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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c8NU7TJjt
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dhuVifT4W
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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVC5sFr216
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMha5kw86c
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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LtsZuE2B2
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjFSbh8XD
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhwVxFeyjI
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoxsf9Je8Z
"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?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62i2SWk8aH
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksG0phwaBo
"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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIE0Stj5O8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15QLFgRgNc
"It's okay, you need it more than me."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHzXSBhkKg
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuNC2WsTk3
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..."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7UwJwBOCP
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"Yeah?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItcKaGvqO0
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgJBhJc2iL
"I just wanted to say-"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzl6DfHQwd
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLj22AcyZQ
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSyxnFhWJf
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdJ5jTpuiI
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu1ax7IdnA
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbpNQlG2vU
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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREJuAq7qZx
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDu4ZGXdcH
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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq015aq6Gt8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUQajLO5Zt
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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuRbn7X50K
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHREspwNTg
"But the water! We need that!"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXelJdrnSI
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcRZ4I4Rc0
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcNSnzRMWc
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq6xYlGLmc
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRxQtNo7PH
"Uh, I don't know." 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEe9Pn21y8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNcHnKt8oA
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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4qPq8xK33
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhton3EUPu
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bt35DyOma
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8hoVpkAvJ
"Beth."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJthkAAPtk
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF9lxnpq78
"Yes?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxTc9jcD5i
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsEXigkSV2
"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-"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNzNURA9fs
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdzk2Cc1ga
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDc1lpedR2
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKubeuvjpJ
"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?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcfWT45jYU
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwKFqTHuU5
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHAhQlx6N4
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ3bl4gYs5
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxJpXTPr8y
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcrVMStukM
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco16gKgjMz
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44spB9GDV7
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKiGMMvKv4
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD6nYmGU2t
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIDV7TNYol
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxc1kpslxl
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2aT3x01yX
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwbvAmIe03
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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsiYNOwcpn
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp1LEAnigr
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FVd0J9ZEs
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8CWGNMYxV
The others talking woke me up."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSuAEIfurN
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRZW6JRZBo
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ52w3me5G
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUpFybPEXx
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR8eO8SqG7
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo03iZAsOhd
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0iijK00RZ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xrMpQbtx3
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44IyDDaSED
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tWT9AP3SB
"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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO5CVipYOp
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGOOWtkGPQ
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1QgqIqQMz
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR57JPiFrx
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BKcn0Jb2V
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIokQ0wxzp
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSYhJ85cAS
"Well, duh!"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvFzPYxyCG
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l7sEEaxgq
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraQylSZCFk
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWA1wHtrzs
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. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7CSamu7SD
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtPcdfKZGa
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQFtDe6jMu
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpFPtCzS5N
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43btuJbcPQ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuym7Nyb7W3
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHSESzXVU0
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjJg989zTX
"I'm glad your alive though..."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkahCg0Eqq
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cLOAEFzNo
"...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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjajDni9jP
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSUhRMDoqh
"Did someone stop her?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS00zWE0Tw
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIWWOdC0GB
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yX4Y4v4vM
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJgMcirSQW
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?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FM2bxrimC
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbMN3sKeh6
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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurmu6QfMIp
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01aiu9qI3K
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaIw9DeE6q
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zqz6EdBRy
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1tcMbHS6Y
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs7hg8emTK
"Sorry."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uqc1Vs0qg
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyBox8If0G
"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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtNw7MetkI
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAdaNBaNph
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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOiQPnZBRm
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmmQ52kpcV
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxyyfcaQG6
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxDx3cKneQ
"Anywhere we want."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYhFSD16OI
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"But where is that?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJOanQxrnC
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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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYcti2x3bx
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzRk8XzJm5
"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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOllMliAoL
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZHauZFA3n
"That was hell."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUCDAxIJ0y
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6QQgFhexp
"It was..."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXMD18Mn4x
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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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDruge8LHc
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer8ktHb6bK
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?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETCMed0LIp
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIUlvZ5IPv
"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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon9Gm6Hl03
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bLoaNZvEj
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhumzNcFNbx
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfGbnGOKqh
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhifhkMgDEc
"You can do anything you want, Beth."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A9ViWQ9ga
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRatAqo4XM5
"I want to grow it out."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflU6sM5ggI
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepzAKUgnM0
"Then you can grow it out."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRe939QITR
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"....."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3lz2UzoC2
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"....."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAUFnIzvI8
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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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQgsB5Ffs4
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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.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9avdJBQSZ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH2eW5oVtd
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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun4FJ8BHGX
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI6EAZ4xso
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajq9BFnjx2
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRWHGoIlUm
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEgtF65n2k
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"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0x92bryVA
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWhk1ukKMH
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWQ9KcvO3r
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIxEPBPAtf
"It's not that."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzPOLcJZU1
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LW3P8AyOe
"I don't understand-"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBTl69Z9d1
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhjslvWU9j
"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."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxgCz62eIb
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24HeviLYtl
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08IriLiTAx
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWETMULZTAC
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrgwza9vav
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvn2Jxmdjw
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXqujHgJHW
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDdw2AT0GW
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXUkI3nrt3
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZxV324vjn
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqlcY9PSSQ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr6EGMdSNB
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1aK8wvXKV
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8ycgmByCb
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu64pJjNCy7
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndRmEYQRBy
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNIYvWApby
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?97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMS0fiwN2a
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsD5vGdmmM
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...97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9beLbWWrSe
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz7r9NsOgC
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpyvTJcMy5
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