Slate stands outside leaning against the railing in the dark with a cup of coffee in hand, the world only just glowing around him by the building behind him, the snow gently falling around him.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoQuV7oPUV
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfRP9p656F
They found a place to stop and rest for the night, but the bad news is they're out for fuel now for the helicopter so they'll have to go on foot from now on when they eventually leave this place.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BOZToV1Hg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Hxxo88is
The place they have sought refuge is some base in the mountains, it had a landing pad on the roof and luckily was stocked with some supplies, but not enough to last them for more than a few days so they will have to leave to find food and perhaps find other shelter plus in the current climate, it's very cold. They're not all rugged up warmly and are doing what they can to stay warm as when they escaped, they didn't think about the weather.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRUqLERzmc
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ671nnL974S
"Hi. Want some company?" A small voice whispers, a person come outside to join Slate on the balcony. He looks behind him to see Beth. "It's cold, you'll get cold out here. Go back inside to the fireplace." He tells her.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShZM42kvzi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71ruE61G56
"My head hurts, everyone else is inside trying to do maths to work out how old we are, but it's hard when we don't have all the figures we need. We we're downstairs for three years and we seem to be in our 20's somewhere, but what else in time are we missing? So, can I please stand out here with you?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWMiVhZ7M2
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4YHLe7Jgc
"Sure, come here." He says, removing his insulated fighter coat. He has a really thick shirt on underneath anyway so he'll be fine, but Beth? She's in just a singlet, pink shorts with black leggings. He helps her put it on. "Thank you, Slate."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9syy08Avr
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmYfn6h9AL
"It's okay, you need it more than me."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwURjCJ69g
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rOdg6V4H2
He takes a sip of his coffee and looks out at the dead world covered in a blanket of snow as she does the same. "Beth..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1v1xEOnfM
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"Yeah?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7MwVrWZ5n
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTbV6Quanx
"I just wanted to say-"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xcA35lSmv
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j46Icywor
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFBX5mRxl2
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib1zfxZUsz
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyb0iO400G
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jrsjRD6h9
During escaping with Beth, he can't tell them. But he killed someone, he remembered. Murphy raped her and killed Hazel and Elijah on a mission. He wasn't punished by Solayo for the second one, the leaders covered it up.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuT5ZP2eUH
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpeCDA4604
Murphy got in his way, he was drunk and trying to pick a fight with him... He doesn't want to remember. He... He handcuffed Murphy to a railing with his own handcuffs. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVjSOcI8hm
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfq49W5HUD
Then he looks down and for a second sees Murphy handcuffed to the railing. He jumps back, letting out a scream. He drops his coffee cup, but Beth only just catches it, burning herself. She cries, snapping him out of it. He takes the cup, sitting it on the railing and dumps out the remaining water in his flask, dumping it on her hands, taking them quickly in his. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bQY7VaOIZ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vp61nyNva
"But the water! We need that!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7Ti94Jhc1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRSX2VRian
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4H4hIGwjR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqc18VK0Vb
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiwow98XaF
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW5sar0nN7
"Uh, I don't know." 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaAWf5u8Am
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It's not a total lie. Now the memories of before what Ester and Mikey did are patchy, but he can't remember anything before living at The Compound. He just remembers living and training there. His been downstairs before, he was in solitary for a long time before he worked with Solayo rather than against him. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBoHWfUQVq
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fi6hlC68q
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6jZK3DqhP
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gedTuaAuH
"Beth."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVXmrPpTqu
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFnjyKE6QL
"Yes?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w7OKyOTUg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3MYSCgLe3
"I just want to tell you I'm sorry there is no tablets to give you, I must have lost them somewhere. The others all have some of their memories and attributes back, but you-"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqLnRVwhHk
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnDmJDJQVB
"It's okay, I don't need them." She tells him, turning back towards the railing, down. She touches her neck feeling the bandage around her neck and wrists.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyMeu5Qpto
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVOJkRtq5k
"This was stupid, I don't even know why I did it... I'm sure remembering would only reveal the real reason and then... who knows what I'd do? Off myself?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquecd9FlVI
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdQoMNLNhp
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rlX0G8xax
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qOE9RBqNM
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZpBI83wOc
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGCfM3KtxN
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuVEIEjwSO
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV3E59PdNm
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yngTpHPk1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEC0ShASYF
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk41ndmOXnZ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQWfkMvPzg
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22YKU8d6Or
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXk6GvFbxS
But she doesn't get to finish, Slate telling her to duck and he yells out to the others to cut the lights off inside. The lights go off a moment later and in the distance below the hill is a figure slowly walking along, it's leg half hanging off. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsI8BZXFL1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGi2cFnU8D
"What is that?" Beth whispers, gulping. "That is what I'm afraid of. I tried to get some sleep earlier inside, but I kept seeing something like that in my sleep.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ969Bo62Y
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Ky088t56
The others talking woke me up."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cRfy0gSwi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNLrsfg0VX
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDFc3Ek3A
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOHob7QBV4
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TFTtlnyo6
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzLvA3PoSR
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIsLFuPTNG
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcyGKAsmHz
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttV5w4IqzZ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIJDGNsXWX
"It looks like one of us, but it's movements are weird and janky. And it's leg's hanging off, but it's walking mostly without it." Beth speaks up. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsZUknoR7h
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtrLOKuGaz
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMosiittcW
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXJjeqNvbY
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKWYAYB1cU
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJTHHgTBSM
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6utedi5G9C
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH5f07ajnY
"Well, duh!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqlkJFAmH4
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC5er1Sc6U
"Whatever, Gid. We need the bandages. I need to change mine and hers." Slate gestures to Beth. "Sure." Gideon says quickly, handing them over to her.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzCl2zovAi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nRJNFNARr
Slate takes them, pulling her after him into the bedroom so they can have some privacy from the others. This building is only two rooms and cramped. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU4hJxg5AR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIxLawVFYH
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp2m6uSBpR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqIdPRGZfK
"So, what do you think this place is?" She whispers trying to make small talk as Slate gently unwraps the bandage around her neck. "Ah." She whinces lately, the bandage slightly sticking. He whinces when he sees the cut. Thank god it wasn't deep so it was never life threatening, but seeing there was an attempt, it's scary.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSsGYyWTSC
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfS3SlUHub
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB5U1J9FXp
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S8MIQbrTV
"I'm glad your alive though..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmamu2jYaMm
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEaMl43Rck
"...Thank you. My arm... can you look at it. The guard who was on me, she was mean and pulled my arm behind my back saying she'd break it after last time so I could never do anything again. I don't know what she meant."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJMvi4hZHN
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5L2OA9mV0
"Did someone stop her?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9dPWAYe2H
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6WjrmHyZU
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVXyVmhHm8
When Slate finishes wrapping fresh bandage around her neck and wrists, her burnt hand as well. He slips her sleeve up to inspect her upper left arm. "It's quite bruised. Does it overly hurt to move it?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLnyNtX2Zl
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitPuWFcu3w
He gently moves it. "N-no." She breathes, removing his hand. "Turn around, I'll do your head." She tells him, removing the old bandage and wrapping a fresh one. It's hard to see the wounds beneath his hair.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO9247MuPy
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN2sLIwNPP
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqq0BMkYbe
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxbs7usOh8
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5swChA2BWT
"Sorry."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HcPjQQ8S3
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DIpuhPeJy
"It's okay. Just know it's the reason we're all here now. You all deserved better than the shit life we we're living there. It wasn't even really living."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kOE6xdL3j
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y37doNnNg
The mood is really down now between them and slowly she leans against his shoulder, head resting and he wraps an arm around her shoulder not making any other movements.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2hZ2VW62R
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXS3uUVujw
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52RemLT2Qd
"Anywhere we want."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7sqiXN2Zc
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"But where is that?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37joQy0pZQ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iG9B7x0vi
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMhCEaTPlg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpnGrhUvIE
"It's okay. Better freezing in this mountain shack than tied to the bed for eight hours a day and injected for three years underground on floor 13."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct3w7rzmSf
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qZJQxYFWN
"That was hell."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCkCw170Nt
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt82tKuopka
"It was..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0vVJvGBK1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJofwW6f7iU
"I fought so many times, told them they we're horrible people and even tried to escape a few times. It never worked, even single time he'd have them drag me to my bed and they'd secure me again, having her prep a needle.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F0qUZCBuI
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8AL7vbFlC
That didn't help or cure me. But at-least I didn't end up like Paisley out there. The first and only time she yelled at them, they took her away and cut her head open. After that, she rarely talks now and barely interacts with anyone. What's going on inside her head?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt6ghRaeoG
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofXHvyOMrp
"I don't know. And I think it was less about helping you than it was keeping you safe. It stopped you in the moment, but it was never actually help. I... I don't think they we're ever set up to actually help someone like you. I'm sorry, you deserved better treatment and actually some damn compansion and understanding than what you got." He whispers back, gently playing with her hair.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABNswcFaBb
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDHt5wm644
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXetJVtFp5
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd03gke5yWT
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjVO2PJf86
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdHK50zMe9
"You can do anything you want, Beth."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwukBd1N1Eg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4AyMgt35y
"I want to grow it out."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8VFxrYJXR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0BclL4NA9
"Then you can grow it out."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGSI3Rlieh
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Know2uIQF
"....."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbcDp5Gloo
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaAWjb8sU2
"....."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnZz7n1hk4
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Slowly they turn their heads towards eachother, lips touching for just a moment when she pulls away and starts slamming her arm on the bedside table, crying.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhnCnfc2tY
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He grabs her, pulling her back, wrapping his arms and legs around her, cupping his hand over his mouth so Lyla, Gideon and Paisley don't come in here.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp9q8z789b
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNB48Z3sHg
She stops straining and calms down slightly, albeit still crying. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeats all over and over. "Everything okay in there?" Lyla calls out from the other side of the door. "I heard a thump."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp0QotXGRR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHPF8BGDd3
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvW0hUZrn7
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H6451G5lX
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kixIUwqXl
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70xwomubQm
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK2GAhZmam
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd7MJCMMh6
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZsOR24eP6
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcENSbqh8k
"It's not that."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EwWeO8pQ0
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqHIyg5grd
"I don't understand-"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xCP5aaY22
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bg4OZFwP6
"Can you please let me go, Slate? I'll promise not to break my arm, okay. If I do then you have any every right to touch me, any of you. But that's it. You don't do it just because I'm maybe being difficult and a pain in the ass."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1a0l0zqmH
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEmv3NxhqF
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTbFSpbxhx
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gloNbYYrG
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDcyStCaJ1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6i92P1xmV
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE08RFjFBk
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcKCCl2ZzM
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSSrtKfLd4
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLGqReJuxT
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8alcumlGrt
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8rbBIN6cH
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OD8yxhmti
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xctg490me
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlePWC0FFgO
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGe0dWr6oI
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lfV8rqxdK
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9PT7kJFd6
He backs off. "I'm sorry, I won't." And he leaves the room, switching the light off to go talk to the others and subject himself to a long lecture on equations and how they got to their age. Could they really be 28-29 years old?201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyk0tDwXgT
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4TKLOuR6v
They look barely over 21. It's proably the lack of food so their growth is stunted and everything, but... 28-29 is such a long time and they'd been with Solayo since... he doesn't know. He can't quite put his finger on it. But 28-29 years old? No way. Just not possible...201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCONYMWIiFw
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrym50GB6V0
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80fkIUaX7N
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