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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFfyQZXudt
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST46zQNmRD
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqa8NPXire
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9PvE0RApK
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWs0YdFziS
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq31lGp5WN
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAixIoSB0k
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlDuarobTp
"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?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn0UWJuD54
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwJtV0zrnG
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAsImg7beW
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbgkil66Gg
"It's okay, you need it more than me."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp889cBPLL
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zlYpa9I5G
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..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GM4LilkkL
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JXUBAS98g
"Yeah?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOScGHK6ack
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4cxG0CQNm
"I just wanted to say-"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLpG6SqO29
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lsDtRiikD
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0cUCtNU5s
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S9WkEmJuz
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7DIzdIg6V
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnZo5T4LyD
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKJ8S0Bp18
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37q19vbPSc
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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A4vZj8vIF
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZEzdM4S5B
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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Yd0YM5wC
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXWbtR4TvP
"But the water! We need that!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqock1t61y
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOhiLxdLpC
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteHNW9zx1k
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWidNy7yIla
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfTkd8Jn28
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA9CdEBjGq
"Uh, I don't know." 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTocIDWBMGZ
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGlBfx07sK
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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3pnVAZqXI
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqVRCqK8Jg
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBweLCQb9sL
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbFouThWWo
"Beth."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVispBnoRt
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK535qAtZSP
"Yes?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRV2jwpdeN
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOGgMKmyJW
"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-"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWoROYEIxT
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluHtiu9f3R
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ESJW5Xk6l
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4sLaJtAKw
"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?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRKmookN51
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7oPTSvuWY
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjBmEUrvOv
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BTAgXgJF4
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPy5iQCcyK
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYpbd0CN2s
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lVxdc8LL1
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKmxHmXlTP
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIyh2LSvlu
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Cea5LiwZP
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf3rtgaQaP
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ8ZFWHdou
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNfiF05v94
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1omlML11j
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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa6eqVm9Ev
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsuVTpjtBd
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL5Ax1RFQ5
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzgvlDXT4l
The others talking woke me up."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ937maoZ7vi
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtRJwhRDNP
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BKCa0jPBL
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAsLTj39XJ
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaIIEdrp13
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenMqGdW5IO
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTFarkWzMm
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdqZ1In023
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCkPGIwCjf
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AQWp7DcCc
"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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNDFOouU1H
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnvo0A3iWq
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvrmjmRfz5
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUtCR8Wal4
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEKqrtqp8R
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu0Mw1RwA4
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSB24ci9dr
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUV3xubiCO
"Well, duh!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlnKW0fCGD
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIEtvptrmm
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsbxmGZhhE
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK1WTDVCzG
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. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEDPkUaMvG
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu245KRyoo
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSWaFHUKM9
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v4UK7yBG8
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IFSmaTRqn
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cd13XTc5Q
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuifZkpkBfz
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHCM32KFF1
"I'm glad your alive though..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nJ4QJ5TEU
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFpVFzNJOX
"...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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3GL4Q2ubc
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWryIktnfH
"Did someone stop her?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgOZpAwcsf
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6jVgTU0xb
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCnmeNYSri
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oDp7moUkd
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?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EPEe8tKey
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRBPtP40BB
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzqZ6FvjMi
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMv55xcRN8
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZxaFeksKu
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH86nfXZYR4
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9sB3gPkbk
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkchWhmSnj
"Sorry."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi9Zz2lSVn
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiZYRMkMKP
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc7kCznrbM
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvyTpgBRSX
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCWCs9Cm44
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbt6xsyKbY
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSoij73Ffo
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvmkqs8VzD
"Anywhere we want."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qDEpPe5sM
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Dj9LTMve
"But where is that?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsxn78GXrI
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdHdY7xLY8
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2HJRLe0Ds
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY0UV7008L
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNvUiZVFjy
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AK1skHEn3
"That was hell."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDz84IfvR6
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37i4ZLDlP
"It was..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DixyCAb7T
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7QoU5QTww
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BmboDPNlT
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwpiduoE3g
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?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d57NAfeX3
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O6o2WobCI
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfDuIjS0pr
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x7jOO1ORB
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRloUu96HIM
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwR4TluYRU
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C3pK8FDq3
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmItGje4fZ
"You can do anything you want, Beth."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSNOV6GmvN
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0iqAvIaNu
"I want to grow it out."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfxGVVNp3x
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdcR4wwEa2
"Then you can grow it out."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRz2O6WAqQ
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspwohQM2Ty
"....."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMljgO56jV
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCA8Ca8h6k
"....."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7SKM5C4hD
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCkvFCXOCh
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HNQ61IOXT
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RkytMKp4Y
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofkCxRcf3E
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV10qCqbcT
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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3gYe0QUeh
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsVheyR53o
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJJJRdWruw
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9NLBxTBdu
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIVLHozO7e
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBZCjIos0l
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaKQPJbca7
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KhlaVcWq9
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjtjGbAkAD
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGtTzxBReJ
"It's not that."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PMFeOmDB3
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxEUU5bNQt
"I don't understand-"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJWanzlKLt
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeprpWqdi4g
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8a26TnDzo
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5aLA1Gy3T
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsfGamQ0bq
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI4r63HHQk
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYFaebS6i5
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewBz1nBWfE
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDWkT6lPSL
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mz5Fv61sC
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78i2d3Jzxf
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgudKBC87L
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMYBj5tLAJ
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj8FW2Fqg0
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT969YF2N6
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXSZl4wti2
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuLGsUXGZ7
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XMlIYNGtv
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8l5y5NZvH
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJj4oyVbzj
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?133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnLgvsqvup
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8rXMvLlIR
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...133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHj6wcNosi
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTyCBW123m
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJyXNl9WMR
Penana
search
登入arrow_drop_down
註冊arrow_drop_down
