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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CIlGVzth6
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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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfps2ZuCM3T
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVaBs07P57
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLcok6h1IR
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRiDX47rWC
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP3fthASLY
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoIvkrXeSa
"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?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRvtmBPEiV
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjPFQnQeuc
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0DoHAHLXc
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W53SXlZGC
"It's okay, you need it more than me."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEpiKxUQrl
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5EOTr3pVe
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..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirenHaXonK
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"Yeah?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavMY0ELGiP
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3zqDCrOD
"I just wanted to say-"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCNrfRCisz
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQDT1YrdOl
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhZQCLo1iY
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"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviIErG8JKI
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lxNtQSQAw
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl7seevKQA
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i73aLj3R2
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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NmmSJl0Ou
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJoeR9hSWT
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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ispSiiOhk
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"But the water! We need that!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkTHIBM7AZ
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWDP9pmaA3
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT2YGC8aEX
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71j6Fojnjy
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczMNXfehfa
"Uh, I don't know." 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyrpriD9Oq
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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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljMz3d5BYP
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But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1n7OsSFrc
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzFsNsoOAy
"Beth."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KNmIINzWU
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"Yes?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsC6PuRPq6
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNplUTfeay
"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-"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XS2IBCK6X
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q5vYL3vDb
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNqOq5Ozmg
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBCgZzz3Av
"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?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDreXbtmUn
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t7FkrWfr0
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiG2HEW5Rn
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiPeaQ4liU
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn425SmUaDG
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo5eCKgnJv
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7AOd420t7
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfMrUWpbfP
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lEmJG2Tjt
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"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y2MO1oJEn
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"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXYGDWb9iR
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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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0nExN4l9c
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjxNoWFSMj
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DLgMl7uFH
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSln5ARu6L
The others talking woke me up."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIso432pc1
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobsGSllZGl
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FHgse56dm
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiAjCjtAxF
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFJtQVmke9
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiO5iEz3sm
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEL1F92II5
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYAANdQsAh
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HGBYGaHdJ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EeyKEvCsN
"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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNQcCeNKt3
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Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKDzKmqmsM
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgYHOfeKkW
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFEkRLifOA
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPG2ZkS7u4
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj40G7wlrG
"Well, duh!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqg4rYP6NN
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGDVOUbUvZ
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXfvErYdPN
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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. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEMwILtfBD
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYLrduJdwj
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOIn0w9KCK
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrOAOaVpGp
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOhUG4WUad
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfkAmml9jQ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0KrOzIkAO
"I'm glad your alive though..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS61hoPJVsf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5ngUHMQgg
"...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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r8KMgSqXq
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9hqSGoF7K
"Did someone stop her?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rscv1BqsL
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclF8IBQ7uj
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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?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU81HqZYVI
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTDizLOXC5
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTkw8FtnEJ
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FfVVaoVRy
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqQ4Tg55MR
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh2NyY7bCf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRHkIRaUPX
"Sorry."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFe9WvftQj
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1n2BPwGqP
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9YqHCZoEI
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ006Me2eF9l
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h5sTaGz9z
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRrPg7lQju
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCs7Rg6GE0
"Anywhere we want."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSBhUxfNQ9
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"But where is that?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoo9pJhZb3
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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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwdnNeabfU
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjaQmbRo5t
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpyTyOmFDM
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtuNTxa8UW
"That was hell."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMczcaBiTD
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"It was..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFXVhdLcLi
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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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczxW7LpjZX
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTgdXu5IvE
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?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcGKjeQj0x
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dvK1eoySE
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNAOV4nfQb
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanGNc50WFd
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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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBtApijmt8
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"You can do anything you want, Beth."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1EtPruzqc
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMGsm0pLvI
"I want to grow it out."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalBCKZchSa
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N99aTWPnG
"Then you can grow it out."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3Xd2g2FNA
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"....."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGeoV2ibUk
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"....."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPHDP8UxhG
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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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwSsfM27oC
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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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHADeZNN7lt
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZUB7idddr
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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2zSF0Dxr8
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFketDkobT
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOnZyPRrD2
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopKQTWG2FY
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkmPLO3JDJ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBxEMRCAPh
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyAMhd6XAp
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloH0uIuCMk
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe8utlrw5z
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3yWn5vliq
"It's not that."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwrmgDOgWA
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"I don't understand-"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZeCnzCb7g
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcDwABIZA2
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSB3GEvhN8
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdcXH8yvpe
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTF9y7s3nU
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB2rJZDlYZ
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsuanZcj8q
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZdaT5oHyw
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY8gP5OebR
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuljZNIpmqr
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC36wc3A44R
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlZ7vllNsp
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RfRf05Lgt
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLA6JY5azW
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3cfKLT4ck
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpoKeMAnpZ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnBhaQfbay
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjUrSvNPlb
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HEsQnm736
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?137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2hbdoIzK1
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWcjd31vGz
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...137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0GGuJNQih
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd5QDjVaGh
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPGQ1zT5ce
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