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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnqid812Bc
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8j2Vd8ZdI
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWzHDLRukI
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCarA3jdvL
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw6608aGIH
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQEAdPnyxv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhxxOyiKGD
"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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwTJS0Z12M
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKFDq1w34Q
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpradVoE5K
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"It's okay, you need it more than me."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRbYE31eMS
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRwJbo66ki
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..."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgroABWKsnw
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"Yeah?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzutnw2rQtG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr9ee1OM2P
"I just wanted to say-"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUtvASvrPM
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6s8Hz204U
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXxCgBdhfv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHerSaSHLyi
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u829aMtPP
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmft6OQXo5
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AqqXF7p9F
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvIr1wrIVl
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1jVm0j1j0
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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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam5S23USPY
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"But the water! We need that!"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KYru7iDh2
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWG6TnbfoQ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ8WStuo5K
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIeumiuaUW
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"Uh, I don't know." 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JAz19X82l
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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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaekG1pfopc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiQIMvwEqT
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyEKYOskOn
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"Beth."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbESWlYpXJH
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"Yes?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQOFm4lcdn
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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-"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwGnpjBPgg
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8Bt9QGXTV
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrLzPmos21
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCZm2fvMgp
"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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv10J1w2NLG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP4n0zUemB
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJBLNdzp3k
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jbMwheWmN
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0daS47utxU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWiNwGBkY2
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvWzaCZ8UT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNbuFEEgJU
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mDlAm3Qou
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTF4LLFg3O
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9BwyYWV7l
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo0wWDmAW9
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx3Q89tEwm
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI506JcrLT
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo1jng6r5n
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYUb6OhE7r
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbHY2yxkUK
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The others talking woke me up."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwK8PPYSOo
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"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbUC52I3y1
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdds1iq7geR
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnjSyUtHt8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G2U6AQbkB
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs53aIDULKn
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"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwGzjxC6b2
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNp4N933Br
"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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsX3hf9KRs
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ942e18GLwr
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLra4hj2a6
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEweX0s7HcW
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnH2rWl0ql
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"Well, duh!"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZxQCNbk07
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXrs07FjVA
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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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOXDkJjaxU
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iqpGwZtiY
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyYCERvZ59
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdHS4ViODN
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40HxuLK6SG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZqUgKmMK2
"I'm glad your alive though..."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAFIJYMuRo
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHr2LlKQMU
"...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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rawbNiq7T
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfxIrKK5lO
"Did someone stop her?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcHtBu1q0C
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9spqwN1yl7
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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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxguDJubdk
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrkvdyQRT7
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRJZWxj5wl
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnynjehx7Wv
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOzAutbqTf
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"Sorry."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡump4GWKgQ9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju4k6AdAJv
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpMYFjSC0v
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTb0JKACWo
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9aRLh1wD6
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo9q9FiBXv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ854rzezS1Z
"Anywhere we want."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJXokikdOd
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"But where is that?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGYQPfbpi8
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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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6JrQ5sgF0
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWveXDLLUN
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8d0MvKP9m
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzrMO8PFwv
"That was hell."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZsTurHy0A
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"It was..."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuwrDwzZ3z
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7HFrRygkA
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIu7rZnvtp
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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsgv3PkxlY
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YMyjoRBjQ
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33bL6NJ8uG
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBSGeGwh4a
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVNwJuIdZn
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LGtqBrET9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVYQwXgXX9
"You can do anything you want, Beth."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTe8Kd6nP8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhOczWWoAv
"I want to grow it out."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aD9wGlNnu
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"Then you can grow it out."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjUlIxfcqO
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"....."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb2RrGPd1Z
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"....."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRQp3Fqedj
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxp7B7R6Wu
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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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpR8j31QYT
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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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvc7lglqiY
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"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrWGwMDfH1
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He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMi4Y6sRUj
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"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshlwynP7LV
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hLzk6GlYH
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5VN4YOn7i
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlpYKKXGYS
"It's not that."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOOim0vSGq
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"I don't understand-"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI4j7962IC
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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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2nvOPPYFr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bqb4FfGxg
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V9yXSmoWU
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And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpi7lmnVCZ
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUEKf57KyK
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"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPVDME7vHP
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"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR70ch0vLw5
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvYptOsV7a
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAqAe9Jzlz
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qbbVGrtmT
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2pP2juXUi
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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?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZsFinn2Mc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ970EFhKJ
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...218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxW9TfyGPx
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8964 copyright protection214ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82cXsRFmN5 維尼

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