the two boys in front of them. Lily turned to look up at Bellamy's face, he was feeling sorrow, even if he was trying to hide it. But she was glad that both Finn and Wells nodded with no hesitation, immediately talking to themselves to understand how they could manage to move Atom's body.
"Lily," Clarke called her gently, gesturing for her to go speak a little further from where they were. Lily nodded her head, before turning to look at Bellamy again, his eyes still clouded with too many emotions, for them to pick all of them up. But she reached out, gently squeezing his wrist. His lips got in a tight line, nodding his head as if he was thanking her, before observing her as she got up to go to Clarke.
"We've figured out what the poultice was made of," Clarke said to her as Lily got closer, even if she noticed that Clarke was avoiding looking at Atom, probably trying to stay focused.
"What, really?" Lily asked with a hint of hope. Clarke nodded her head.
"Well…," she said, "Wells figured it out." Lily looked over to where Wells was, he had done it. She was so glad he did.
"What was it?" she asked curiously.
"Seaweed," at Clarke's answer Lily started to fold into her pocket.
"God, I'm so relieved," she gasped, taking out the packaging with the seaweed in it. Clarke smiled at her, taking it from her fingers.
"I'll put it with the others," she said, pulling her backpack from behind her back so that she could open it.
"That's why you were out here?" Lily asked observing Clarke put her seaweed with the one she had already.
The girl nodded, "We had been blocked for the night," Clarke explained.
"Where?" Lily asked with wide eyes.
"In an old vehicle," she answered, pulling her backpack back on, "What about you?"
Lily turned to glance towards Bellamy, who was helping Finn in moving Atom, "Bellamy, Charlotte and I hid in a cave," Lily answered, looking back at Clarke, who nodded silently. Her eyes lingered on Atom too for a moment longer. Then she took a deep breath.
"I was thinking that…" Clarke said, "Maybe if we boil the seaweed, it can work faster."
Lily didn't answer right away. Her mind going over everything she knew from medical tech and the limited training on herbal compounds they had on the Ark.
"Yes," she said after a moment. "Boiling it in water should extract the active compounds faster than just applying it raw. It becomes more bioavailable that way—easier for the body to absorb, especially if we make him drink it."
"That's what I was thinking," Clarke reflected out loud, before taking another breath, raising her head high. "Alright. Let's brew some seaweed tea." She said and they soon started to make their way back to the dropship.
They had walked for long the previous day, but somehow the way back felt even longer.
No one spoke much. Clarke walked ahead, focused and composed, her hand gripping the backpack where the seaweed was stored. Wells kept close behind her. Finn and Bellamy carried Atom's body in silence, their steps synchronized in a strange, solemn rhythm. Charlotte trailed near Lily, quiet as ever, but no longer trembling—just watching the trees as they passed.
Lily felt the weight of what had happened to Atom and what was happening to Jasper heavy on her. She wished there had been a way to help Atom, maybe if the Ark had sent some doctors with them there would have been a way to save him. But sadly she knew that she was just making excuses. That fog was made of radiation, or acids, and the Atom could have been exposed to it for the entire night. Lily realized how easy it was for her to blame the Ark for everything.
And I will probably keep doing it, she thought, looking up as she always did. She still hated them for having thrown them into the unknown, into a rotten world.
Lily's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She could still feel the texture of Atom's burnt skin under her hands, the way his breath shook before it disappeared. She didn't want to remember, but the images clung to her like damp air.
Charlotte turned to look at her for a second, then faced forward again. Lily gently reached out and squeezed her shoulder once before letting go. The girl didn't say anything, but she leaned into the touch just slightly before continuing on.
Lily then raised her eyes toward the forest canopy. The sun was high now, cutting through the branches in thin, golden slices. It looked so peaceful from above. So indifferent.
Please let Jasper hold on, she thought. Let this tea work.
It was already dark when they finally made it back to camp.
The clearing was lit by a few campfires, small flames flickering as clusters of kids sat around them, talking in hushed voices or just staring at the ground. The familiar shape of the dropship stood tall at the center, outlined by the glow.
"Hey, everyone! They're back!" someone said from the crowd as they got closer.
"We've gotta get to Jasper," Clarke said immediately, and Lily nodded, keeping up with her. Then Clarke turned to Finn, "We'll need boiled water to make the medicine."
"Get Clarke and Lily whatever they need," Bellamy's voice made Lily turn as he was speaking with one of his followers. Then he looked towards her, giving a little nod as their eyes met. Lily's mouth curved up in gratitude as the guy came closer to her.
"What do you need?" he asked.
"You've got a knife?" At her words the boy nodded, and she added, "Good, I'll need that." Then she turned to Clarke, gesturing for her to give her the seaweed. "Let's try to stew it first, it'll take twenty minutes." Clarke handed her the packaging.
"I'll go to Jasper," she said, "To make sure he's alright." And with no further words, they separated. Clarke and Finn headed toward the dropship, Wells had said he would dig a grave for Atom, and Lily followed the guy Bellamy had sent to help.
As she walked, she noticed Octavia moving toward her brother. He tried to hold her back, but she pushed past him and knelt on the ground.
What did you do to Atom? Octavia had asked Bellamy the day before, storming into her brother's tent in fury. And now Lily finally understood that there had probably been something between Octavia and Atom. Her heart sank for her, thinking of how hard it must have been to lose someone you cared about.
Lily's gaze shifted to Bellamy, watching how defeated he looked as he stood there, observing his sister kneel.
"There's nothing I could do—"
But Octavia stopped his explanation. "Don't," she said, raising a hand. Then, after covering Atom's body again, she got back to her feet, avoiding her brother's touch and gaze, and walked toward the dropship.
"O, please…" he called, but she didn't even turn. Lily dropped her gaze, taking in the interaction. Bellamy would've done anything for his sister, and it was hard for her to see the pain in his eyes.
"Let's go," she said to the boy beside her, quickly making their way to the side of the camp where they boiled water.
Lily had him fetch some while she used his knife to cut the seaweed as finely as possible. When he returned, she nodded and carefully poured the water into a dented pot they had scavenged days before. She dropped the chopped seaweed inside and set the pot over the small fire they'd built, adjusting the stones to keep the flames low and steady.
The smell was strange—salty, earthy, slightly bitter—but it reminded her of the Ark's hydroponic lab, and that gave her a faint sense of comfort. She stirred slowly with a piece of metal rod, watching as the water darkened and the thick strands of seaweed began to soften and unravel.
"Keep it boiling, but not too fast," she told the boy. "We need time for it to release everything."
He nodded without question. Lily knelt by the pot, eyes fixed on the bubbling water. The fire cracked softly, and for a moment, the rest of the camp faded. She didn't know if it would work—but it was the best they could do. And right now, it had to be enough.
After twenty minutes, Lily quickly poured the mixture into a cup and walked as fast as she could to the dropship.
"Clarke!" she called, looking up at the ladder.
Finn appeared above. "I've got it," she said, starting to climb carefully, making sure not to spill the medicine.
Finn reached out his hand. "Here, I got you," he said gently, taking the cup from her fingers as she climbed higher. He immediately passed it to Clarke. Lily climbed the last steps and knelt beside Monty, her breath still short.
"Is he alright?" she asked, and Monty gently rubbed her back to calm her.
"He will be," Clarke promised, helping Jasper drink from the cup while Octavia wiped his chin. Lily let out a relieved breath at the sight of him moving. He was still in and out of consciousness, but at least he was responsive.
"I'm really sorry about Atom," Clarke said softly to Octavia. The girl stiffened, a flash of sorrow crossing her eyes, but she remained composed, unwilling to show weakness.
"I guess we're gonna have to get used to people dying down here, aren't we?" she said. The defeat in her voice couldn't be denied—they all felt it. It hadn't even been a week since they'd landed, and they'd already lost Atom. Trina and Pascal had disappeared, and Jasper had nearly died. There was nothing they could do. Earth was dangerous, and they were left to face it alone.
"But not you, you hear me?" Octavia said gently, looking down at Jasper and stroking his arm, "You're not allowed to die."
Now they could only wait and hope the medicine would help. Lily had volunteered to take the first watch, as Clarke had gone to speak with Wells, who was still dealing with Atom's body. Monty, Octavia, and Finn also chose to stay awake. They all gathered quietly around Jasper, waiting for something to change.
"Clarke told you?" Monty asked after a while, not long after Clarke had left. Lily looked at him with a small frown, shaking her head.
"Yesterday Murphy tried to kill Jasper," he said, his eyes flicking toward the ladder, as if worried someone might be climbing up. "Octavia and I managed to keep him away."
"Murphy is violent," Finn said, leaning his back against the dropship wall.
Lily let out a shaky breath. They all were prone to violence. The more the days passed, the more she realized it. And with more danger coming, they needed structure. But how could they have it, when nobody wanted it?
"Murphy listens to Bellamy," Lily said, adjusting the blanket over Jasper's chest. "I think he can keep him in check."
Finn let out a quiet chuckle. "You think?"
"Isn't that the same guy who wanted to kill Jasper?" Monty asked with a frown, glancing briefly at Octavia. But she didn't seem eager to argue.
"When we got back, he told everyone to help us with anything," Lily replied, remembering with gratitude Bellamy's change of heart. "I don't think he'll let Murphy—or anyone else—hurt Jasper now."
Finn studied her for a moment, then reached into the bag next to him. "Let's drink to that," he said, pulling out a small bottle. Monty's eyes widened.
"Is that booze?" he asked. Finn nodded and took a sip, then passed it to Monty. Lily was shocked. Where had he found it? Alcohol was forbidden on the Ark—they said it was toxic. Of course, she knew some people in the black market drank it anyway, but she had never tried it.
"Smooth," Finn said, coughing slightly. Monty took a sip and handed it to Octavia. She drank straight from the bottle, her face twisting.
"Disgusting. I love it," she muttered, then passed it to Lily. She looked at it uncertainly, and Octavia smiled at her.
"Come on," she said, nudging her, "You earned it."
Lily chuckled and decided to give it a try. She sniffed it first—the smell wasn't pleasant—then raised it to her lips and took a swallow. It was bitter and strong, burning down her throat like fire.
"Oh my god!" she coughed. "What the hell is this?" The others burst into laughter, and Finn leaned over to take the bottle from her hand.
"The hell if I know," he said, chuckling again.
"Can I get a hit of that?" a voice said suddenly, making them all spin around, eyes wide.
"Jasper!" Octavia exclaimed, rushing toward him. Lily let out a little giggle of joy, seeing him fully awake and aware. She reached out and touched his hair, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.
He's alive, she thought happily.
"Let's start with the soft stuff," Monty said as he looked at his friend.
Finn turned to take some water and gently helped Jasper drink a little.
"Welcome back, buddy," he said with a smile. Jasper was still in pain, but he reached out his hand for Monty to take, and the boy did so immediately, gripping it with both hands.
"Was that a dream, or did I get speared?" he asked, laying his head back on the pillow.
"You'll have a very impressive scar to prove it," Clarke's voice caught their attention as she approached where Jasper was lying, stopping between Finn and Lily.
"My saviors," he said, looking at the two of them, and that only made their smiles widen.
"Thank you," Clarke said. "For not dying. I don't think I could've taken that today."
Lily's thoughts drifted to Atom and what Clarke had to do, and that memory made her drop her gaze. But Jasper spoke again.
"Well," he said, "I'll try not to die tomorrow, too, if that's cool."
"Sounds like a plan," Lily replied, and they all began to chuckle.
Then Octavia reached out to touch Jasper's arm, catching his attention.
"Oh, hello!" he said, especially happy to see her, sharing a smile with her. Then, suddenly feeling tired, he decided to go back to sleep.
Lily could hardly believe it—they had done it. They had managed to save him.
Relieved, she stepped out of the dropship to get some fresh air. She took a deep breath as she walked outside, looking up at the stars in the sky, finding the scene almost like a reward. She had really thought they couldn't make it. But Jasper had been strong. He had fought like a warrior to stay alive.
"Looking happy," Bellamy's voice made her turn to the side. He was sitting down, his back against a tree and his arms resting over his knees.
"Jasper's awake," she said, turning to him with a happy smile. "He talked, and I'm sure he'll be on his feet before we think."
Bellamy nodded silently, looking down for a moment before glancing back up at her.
"Good job," he said with a small nod.
Lily observed him in silence for a moment before speaking again. "Thank you, though," she added, catching him off guard. "For changing your mind about Jasper."
"Seemed like the right thing to do," he answered, looking away, his jaw tightening. "I've had enough of death for today."
Lily hesitated, noticing the pain in his eyes. She debated whether to keep quiet or say something, but the look he gave her pushed her to speak.
"Atom wouldn't blame you, Bellamy," she said honestly. "You tried to help everyone out there."
He seemed moved by her words, even if unconvinced. But leadership wasn't easy—and maybe that weight he carried meant he could become a good one.
"Was that a compliment?" he asked, trying to deflect.
Lily obliged, letting out a soft chuckle and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I give credit where it's due," she said with a small shrug, her voice gentle.
Bellamy let out a short breath—something between a scoff and a laugh. "Guess I'll take it."
There was a pause, quiet and oddly comfortable, as she studied his face and posture. Then Lily added, "You know, there's something I'm glad about."
He frowned slightly, but seemed genuinely curious. "What?"
A new smile spread across her lips. "That maybe I was wrong about you."
He blinked a couple of times, as if trying to make sure he'd heard her right. Then, with another small laugh, he cocked his head.
"Maybe?"
She nodded. "I'm still thinking about it."
"Oh, are you?" he asked with a grin.
Lily nodded again, strangely enjoying the conversation.
"I'm quite inquisitive," she said.
He raised his eyebrows. "So I've heard."
They both chuckled, their eyes meeting again as silence fell between them—comfortable, this time. And in that stillness, Lily felt that strange feeling rise again, so she decided to return to the dropship.
"I… emm…" she said, pointing behind her, "I think I'll go lie down. Try to get some sleep."
Bellamy nodded at her words but didn't say anything. Lily smiled, suddenly feeling embarrassed, and turned to head back inside. But then she stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"Try to sleep a bit," she said, making him nod again. "Goodnight," she added, turning to walk away—and as she did, she was almost sure she heard Bellamy chuckle.