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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM36uKWSlrV
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuG69SiWyR
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhoNHypELD
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKRP2N65rk
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX4HCcWeue
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvrxihHN1c
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf53CNSLI2t
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8IOhczfpK
"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?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqduWYFpi8
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gj5nl0xo2
"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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiRbDNqPiM
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCifqrQT25L
"It's okay, you need it more than me."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgTSAQeulK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r8qWQHDCg
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..."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnijze6dmaW
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAwkuWVqKq
"Yeah?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M9IojScpB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07yqox1MGb
"I just wanted to say-"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrESRTNV1ee
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtz5xVbLAt
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlk1Mt4IDB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk8xNdkijr
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc7mHUS592
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEFPK0Ybit
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEKXefZL8c
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HO8r1f0dB
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM65hCX8Ifo
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRybxajaOL
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREEo6vZvwq
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl9T7TxLdr
"But the water! We need that!"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItWIbdzqho
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqdZ6JRz8D
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7kLY5ETfJ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbww99WM4AO
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeF4VNBlgR
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR07n721eW
"Uh, I don't know." 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq8WlJ3BXk
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XOv12OX53
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6YWLDvX5S
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29zWnxicBd
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaBbmry4BA
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNpfjaqPRu
"Beth."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVBxx0qY7e
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7BDZ6MLlO
"Yes?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCPbaHhNCD
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NRKHV2rvi
"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-"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizmY70qmrC
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8C2MyzRcH
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhQl205Lui
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoGjCBJT51
"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?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo3tUFdJqu
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYayMTc4HQO
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG9fAfsNMp
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSGqiZeE9y
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPu3lX5Gfm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIOcOx2RgD
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0RVxaCq9S
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeyP62Pwme
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaE0gKafK8
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCWUhJXLJh
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBruRGSNUTR
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKPQxuJRGy
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL6CCmoUs0
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2IZVtM3Ss
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QLKWGWLDs
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KgTH4e4nh
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFSwtuOrtN
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeALRbYhlA
The others talking woke me up."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCJX5rS3b7
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aRS1kT5u5
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlPgSF0NoD
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlzwWtc2UZ
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMEfuDqZvr
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7KlMca8so
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UwINbOu1S
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTXTL1GZuR
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj7i3FWniO
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrYqTrpKE
"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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr5mkHFrYi
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xSHxcmlkG
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuAZBAjQxM
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJMIdpRA4J
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPR9SPOPTd
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyQoPVojrl
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV6ZMjJmPv
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXK19kYJrb
"Well, duh!"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg84OkYXRV
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJImnqQCAN
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB43zRBAnXA
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiium2chtNk
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFqR3qnoeN
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YhOQJxK9S
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT029wsQ3aL
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTHelqQnnj
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ITwdFJvAl
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB25OiGlDuw
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnC9JO7OrB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmCR6Rp3sp
"I'm glad your alive though..."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FApOf77jO
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6X7OJMlAo
"...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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLnEB2eLoU
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0sT3FQHbE
"Did someone stop her?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW4PgEpXOG
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXP1AZO5Ie
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdLnmOesyI
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6LWMZeAVZ
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?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWpTX9Qwp9
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo3ivybInl
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9wdtyd87H
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNaiOSuM6B
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjxz3zLswz
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr6dY1o2CO
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1uNkkOWVJ
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfPzyKpc5Q
"Sorry."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7kzqKrwTg
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeXEn0D3Lx
"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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvJup224JO
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWBocsL7MU
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXivubieqz
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNe7Q3Ia5
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDsoB3mF4v
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofjtNRamHp
"Anywhere we want."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR03w3MtGOd
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc731HSsjNl
"But where is that?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl60xSbgvz
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsKsd0CQc2
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLGGM6GyGA
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1BZRFQN8f
"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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjkEoqM4dB
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡul0WKGksny
"That was hell."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6UvjnU3mU
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNARor3xWy
"It was..."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF8gapx2Hx
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkHrW8FUeX
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfTzxxD4JT
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTXm5kLULz
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?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jW9ZeDxfH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhQZp97yPe
"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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdafdPzY7o
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvtacimxvc
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGStHtGupw
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoPlYfEIbR
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOAIvQIBGG
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqYii3twwU
"You can do anything you want, Beth."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMFXTHmhBh
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u5C30JlVN
"I want to grow it out."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8aPi9BnK3
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiUNnBxS7q
"Then you can grow it out."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QddXkUweN
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACqNDeULhd
"....."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEHO3sj1i9
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZCsVdwhtv
"....."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwFxPOvGFO
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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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykDW1fvihH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9dCFQAUe
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm8dSONf8k
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB8oFHCoz3
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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjuMEXFnaU
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7lQDEQirt
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9739XEcx9O
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrWjKGgcEz
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdiR7SqyAq
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVDHHq9HUI
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eyoYPBtdS
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoo7jceaSr
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Ht9XIxUr
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN63ntNofdc
"It's not that."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn2Q9jLcoK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFzj4BM8iM
"I don't understand-"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49j5Q5bB29
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lSrWiYr37
"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."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfX0JpS7ro
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRzN4wLxyV
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDycJU2k2Hm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8dOglvyi7
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt77hjOnKe
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OqhnGdYZx
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7AJpJ8NOr
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLSNYGrfVt
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVJYlJ0smV
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD9IFMwOMw
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeb2Kc45mj
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fcbqWJiHi
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKTsU005ov
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYQt5JY8N1
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IgdDr9w4a
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PUEOrDQRG
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC89JtIgQG
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuseMwFXI9N
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?126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHF7iUxJr8
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHmDciTQmZ
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...126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyITvlIEO6F
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvQXon1Mmv
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfDMIPQTWq
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