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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu7iWtufRy
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0WbOokCIk
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqBeAWY3qW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIajpiybVh
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmIcvlYj6w
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMTr25EYET
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiKxmbq6S5
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs12PWGNki4
"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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDvzsh4yLZ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNc8851EJX
"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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wpzu6l40J
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7Na3OQX05
"It's okay, you need it more than me."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXqtc16Hy7
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM24XM0gau
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..."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW30iCPmyub
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTumXWE1qa
"Yeah?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjZgcrkUM6
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMSKJEaCfs
"I just wanted to say-"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOWsp8s6em
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKorDZSnhGh
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjybz6P5ey
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZlwkf0CYF
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx10IT4n6nV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7z2zzjik3
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmeMP9B5LP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC7LsDfKvj
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwij1U5rLB
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDYK6mdnFX
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszY3WeJGxl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oGvHT9o9C
"But the water! We need that!"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsBxvijtOb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0dLGxzDuD
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMULHqyVHGJ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxAzJkXzHY
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzvdbpjUIN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL77bYDnNX
"Uh, I don't know." 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdeqwCvIk9
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWcsjXkqkj
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmM51dQ4EX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfDjlZmgMg
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdWyFQDkb6
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXW22UBU1F
"Beth."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGhcsPZRDt
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxIXSVv2ot
"Yes?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmufPgteIM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAptxFrPnT
"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-"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHxef5KxIl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SGXCxPMxQ
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYOxxJySLV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsvxKyjSX2
"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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w3eTrhruG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGFGQKG4WW
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV52SySqKk
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaN8mwjeJ3
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQW7UFC15f
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWF0dpp1kW
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xjpsi2S2i
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs6BVeTdtJ
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBHbVFksXg
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFvn2Md5x6
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSxriGjhVK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQe2FqBxge
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8aPX5m1We
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqK1tO7ndq
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqpWHwAjVN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqiaVMru2U
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotKq2OkqDx
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxuVZztV8W
The others talking woke me up."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZfTO5EYL1
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvbeg60cMK
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXaczvfQOT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVczinWGoCl
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOTWZejA6r
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAp1srjzfT
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhI27J8SpR
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX3J2goFZn
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9icTJ6qDc6
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK9rHMaxVK
"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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmv1hDfpsW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8jertizVs
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR7WLrPrfq
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YUFnFd46h
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhImAaGSG0
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGKRTB5F3z
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEAPTbKVjK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zVIdXU1EA
"Well, duh!"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8z2GQ7eiL
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyZJYuWHbi
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8siqAjGlA8
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gEIU0HguX
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. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFO3LbvE6A
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedbLvaOCUd
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWnH3orxQG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPhQoqFLaY
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wxWGe7JA1
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoQJMr7ohf
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jHtyVUo5v
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxSby7Bw2L
"I'm glad your alive though..."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKLTiriTxj
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKoL6hGqVL
"...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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTrDgb9dto
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcidsdEyFZ
"Did someone stop her?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OZIzNaFdh
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLJ210p0I2
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVLwPzhmgn
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBTLwBQnD0
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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURUsWyAQZf
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi211DZznL
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz0NpO9yDC
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi9GfzqK4m
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkP616Lg9C
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdpdnXJNhP
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNkTfkm6ft
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBp2U2Vvpu
"Sorry."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXc8MWrXIS
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs5tHVHDWC
"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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKPLzL5VGW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5919fhHq7m
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wcIocLX1M
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsbIESzsNY
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtbYVL2kkE
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt3C8dDbsZ
"Anywhere we want."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwTOENPowh
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSMzgt3fnh
"But where is that?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVUl2T2wdm
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDSmOQ7iRs
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTsZS02hSr
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGRWOIySFJ
"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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqcLGlIhH9
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztT2s2LmSI
"That was hell."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1utXPap2ZF
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPi62KPYso
"It was..."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ydFLKPXQA
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQkulK2MDC
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRkARk4uE
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLoRRxBzpH
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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89QQE2T3GY
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6EOgfaM4Z
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvKfxCaXMa
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HkOPqaa8W
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSUN2rzLVX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uqRg0A39f
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnyGUbCsYf
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu7h3Gl9PG
"You can do anything you want, Beth."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJZUOh2Pex
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJsOfzQYhe
"I want to grow it out."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb2Dhf7DK8
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cavrKovht
"Then you can grow it out."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDWt0LKVoy
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ws0RXF2WW
"....."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C7KoZMQHN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWLm3ErzTT
"....."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JJuEu0KQK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKB4ordgmW
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3aF8qBMZ6
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JcaS3T2xD
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgcjuMdTin
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQSnG6I74z
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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NIvxHeFMc
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcVHaZlnW1
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4LRGl92uM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQvnIelvm9
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrYGkwyWJ2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBP7BMCNMw
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUc801rBLT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHVYrpxM8S
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbVOtlR4jN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECnSdmaM11
"It's not that."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzXdpDjoo7
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW32Yx6hKL
"I don't understand-"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrwmcW5wNy
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3HX0tmGYv
"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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkbqW7mJeP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx6ydr1Be4
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0cs9GCCxx
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j2uXywa1z
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK00I4QExF
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyN6LcDHwL
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFru0NBwwIT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhjyjCeonB
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0PF3UdlAZ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMosRUfAlkm
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk5Cqmmjxw
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFlhJ4D687
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu0NQaRLmj
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEu99hYUBo
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Htgeukhsa
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1ANL2dm9w
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycEHyGFdhL
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe9IzYnoZ4
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?236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd2IqlWKXk
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvYRUW8hW4
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...236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoY9PZ0yiw
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd295NqUXlW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrAEkxOfJp
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