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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vBQ7zeybY
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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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3D2pqqDbC
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya497ql1dE
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHECUHBgbbR
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cEO0kfc1x
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYD1keJZJk
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSyeOd2d5b
"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?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzTkBNVLXU
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbfUedWFqC
"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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYD9C4tXSA
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttuxKYceKZ
"It's okay, you need it more than me."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ554jEWlkHO
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1uYI7vULi
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..."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEhW7dpJIE
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh4uYSgzde
"Yeah?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yMnp4ERmK
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZpeKT94tb
"I just wanted to say-"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQHHo8k69T
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorQ0X8vRRS
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE5uHmmkfg
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JWx2dcO9j
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RKpXnXYtV
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMaTgdq8CN
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtvDrkigId
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jsxnpITFd
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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA8jl9FaCx
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3xy5Ks0Kx
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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlJePI2Y8f
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoTDJLwtJW
"But the water! We need that!"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmOSox7zkl
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8wl7pGivD
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIggrmx8qz
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPBMrUWnL6
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuRtwwybKp
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1VeJeTL8a
"Uh, I don't know." 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7rQQWN9zH
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2vTYs9F65
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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsllYhCxgkx
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEji7Ja1BJ
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9blmwSAz9R
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuGT1PjtSP
"Beth."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKSFWJHse
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYw9av3YUP
"Yes?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzHrQkeCYx
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumdcch1PHn
"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-"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4NHHbc1P5
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqtbtlyGTu
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu93NIEYmV
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9PIzU6rZM
"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?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfIhEyirzS
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaqspbYQhB
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHjwU6TZun
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVwkQ1l1e3
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i5mWKEl1y
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvUFSclrBV
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwQlTp43JV
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7IpH1U8Jy
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrokmFjoBfa
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFIpLAwH57
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdQhuyGj1z
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOF1TI4i9C
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DV9LJlraf
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z3hrME3fr
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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVbRfqMgGI
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3ubdjGP2u
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xp04GXo8x
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBBW8S7aBc
The others talking woke me up."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdxAxBIbXk
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJghs04T17B
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX3BDda06V
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjUbK9zX2T
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3y5xP8fCu
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwLQXb0925
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqLICGyQ1z
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2pe4F3Zes
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCCjCFcWcL
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQCMxom8tn
"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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DX3thjsjY
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3vhrK5fhv
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ppj1mYSLT
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIcupKDFet
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkczfKzX0k
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYsbvlBQ3N
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4MjsGibu2
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Qwmay3G5
"Well, duh!"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dZNcL1l3F
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhxUO66JQC
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0zvXcXzjW
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhIr0ABfgs
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. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijT2C75daX
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEroEcO4rzm
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoB14isQcH
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapuOuOhMas
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCcuOM2xhl
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZonTGp08T
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1JyPefQoN
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL4Cvum6iP
"I'm glad your alive though..."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGPcCqoCr3
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfFmuDBkR6
"...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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdZ3W1W8cF
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYNxdkDLZ2
"Did someone stop her?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WyPvqpx5H
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR5XsmfdPU
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCYTzIuZke
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNsvdQhKhW
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?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lyhD3gC0x
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTYNBZozue
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLI1WzRxhh
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5XVQa6AC7
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3blcGX2Fk
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ahvVccXMz
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4mw3t9kok
"Sorry."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVUhM7ezx7
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjJRNayGZx
"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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCzvE3Bk5z
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt3OiDaYRb
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveCTDzaD5n
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKJ5tbZTSZ
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi1eIceEnY
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"Anywhere we want."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUmyimO6Kh
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2prX5TLxTm
"But where is that?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJG9fFOaE
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqvb9C0q53
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKhVzvw2uD
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprDS0e41Yi
"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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxQh0qrvra
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG7iOUo8Dk
"That was hell."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXsxTMUC6d
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYWJkCvGxT
"It was..."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvl1y9CBQb
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4bGMzvkDf
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeAqwZdrvd
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLj5brgb7w
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?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM1dW1guZu
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9HJlAkKl3
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9DL37rKqB
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMxkUmlFRf
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIF4g9FYoR
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyBX4wD4Ji
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdbDDghZP6
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwdnutrkiy
"You can do anything you want, Beth."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo2Eqr20nh
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ2VT76IgL
"I want to grow it out."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1stfMohYb
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZs84LuMY8
"Then you can grow it out."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL6Ysb0xRV
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE3ibGMwuo
"....."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq5G6RC6e6
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSilbdBs0I
"....."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiXYk6M2CT
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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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUAIWfbPpf
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvenEC7lihZ
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARiYvRDCjq
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfauZuqjQOL
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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbzDPabnJZ
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHbl1VBJGU
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjxUedV6z6
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcfpcmgl99
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwwZol96Cf
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGHg3SuAUh
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zln7sgQx9
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57hJlTtuN2
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgWuLHy8Cn
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSMXpqVby8
"It's not that."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRf7Y0MYzv
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Q5LJfr9R
"I don't understand-"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4o0yO2Ksw
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5ubLdlfM0
"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."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNBFhW3RPZ
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS3mBYeAkq
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk8iN4Y3od
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVJWkXTcaq
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqJuLkjInP
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi1gZmbrsj
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCcTcYKww9
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vtSvQXArE
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI2FPKtaOe
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sd9O5CnhY
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5py83BIAP
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnCHwx6ZiZ
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLtw8E49DF
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uuANt0mRk
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNXbj1VFVd
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknRlsQLwPj
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQrTJfYjce
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?171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzTwPXxh7d
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoIGbDNT9M
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...171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEsGQcxzCA
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64nhzCFG3D
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYCZS9cO1u
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