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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5BfVfUu5f
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuh0Xm51uQ
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULDzH6B85B
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqFCx4DzDz
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"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?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFJX21zPCb
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr9C1GPROu
"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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXVAy2p5Up
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"It's okay, you need it more than me."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrbowSnnal
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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..."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhzkXX8nny
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"Yeah?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQbh7oM5zD
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"I just wanted to say-"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGMZSTVd8p
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"Thank you for leading us, saving us."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRFgNr8fHN
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70jJ8E8MBF
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqE8uEIWvw
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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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rRaTrI5aZ
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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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5BcnJrr7V
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"But the water! We need that!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcyRoS44si
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"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JmvOAoanJ
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"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fQ4dulBNE
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"Uh, I don't know." 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEXRG522kZ
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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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu0ctWJ5Qw
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But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2X8ZzmFrY
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"Beth."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWZ9oFs6Ay
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"Yes?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnrsh0rtSn
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"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-"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fjfQ4215n
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QUZ78qb8s
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"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?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWzS5hMCUQ
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He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO03cpdZnK
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"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaew0usbpEZ
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"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPlyh1NMxS
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"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiajkvbqxeu
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"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK1XykPmXS
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"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvkCs52gO5
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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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxYpb9Tj2c
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U3PSDDWkP
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The others talking woke me up."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnABPeILiP
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"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1JiH2nApA
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"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuISE1jd6n
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He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D0mkMSRAX
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"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDwFGCKliw
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"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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCi990zJhD
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Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNFwmgUL8P
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFVxbFkq4h
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl6joYJOdk
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"Well, duh!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogJxH7YuCu
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHRbZ0rrZs
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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. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8F6Tu6DuV
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSMJx0tXAm
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9anvKncu8
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsWkJZzJsu
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcWk98LxnI
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7bAapOfeP
"I'm glad your alive though..."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVunUXGYH3Z
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ7IMzGNCu
"...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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY6D5RkXZ2
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"Did someone stop her?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf0dooDG5V
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy53IeZiaa
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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?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEeiDKVGdw
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwnZRKD1SK
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvMJEmyLKv
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLbhWthDWO
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"Sorry."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqEW5KgyfJ
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"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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb8LyQoLix
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0Ab0cLLV3
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV6I8T1ipP
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"Anywhere we want."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbguSwSP00
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"But where is that?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCjciWIz7H
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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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuJFSkReRe
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"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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8wwZYQuje
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"That was hell."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPR5mh03z7
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"It was..."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz2hB9uaiV
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ425g1gxPIl
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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?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡome4aOy0NP
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"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJQgenf8wJ
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwdvqCeZVa
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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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPuBWtZroe
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"You can do anything you want, Beth."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hiCje7rX6
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"I want to grow it out."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWnvS0ieDO
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"Then you can grow it out."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnplOuQNtA
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"....."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nzsFkzc7A
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"....."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMHFNM7JAV
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YnnT89zX9
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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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswlzw0xw78
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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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEIXAZVpYX
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"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB6STdYInN
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He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmIyvoPshW
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"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFX8DsFdo7
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpCyPByJuI
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDB5ni2huZ
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"It's not that."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wftIFLRBl
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"I don't understand-"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknsF88M7PD
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"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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Y8Moi6VH
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"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzhLhY7Xpv
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And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRExsrMWAvr
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ftyundVbH
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"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOxB34ihR5
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"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmXX9QIy46
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"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrowKePQT
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDk9AZzPAq
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6aOsjpZSB
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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?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb99Q0aa6N
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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...123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ko3UBUSc
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