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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoJ3OOgNOW
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1vZzQ90k6
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdXw5e9Ptf
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8goQjTRJRl
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VF6ccqSTL
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UPZWvtsZ2
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjOuKNvGCz
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsODLEdIowR
"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?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIhGSxCLlK
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Lnx9OVE0
"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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEoc1T0P5N
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3TvGqGvYr
"It's okay, you need it more than me."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DBGAH1THC
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlltExKNB6v
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..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkpeHwJa9f
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSagL8V4hJq
"Yeah?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaytBL3tB3
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTtG1OGuCk
"I just wanted to say-"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wnXA3u9AS
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2LmoOU6aT
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9JoOUFoen
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9bSqFtc3X
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHDWyua4IC
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsp1PLlwg9
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaDdEtzVNO
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9mcf0jdH1
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKzW9O6pDa
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCSbaiY6Um
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzgZxgFofk
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmdTGCy4WF
"But the water! We need that!"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjswkOeuevb
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxvyG0f7vY
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYuCnV5iUW
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3N1mtL5QT
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkCJi7XqHH
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB4A2zfKWC
"Uh, I don't know." 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQRfvbdSy2
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0EvnVOTwh
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBebDtMqMgz
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLlIq7r54x
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7alBoj72V
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fPcUmXvrd
"Beth."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ641wlb0lf2
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XTSpYFUWb
"Yes?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2h8OUBXkU
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ptXkm9gcy
"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-"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGUIwzMyAv
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9YJyRUfGh
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJuDb4kzej
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3ULADlTCL
"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?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZsTE60k0m
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBiVbr914v
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskSVwaWPME
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewNrcKaUxW
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqRpO17HDO
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaVVCzBGfF
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNFpATfZqI
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i63N1g33J
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NF3C0szyS
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEgcfkVruy
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC45um68FG
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XEDlbDKA5
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUVcSYuHgR
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT0ubc3T4c
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB2qBMO0kl
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLnBpExSKI
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm8SZlWlnM
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ643M1omZ5Y
The others talking woke me up."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBY7aAlCyv
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59DpqSTp09
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIO2DmTlSe
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsmx4T1OYF
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcUDMiWcK7
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm9mB48H3l
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorhkaMr00M
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJDa3IVVkn
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfA4RgtRfo
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevwrLbY634
"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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X6Q6ruwoY
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVlVTlfD7r
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M6lNa54LB
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61Ghnj3A0T
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHVi2a6AK9
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv310i907GV
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOD4FnSlzu
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26vkZU9QLi
"Well, duh!"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwDLwinyB1
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhN5oXskoz
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmlHYlumfi
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4keH4PQVR2
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr6FQZMTzm
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSXXcamGYN
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dP8iBIMUh
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5wL0prF7k
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFMvRlkGO3
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfLFFn9kpx
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zXaq9BVfg
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY32m7jVeMy
"I'm glad your alive though..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo0FqTo32P
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6Dp7PO4UU
"...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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu55jxL0y7Z
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZCAjDX6CV
"Did someone stop her?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0BsA9haYw
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxF7Mh2GYV
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gxfSV1Ahw
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO434X5ea6q
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?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsZNQ38E9z
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc3tfTJXye
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEA3ipw3c7
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdpS2F36C
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c0iu3cBdG
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Yd64hbxGw
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00piBIH6Yp
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbH8q153WM
"Sorry."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuqD17qE4T
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh4266842W
"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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGXHhfoj2I
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGqFvp8vqz
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGnK3zhO6s
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT9SXli6vd
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOlALE4pg1
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg5wgmFda5
"Anywhere we want."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqPB85SLNP
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QnmsEWZT5
"But where is that?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQpnhZSw9e
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3VeJ8qkw8
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSe7bOLYfY
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtmhbSmELf
"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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkJ0v3PAO7
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2qX6DdVss
"That was hell."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshOfWmIV1B
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl0tAlEmdG
"It was..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4gdvPicyf
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwPeFs17dN
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZAvk22Bd1
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeZlwyiLOX
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?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV7cD2hhSh
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWy9mpus60
"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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRb7kDQSo2
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR2M29c8cd
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfgD6Hcld8
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnB9NH2C5C
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPHrAEQfeF
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvOQlSUPa4
"You can do anything you want, Beth."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLx8if4Jlk
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukFyKX9WN7
"I want to grow it out."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRYw5AAc95
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdG2NecWYx
"Then you can grow it out."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGDXnBBlsA
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMDmUbkT9B
"....."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY4SRJcjP7
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIeNMetxTM
"....."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2bJTEcCyt
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhREF3mlgF6
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PaK1iXyd6
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCo5BXKL8M
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsBQuOhmMJ
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEkKRAynOq
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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIKX2MWAuN
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqVxd4fRYV
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcoxnSTh8C
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqPCvcqlig
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX5EAzH1KH
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgcTVp8p0O
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJKgUA6g3n
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NIMr5NkSk
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLTALraPeH
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yZtBkaoAB
"It's not that."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc5F65g8qR
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26rpaM9fEq
"I don't understand-"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRwCmLgNhS
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlczz5YCzEK
"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."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6F1pFNZPt
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrgSS0Xogo
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfk5GGBjUZ
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhlgvf9qIE
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXNVfzJ9T3
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGBC6l8ihz
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEyToCcRoG
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGGnboJbV6
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1VvuHW9ZP
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTABx7CeCnQ
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjAN9JkGqN
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUXgaiU8Za
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRoMJooFBr
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ2Kjjohkq
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6xTNPgOAy
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrjco3yaYv
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuTzIQ4BOT
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYr08YjJLg
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?91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSPZTZjzBn
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNoVCpAeUH
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...91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfljiYAfQX
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJoozzcjU1
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfh3qgJHTm
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