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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ295ddkAunB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuKH9UHSMA
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4cAkuZUXg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTzrhTfCuj
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa7kE8SmbR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BHYAUAJhs
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVbNf13LLU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QzsSVsA0N
"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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdrXZWxUhH
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIA9brMP3L
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lovs14vQc
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60dpg9zJ81
"It's okay, you need it more than me."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu97QKWG1S
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkraE85IflY
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..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiQAsHIG6S
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EhQwbComj
"Yeah?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7jEg3hTK5
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3k8MuVLxw
"I just wanted to say-"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJQs5GSdnU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WgZfEVSQF
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC8fpsoJ1R
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bo0hNQ9HA
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzvWOK5yPo
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJAcOw0vjT
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGso8RMOab7
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN87XeNdtLk
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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljhGdPo1Uv
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XhzDkTlp5
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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU0PkZnRlU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjO2hicWd9
"But the water! We need that!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT0mNnSSCl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLcfK3SZKR
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd2LJtrWB9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5LEoj9Qyt
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpCDTti61T
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF0ImMHRiZ
"Uh, I don't know." 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FN56yZIk9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKGqr7i0ga
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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ5FA0wF98
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHI1TrTglX
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZPa1Mp0Tq
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdteYLqGBA
"Beth."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXRIL7MhxY
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQsSzeiDEn
"Yes?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfWhD1SpiC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNBxYBQKag
"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-"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5cU5B5f3t
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnAiD6IW8Q
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOndXxqbixD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPnrEyXZMh
"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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfD6Y7m4lu
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhzBmRwOGh
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPi2zUwNq
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSU7kHUoqG
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhmoP9CKh8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6UkX33Qjp
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rmpyz1kUR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwXGeMRrI5
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbIf0Gja5S
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjEHl3ipXK
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfmI5qqYkF
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkK7MHm6J6
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6SSpdmDt3
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZIns76M1c
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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2597h4GCOK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKB7Ke6rSd
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi8w74lsNg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0XHQSepm1
The others talking woke me up."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfmRuKfeZv
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cpEO84bvZ
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCRGsdYTaD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sz947IJsp
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyxU1l1Y8U
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZsaKbit8z
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxFgse0CC9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtKGsKx0x8
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF8uA1FQSp
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZsyrZegxx
"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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEqBfVuCSb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJqN2olRQM
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvi9xLqpcA
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexlHdvCRcZ
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgV0BUm6pX
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0z2V2JMu8
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFCBmLjlAN
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kvu670KGq
"Well, duh!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WIXInd5yU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90yGVscgjj
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MYRCXYp9O
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdmis3BGdQ
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. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNjh4vOTeM
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHxk1RNrwp
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOznUYlkah
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiznvFqAzI
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzrM57cKH7
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS0iqeVofr
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaatzSmZhe0
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG7wk4nMrA
"I'm glad your alive though..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWlxJroQYF
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQAvEjZcyP
"...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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQfM429xgQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDXOWNUF25
"Did someone stop her?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH2VVwyX6O
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO84vkvaNjZ
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQVWAcc4qM
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOyO9aWPWw
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WbLjIJIrN
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHG44tDf2E
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiPdw8U1n7
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EPkBj0AQs
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEDWbNEd9W
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrftQ5wBhJT
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre6zKxlFGs
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYOv54Bn5o
"Sorry."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrZ2XMUq0S
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawzE0ah451
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBZvqu1TOF
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgZ8DrFmWv
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhIYT6Ohra
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbqY0f9jiu
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwg4yv1rFm
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugEkmHNjsS
"Anywhere we want."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYKmOic9e5
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJodBThIxg
"But where is that?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNajtiNjj40
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XGohfEkmE
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeDsHItsbO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupwcScfpfl
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSgCReklRe
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSFSVraCRY
"That was hell."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZetBBMp9C7
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2QmhaJGN2
"It was..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGH7pjZLlg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyImvFZR8uU
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3GOiuICId
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsnCadpNUU
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2R75wpITA
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvADqlURsL
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2ZJSGTvNb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHJd3ql787
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUvRtd9y6f
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt3BLuskMJ
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd2p31t659
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYbGzJ2TNQ
"You can do anything you want, Beth."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT7ku7kEGD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVto7kqBcb
"I want to grow it out."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1g39NBAwB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrxf8HbkI8
"Then you can grow it out."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIpYN464E3
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNTZ4JUtyv
"....."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43aBb9h4la
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp5s6vl3xu
"....."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63k48SrwB9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4ZLdu1Y5b
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmyt7UNruO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNQbO6hMJz
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPW2xwtM2I
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wY10uyiNu
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrXP3jjIxI
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVA0zJpmpa
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGWjPUyhEQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV2cgWAjJa
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rdK9PnbIg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtmqF1sINn
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZEBq5UkeJ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqIhKbdvJS
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7Esinf3sb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckppysCjEJ
"It's not that."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPD9lfXEGk
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7wezFsKHp
"I don't understand-"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAIg4b94Js
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC45UcaaIUA
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlGJ1fMEbf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0gg3CynXY
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvygSsSHYp
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPobIlWq3dj
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGN4nqRvFl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYCdaqcRwU
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7jF0ATekw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSTXz5dYgo
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJkEIBFquG
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRvSBMgo9i
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtRMomUCEi
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmygBTAe1s
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5FT0b5p6O
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH31efr5hq
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGSRDOX1FE
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xX71xzKtT
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOrDbE2BCI
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt3luEuEv5
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?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSy1rPWY6u
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY30RE16nDQ
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...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7m0YhKca5
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw5ef1jKPY
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNQnLYl2ou
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