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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4xwBWtoa5
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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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eDURnrecF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68XBwEJVK1
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiA1VprN94
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtmB6WdrBd
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGGIM0IoQC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfh63CeuBC
"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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIKkmC278k
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmsaOYXixD
"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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjeJlvpzYW
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgtG0Scq3Z
"It's okay, you need it more than me."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tVodFheZ7
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH6Wd4itr7
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..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKyp6KVkKX
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"Yeah?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew6kspaxZ4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p2Gf1MPNx
"I just wanted to say-"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PysDLtn6N
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCpG5WFamh
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGgp8Snx75
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCwcxJxffz
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRKb9ZDZqJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7AMh5RKxZ
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosPDimOQby
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDOrsxhc2a
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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRqX76KQbL
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6YAPwt2D9
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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlydeMVejp4
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"But the water! We need that!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK0ue8ik41
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaxRFVOolj
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBR0X2eGBn
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjWyA8wzFS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguhMZOqVUM
"Uh, I don't know." 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyqRfC36oZ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipZCqSq10v
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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3fQ8n2lLB
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSfiZw8t8J
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz4J7OQaR6
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRNui5pnSe
"Beth."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxYUvH5Nee
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuxHMuv0gS
"Yes?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlXoteS4tT
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39uRUrOyMW
"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-"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfXk8gtZKw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwlDJTW2qo
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzYLyxMtIW
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcG8vsvqdX
"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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoblJpQXmAm
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HtY4bCeLw
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyXmIZYKIo
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jSyJ8f2vd
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Vgp5DJRu
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE600F3rIMG
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAs7fUCCBI
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyturRqklU
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eYkeN4HP3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSmapX0ZhJ
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JWIgOANlf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofq4OhlAQ0
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxzTKzTcYd
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KEYqL0UP4
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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjToKn22FgG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohyvnhAYrL
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVL7QQTlLU
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEWDCulqpx
The others talking woke me up."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUveVrHAZBS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL9yM8UOIf
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB8fhRNRST
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8Z4nRYH9e
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6RHwV2DdS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDwEItvTjL
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLUcauhWZ1
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9Qzec8m3a
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtMggRAx1D
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFM8iLvhJ1
"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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzJW6SVFeb
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk4z0cQnET
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U3moOV0Wq
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHy5UhWPVY
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW85ewxj9xK
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAarDr4r9H
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2MlcHOjJ4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQvTqkiJwd
"Well, duh!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgvh5EF8pL
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdyxDa0ngq
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIqfAvnHcc
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7VrpAoTLr
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. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfzImN8W6t
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m49kxWwpD
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1MfezHt5J
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVNuAb4osG
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCHGhbCWKr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPvqjtHlhA
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodtddBgWb0
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanZjkhqKmM
"I'm glad your alive though..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3EAiI1xO8
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h6PbYrgMe
"...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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIjz0qwKiE
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr75WSL9Mln
"Did someone stop her?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulvHjuwMNU
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLEXuvyL53
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJqbONdUrH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7M9BlCDf1
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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0U3rm41Ak
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHxOzAC8RD
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EPVmucoTW
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ3imnicIM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa0o6EKhLO
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV0LDGAxiH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOpd2iL3hl
"Sorry."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHNrVBHVMf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyTYIeG324
"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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOC6FshZAi
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaDiFi35zH
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KKDmmo1oD
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo3YvPbYac
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vvuDuYVLh
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBMSuQ00GJ
"Anywhere we want."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbEBvLT9C5
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"But where is that?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKHwN1a8Y9
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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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfBAigzV7P
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VMzT6D32w
"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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHJvRgzXKd
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu3dsDojW1
"That was hell."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsJeooCp0A
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaDRnfSUCY
"It was..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gp1VQnEp9
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkJJD6EyDX
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuMR7tLYAM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMXDVCDI09
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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaatVi2rIfo
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0ElAh8Aij
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU8RGhEbHi
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9Swoozkdb
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0hIm4rjNF
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvCLKlzkJ8
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YKflYAC1e
"You can do anything you want, Beth."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6C0yLgLkM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OPBEJRu48
"I want to grow it out."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNknzmaNng
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Z3yq7vYG
"Then you can grow it out."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxYem5HFjw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpof0tuR0M
"....."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXJwWcFQng
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"....."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmhAK3GZFH
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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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR4xLhQnQu
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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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7XsKp1dfd
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVbUaKYyJO
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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlVusOAfkS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqmFsZtaGV
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4wmLVugcG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTLRluQzuW
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XkalBvzHp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfUrG1F75Z
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhY3w0l7qx
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUcIITOXdn
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tWnBFghXj
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dj3kpTJiG
"It's not that."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDHBPUBrOF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWjFaehtt0
"I don't understand-"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbqkyk5a1H
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G45DIqws3
"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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWkZOzCaxP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqtwE9ZQR2
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tR9q13Tci
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOxsa0Uddh
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhvsIRMnSe
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJps6BJAnmd
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakehVF8wDB
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIutPxM5HKp
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBt4iRuHwp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mDsgO8J1f
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwtFTD4Kkl
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv2MiVlPZY
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIz0RF2sP6
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8Pkh7KDqa
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8ArXIziIY
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeYPW5qHAd
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatdGE5avBs
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgNy2KVPTj
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?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS0yzXIFyf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Eu9E2ILOb
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...231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBgkNl3slF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7cgPi4xlI
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7bqi1Uk0F
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