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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkcYy5dIrV
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzF5EsHLib
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZtjG3nn1c
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRGV2Ciej5
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lMCoAmjdM
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWQzbRI1tf
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi6PefK3YG
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxMxu2A1VK
"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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxuAu6k4R2
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9XRxDNA7v
"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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGkDrwHnmT
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT95lz2Uus0
"It's okay, you need it more than me."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadtrrFeUGd
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH51FNgGN7
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..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFM4Pi3Fzf
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvWg54zecM
"Yeah?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ3wLOaTb0
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVY3gXLBKs
"I just wanted to say-"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAiynP53NO
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVgRVCR4Nw
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQitiU19vR
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YZ3GYZ23R
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRmR36iZS4
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCeYVyzAli
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79hbWFPsef
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyOHc4nnCm
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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGHzUiRAjp
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkivThsP8fA
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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPiIRjjGDH
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xCASWDmSj
"But the water! We need that!"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fDET8O6bx
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ446lca2PdF
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv31nzpIC5x
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0tEv8lbFQ
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDttylNErMJ
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40Dl80PBOY
"Uh, I don't know." 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCz1UD0Oaz
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aM4ugSxv4
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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETggiimNx6
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcBXKhIx1P
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbPZIO6eJ8
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJybQ4NVB41
"Beth."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KDmlugaul
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBQLJwcXh7
"Yes?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSangIbfbn
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaraSjyNvlz
"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-"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1UXM9LELP
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLJlM1Xc8v
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJpy7zz0BE
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ti9CtSjlr
"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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqKpXYeYsC
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV24kRCR8Qh
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tGKAiLV2j
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFJdZXlpYU
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZVc08LWvI
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyWmAlK5PA
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSrGMB5Kpb
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwQMc6OfL9
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV18hZwrzq
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXThJxTGDi
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKveh4onxjC
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOjEAnO9AO
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTcCurMY7x
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOY6sJRdbK
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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDIGiiMzEn
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cpwAp00sp
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnsUnpZQTh
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRAdaz2H0i
The others talking woke me up."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxRON1oLbY
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB6fVkSxAK
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tEJP5PlA6
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkC7nSCl0J
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZMeXlxDSq
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8zFt84cny
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRt3V8FZxM
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBgLDAO0q4
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATfr3oVHof
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZglMHEUbpv
"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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x3a3dYBi9
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTsH0NYjVg
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7N6LqZak9
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsorDdjucON
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvUzLhbs88
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M3ORhfSSN
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ90ztDSU1N
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH5DTzYL5K
"Well, duh!"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrdlqLILCa
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb85FFFm6n
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyLRtbU1AN
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWZjGdundV
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. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JhXhC2icl
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGKbM58dMP
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6A5Filoa4
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5ErPchVNw
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfKnR0y5bC
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniCXM6yraB
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c3bhx8h4U
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBelpKEcyX
"I'm glad your alive though..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29V0ahDXS3
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbQLdemxXv
"...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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5GPWCDE6G
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPKjm8ZOA4
"Did someone stop her?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGkDOYw0ek
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7nDalqYiW
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8QyfiGIDF
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4zRXnKUQl
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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9rqlktF1a
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRibjn54njj
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CpuKAhG00
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaRqBYmDeU
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x7xJiDMXe
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb1djDnUgC
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUHb2dXN2J
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViXqrVLWLg
"Sorry."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURrJlSacGX
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06Qk2sV1h3
"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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbocXwnSB7z
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazWRvodV0t
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpb7ubW3Pf
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq32c1xEF2L
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxYb81vKO3
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ4bK8pYHB
"Anywhere we want."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5sZQkI0xc
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfehzxlQ1pQ
"But where is that?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuoisdeFPD
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF2keey1at
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F5lq2Bsxf
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPKjpHWXSl
"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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT6ayvSER1
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MHKC9AsRg
"That was hell."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7CjlsRlMa
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpkFkwNrZl
"It was..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwmHIPs3Oa
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O5pMgI7J2
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyEYosriB4
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBgq4eTtsJ
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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeJNY6ImMB
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYvSwF0ulN
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgduCI674M9
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc01dwHXY4
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGF1u7M2UV
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbBDh6lAC1
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRVrtGqV5U
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0owwMPoeDT
"You can do anything you want, Beth."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jw2o1kXBv
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡperD4BYC84
"I want to grow it out."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv6WfMDp2e
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11J9pUrfda
"Then you can grow it out."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0GNmAwYWt
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HOc3F0gwH
"....."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrXJIjiMdG
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"....."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVUwADA4WC
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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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w5Y71XDPh
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrCF5ZUPIT
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF9vRvIr8x
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJDfhlUUyq
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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOWJkXJNMK
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPhZ6BNysv
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxmHp4f8he
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2YVoa3Ov4
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtkrRR4pGb
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMLbOwCitz
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsavFL9PBov
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdotBxJEmKQ
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1LtEVkmNd
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxZ8rALZoq
"It's not that."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSUO7zIqn4
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5geNLBZ7WK
"I don't understand-"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40DB7lokR6
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoghP6UgiI
"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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tL0mnNBry
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qMrJAs3ld
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTErKkOGDsh
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxiezOgAC2
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbUGh8bmXW
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw6KOVh3hi
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux4zIUY9pl
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1yJPKazqt
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf3WCyBLx3
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAx66ip9iO
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xvuvK7jA6
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQoIJ5Va8G
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD9JrjhSSC
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvaUDOo9eU
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqTjqvixVJ
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kq4U7S3q9
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxMKUVJ2bu
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHR4GO2vjK
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?174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVmSsD8wd0
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnYY678QTm
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...174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTqzp1cVA0
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt868AiR3w
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZkLaDc6qi
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