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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6794plI0b
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtNDeqxQha
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgoZoz67Qd
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerhhEfRag6
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBDacOjg6Q
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDSTVBBEpl
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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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT21FYr9xM0
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi9ZGDdjwI
"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw46bl49FgX
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlEP4zdyZ7
"It's okay, you need it more than me."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHUWR6MaHJ
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyr3tRchs4
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..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C7eG7Q4ZA
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"Yeah?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoXyKoNJXD
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVNU2sPqFY
"I just wanted to say-"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0lohnypst
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06dPfoEgwP
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lpJegVAHC
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghEjRg4Iit
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopFqihwLVh
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzdyybiU2z
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxrV9hv16L
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauRClZzeg2
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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHBkycJ80G
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbnJw5Ngds
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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9ttaWkmEF
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNxFftjDI1
"But the water! We need that!"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0xHosVa9g
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHL0o3qgVC
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O61vttUyY
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXID453NuE9
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PljBwIi3J
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULoqb6Kevc
"Uh, I don't know." 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj8V4Ayy7A
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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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai565VKsRU
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9JjWZ4vEY
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFviaf4qRK
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXJFJwvFXs
"Beth."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dY3HoK7WX
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPxVHa6L0K
"Yes?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6audVEat1
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXSoS4pIwy
"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-"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV80nJAcFhi
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvrdv17LYj
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sN4aB1K12
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5un2sf9kNV
"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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibScSbmCNm
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRev5vCmKbw
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTJC6Uixa2
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq7jcE7fxb
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca0akH1boP
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJr1Zm8LGM
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX6A5u7Aeb
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PxzX5gVP6
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxz0xAk4C0
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoszxxYPsSX
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq5A7XeE2B
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspuk5WuyGa
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1831qNGj3J
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKmfP0p36g
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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s56EWDuoq
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nNoHuVBDC
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYFQ4aG0Mx
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42I9fbeD9d
The others talking woke me up."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH8LZ6FBCF
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCrjLhOUEp
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOo0beiw3E
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3yUDd5KP4
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZUHnDTvU2
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdM7M1POEH
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5JyKeHo2k
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHugCi4tR5Z
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Holqr6o3
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q6XlDURRq
"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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkObFyHFAzC
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rWN8aOZB6
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BV3icXuQF
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBWuoJRixC
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOnyyyrHK1
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8neilVZpOq
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjg3osQ4vv
"Well, duh!"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0IB8hSUzg
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmOIO46bvm
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit68sAz5ac
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0PjKldnnt
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. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E8Kzr81Jd
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkSB6hWTB2
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dEAziLynp
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabsJ0DdmeV
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGiZwFKxYw
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy8urIQdby
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqR3wAQaz0
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1VrX74512
"I'm glad your alive though..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuGa7TV85i
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnGJSHzciZ
"...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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO2DRe2HhX
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lzIxrfo47
"Did someone stop her?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzXpTfGIzJ
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq296Xd9ow
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh4deVcIzv
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBogxNRb4I
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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDTm4DvPH7
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaF0AgEKJz
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xFph9bBXW
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U0jAmk1nZ
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeep3NhkNIp
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ866DeonyhT
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6l9Yz27kA
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wCcgOAfxH
"Sorry."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOicqpbHzS
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmcbgdUjmT
"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVpj4Hdv2i
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6jjPDOeNn
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh47nu35XIq
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBcQc6tBCB
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe3ZGR7vEp
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkR0s8T1XY
"Anywhere we want."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco4cZthwWk
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"But where is that?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQlVKvHRaf
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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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSeTCOGCLO
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiszUYSvn6e
"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyNH5zduMF
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAWX1cHRzG
"That was hell."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVl6lJSwM2
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEqaddwBLb
"It was..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyie8B8aNbN
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8D0Guqnxf
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29329M81WK
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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cIIHRV7Fa
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKdVP8zSav
"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDs4OcGldb
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ55XRqS04
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCyFi4aexA
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMFn4BN5Hj
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn4LK8fj4W
"You can do anything you want, Beth."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHUTgChMH7
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWENEDKEtg
"I want to grow it out."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCecESoK9HR
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7v3WDf1lt
"Then you can grow it out."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkKuY2mQGc
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT6NcVgnnk
"....."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bWvBw7zej
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"....."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoDQyTiVNl
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSrMEU5hZz
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDdleOXPm6
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM11e8dgfYJ
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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqI2IIPcv9
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuRp3zIMRj
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKRCyEptGP
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AQB0CUwlX
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90EBWURWsN
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraMxMiuU26
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPANBFFrSj
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrciPvrx2N
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gl2mlcVfy
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJhWfaHorT
"It's not that."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFaE27Tj7L
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKW3KIywJJ
"I don't understand-"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq1LwmFFJm
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQns81pju3
"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6icrR03qW
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TbsgguojX
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRStl2CRME9
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV2bNn7jOL
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWDqKGHmAF
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp1a6mhhNh
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FqDfprytf
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDfy9iK4bx
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4ya2Nmzrb
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuATjgKoYY
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowHpSoU8jl
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RChIDXPXd
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPWNXFZhvC
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYa9u6YmqN
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e7Nq0rHKT
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBDispH4wa
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzbUWs7gJI
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbfIgMjmNo
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?209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGGj0YpIiL
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoydDUf680
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...209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80lu3s2KXN
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH3u4jRqwC
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x0jTOSWTb
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