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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm6sHNvRNK
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOURSQ8TXuj
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pl6iQiWW2
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApPjM4uJiS
"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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO79VOx3aE1
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"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?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhTeaLltEH
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXLXmC8QLv
"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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1poPVS4Da
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"It's okay, you need it more than me."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRkw7Xjcq2
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFXfM9NUDA
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..."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM37SOH8ov
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"Yeah?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEVVu7tjRN
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"I just wanted to say-"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzOU06QKEJ
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkILM3DMH30
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX6OYJke7u
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs6D3C01JU
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt2t3GQ3hf
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbl2PRbo1M
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFqaH1YiQD
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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJVtCayASq
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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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbl8sUkXVy
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"But the water! We need that!"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvvSEZ5WiG
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKBcn2P5eD
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Nx8ZBcMI
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3Uu5CJJMH
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"Uh, I don't know." 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB8RlvwYEx
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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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZlZ1dgXsO
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But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJm5cZkvoR
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"Beth."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASetc4fAiI
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"Yes?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtXSTb9BDJ
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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-"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGmGJdboMy
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRJUMvDDiO
"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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHY7f43JZo
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"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?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFLIUcDUma
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj493ExKyD
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXZKiKPpqI
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBAqYaWxEu
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS6GfbQyeh
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"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38V3XqTp00
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX6k1Pkph3
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN1speke2j
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rfZbgZqU2
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgG7xTydvu
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlXksU6FYj
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJeoHfK9EW
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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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBYKvWa7Zm
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"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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL4a8Ho5bB
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The others talking woke me up."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4SnXXIht6
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"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWJb0LRTvR
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"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr1WcxILND
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He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTXQwS1qA6
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojAvuiGkeR
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbkCpEeznc
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8nuv5Ds3a
"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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII16PakGbC
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Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8yI54Qy6P
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMOjFvcUNB
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO0xGrvBjl
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ6hqQToVV
"Well, duh!"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbl2kqiBpf
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqNzvnQpOI
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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. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcoBZ0DP89
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2gtHG6wiQ
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMdW39hIEt
"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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxEri3h67j
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmavBDokwFr
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mDBHXMAnk
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctvXSqYJcM
"I'm glad your alive though..."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6MMQyHHk2
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZQ1JFbIov
"...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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzcZKEPkKr
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkuwxv3ijH
"Did someone stop her?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpeHfqMllh
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofB3DbbZDI
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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?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPIenEOqZn
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs3f6zglUt
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo47OgKeyn
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfFRi2tzLv
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"Sorry."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH3ekWVNyp
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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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoEXz9guFm
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGj1CRZ42O
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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda4yNjRXIC
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uLK8rHJk9
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"Anywhere we want."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fUws1cx0I
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"But where is that?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKPDINJX6N
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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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEjjZo6BoA
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"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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedal73ejRR
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"That was hell."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsftKeoBqy
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"It was..."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT2f28OTzJ
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv80ue73Hd
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PVZRnkGCl
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?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65oCQO54Mz
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxt9AuPGKH
"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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H0R11tbos
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwSch56joO
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So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxJwQYPUXr
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"You can do anything you want, Beth."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn6Rf0ojDA
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTeNJtTPWo
"I want to grow it out."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXWVMn2Yqd
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM5hKZz0Vt
"Then you can grow it out."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQICZjDHh2E
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"....."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IkgPEf5KX
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"....."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gLp4uhUmw
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmB47mLUmi
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIVAn8HUjm
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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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq71VsZtxmY
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQp5YMYURh
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK7nxhFVdl
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He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecMXW49UUo
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleqkEPncEY
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdI1F7Rp3O
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsfNitjoUi
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB37CsyHOq
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUcX1960Y5
"It's not that."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6sjRTiWeN
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"I don't understand-"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq52dhkPl8
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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."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26vVgjVDvl
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwRg9W09S8
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF1DJSecN8
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And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbqFBEhfGM
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV5OSzMWa1
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"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgEJvvmx7T
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph76kjK6U3
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG5nADUec1
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M2ARLRAVM
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA2lTdsqSW
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRCPMybZPG
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IPorIGDwo
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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?134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VdjRbu3Rk
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgLxxtkU6z
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...134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeKr4pZBKy
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaYkjQ8wlw
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