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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5RGFdOSCu
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusPPPW7kSK
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZMU0wQD0w
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4FUNVav01
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSxgrusLRZ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR22Hv8erz
"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?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnZvxixdHi
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JXWLg2auk
"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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYNvWGwSnJ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmSBYZcGJE
"It's okay, you need it more than me."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T67gJWTBW
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFwb2cDvTY
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..."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrxbTREVlX
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"Yeah?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70FZUhH2wC
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"I just wanted to say-"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsklsqMyvC
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aKX6YLghC
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SGqHFo60v
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbpCWpUZQt
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2fklwFNxG
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyCgYw18Ef
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ao6jCjKiW
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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDKYLlczda
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4zjYi3zOn
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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpx7KDmctQ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRC0WYUpvn
"But the water! We need that!"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX6tM8BM5u
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbr5izF1oA
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwl4hCuRKa
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB3eZcr8VR
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcasYGIK5AY
"Uh, I don't know." 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmpotNMikx
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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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfztEkDu6MA
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S19zpUHza
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHQRBa4HC0
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"Beth."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOmqMsSbTW
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXpa82l04Q
"Yes?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13omozzHoI
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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-"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHX3r1GzJg
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQRDYntFeL
"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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hmRcMmswb
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7U5D7CBtk
"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?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUSMvVLPoe
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukfU3uhuBT
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1qCkXG8Ey
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzFql7ZdbM
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Mutj9MCK
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"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2fwd7yGEP
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm0LeJ2kJv
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaycZi5tUmC
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm34ErVaQw
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FRDl0xpk9
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOATJPUz5O
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRlnLpvLnb
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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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmwOMh9KmF
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeqe1KSnIS
"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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzDmaRrqJu
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mu7CBrez3
The others talking woke me up."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy8VaATx6B
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFl6sBOJUo
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0Avh5puDE
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bHK5hR1tW
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8aYQp1OcQ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYouW8m9yq
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi8cHcWRfI
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgD6fdPcmb
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJtaH9bEJ5
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kyx0kb3Oj
"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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOBfkwyLmo
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Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2taizVgDH
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYOdb4PXhe
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbxCsqgW7W
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyjLkPhQRQ
"Well, duh!"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpPzt2pbV5
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuLAVsPNpY
"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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOD4zbPqrX
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTu0SUSzgF
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. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVg0JM9fIP
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawHAWyO1hO
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRJoSPCSsc
"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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yUkdoCQpy
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyB4c8LwkB
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf6b7EmRB6
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtssbh4ldBN
"I'm glad your alive though..."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYRAUnOk1f
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDxfc0kTyO
"...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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowCvc77o3W
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tMCC7fW0V
"Did someone stop her?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubsjs3ln6q
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL4QiavzEQ
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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?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDstbPGZSuZ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbJHIXrsxl
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYNVPa6rP6
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq9CVwYUal
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA1g92S6Hn
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV5Dlj116X
"Sorry."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMp5r7dHb4
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"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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPCWKohsHO
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRUhub0laJ
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ukyYbyYx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lgZ0yAzFo
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRPDq1DcDB
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhhRLTGG9w
"Anywhere we want."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZkC2yp8Vn
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"But where is that?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVsVriwWJe
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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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn9xDSkC7Z
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWH0g1J4oN
"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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXMV5WDncs
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHfJnH6eiE
"That was hell."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ezmGoCns
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"It was..."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOFzyxjsug
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk4t3DyaTT
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVLqXfuedO
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?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPN6F238yU
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAxiAkA7uM
"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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6XrDJRUif
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSwGazceFQ
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4esusX0Yx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jmklJdYvT
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vb8ohqM5L
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"You can do anything you want, Beth."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDYYrTZvbq
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdxgsFtQ4w
"I want to grow it out."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjsVBUJHEx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAjbBNgvrY
"Then you can grow it out."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiAch3q7E3
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"....."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE085WOoLv
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"....."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wsAUodXa6
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn1tglRz4k
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQN1GRGc8E
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10qnDjGFcL
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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJrcMWg6Qe
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp3aFOChsk
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0zwPQ3v20
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He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9l26rTpGV
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWZD3CqbUK
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHvxT0FOJx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EBXWSBWuL
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32wma1fQm2
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTf3i3mbvv
"It's not that."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLJKIXUure
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"I don't understand-"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQctm3Rx1vO
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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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiGzWe3qcC
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqM2arM1fb
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1sF1wnC9E
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpdZgELlSA
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpHlYb6Q7L
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x9sRYdJ3k
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyHtZDovLP
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5i56myiUE
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdFZFl7UXG
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgs0NUKvp7
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHdn92Chjr
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRnuAfFlaE
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O5Z8BdGz8
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNhAJqblST
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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?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVTvwM1YPG
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnE2eJf4Ph
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...220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqThr0bXRpe
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220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnCgFpPxlQ
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