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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9ybCvf0fp
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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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBVwa37xAs
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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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83K44XqjM3
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"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBAjqzDrPw
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"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?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4SlK6fhmO
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiNurOpc9f
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MfhI50ULv
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"It's okay, you need it more than me."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3XNM4UJFS
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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..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToQHT0eaue
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"Yeah?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyjPEKzHwK
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"I just wanted to say-"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKgciKnnt2
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"Thank you for leading us, saving us."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7zLAwedl0
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"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaljhziQCO
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50fTCrDhbS
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohaU6YJu7Q
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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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVo0deV96n
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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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JOrpJMjfM
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"But the water! We need that!"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd0ZjF02NK
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0s5oAMHCU
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"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFNjymMJ4Z
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"Uh, I don't know." 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDs84n6O8a
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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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H550zwzHu
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But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOpouh2ZJZ
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"Beth."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDJodJyZD3
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"Yes?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixZOcLImnT
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"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-"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ070xFk0X2V
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UYQMbi0y7
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4TNl9BwYw
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"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?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vEDjryV0S
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPRXubT3uH
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BcbIJJZQW
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkCe8KPMLn
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu58Lp8iUWt
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"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xT4LbN70M
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"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MPQikkRRw
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"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyX030ZHMY
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"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj8aGGqF8i
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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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpkvQwMgCc
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERVZxN2OUF
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8dbcVtdrL
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The others talking woke me up."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHa22gEpvv
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"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztvv6zQBoh
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb73GGuE5IP
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVtSpCwgYE
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpeqi5sKAY
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHO3s61eMy
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"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzB5wQCujO
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENUHmnm3JL
"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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI83dMbpfJe
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Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oX446NjTL
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUZ2UIetch
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNlruv3wDI
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"Well, duh!"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51WCzc49rK
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"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhXirdXYhM
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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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3aTrWqkGV
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJmWAteYGe
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"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddxJ4mpZQ8
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RIXs04atH
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsNiNN4BGQ
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUulx3ha39H
"I'm glad your alive though..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtynT4uC4x
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqaQbXIdtn
"...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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3IQou6hjd
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukCL655lFg
"Did someone stop her?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3njDAAkaE
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8eLIOS1BP
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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?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09gZeTnNba
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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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIigMlHvm3E
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dwNYoLGfN
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQltkIoHe2
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"Sorry."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROxJ72aV5E
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEVvuNTKus
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJcKf7O7zM
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zRtATTzIG
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QRCc99xHj
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOG2Vg6Uaw
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"Anywhere we want."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi3UklMLfC
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"But where is that?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1qXwwhNj8
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"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cZojqMWoW
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcXklVlp6F
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNwJmH7aNU
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElTUtdZaVV
"That was hell."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoi39shEBk
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"It was..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxSW3AnhOE
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"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nsHW7Nfu7
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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?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc3TqLPEiZ
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"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMHB3ZOYvp
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLippPMDbq
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So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05iACAryG7
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"You can do anything you want, Beth."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2Xv7xqBIH
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"I want to grow it out."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjmfnUCqvm
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a1umbroFG
"Then you can grow it out."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgklf4fm0QT
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"....."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl80ZtMHLT
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"....."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8If0eof98
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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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqlxf5eEwk
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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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFbC4LPkfM
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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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbCrVJVUgj
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"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0lWZNlcyL
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He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkltHzImzSm
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"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLSXefvpwI
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWTgheT9K0
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw87F11yPQe
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb90lyxXAo
"It's not that."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE3LXDpzao
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"I don't understand-"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr8G47eTvp
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"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1SzAsjlKc
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaoRc4VwyJ
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG45lP8W5US
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And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogRbzZNAK7
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuA61HqOgY
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"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbTk7y5Ajk
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJX37sqxfB
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLMwsEWNzm
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5sXmlpjmr
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKpzaCUNeG
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavm8Fd7LEF
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnRpp300Z9
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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?161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EE3SBWNfN
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDjDJQ1SEr
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...161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2l4YheXcv
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