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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauwFKG6ljF
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aS5tYzhOe
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6F5Y6SbFs
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhTv603Q4P
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYTUJw9awR
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5NTf2lCYh
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKWSvWJtDt
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvkAkiD5oA
"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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUSyZsxS54
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATGj695o2N
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl5QLexf1s
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSLBbv9V75
"It's okay, you need it more than me."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LkgerWTy8
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12w86DmRYu
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..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcqVFXHTkI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZclXYUAdx
"Yeah?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFawS5plMg
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMjj17xSar
"I just wanted to say-"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMu0sufHlV
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQku1sOhf3G
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzCnwR3SP4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjaUrB5Omi
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ7pnncbGe
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATDpQmdGYq
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkMS3rAMRw
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8NoWthZeu
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xl5PGwrg5
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXygsi55Mi5
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R6gnB9jjM
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurhoG669Tm
"But the water! We need that!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf35rasu4Oy
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlvauN80bZ
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cuQUCVxVt
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1X5lLnTA4
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XQEFhdS0c
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0psuI67dqJ
"Uh, I don't know." 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD6xAtzoO2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGvPt9OfEV
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IxCPP6D4o
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdbihBOZER
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpocIITUm26
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oT99FKrLy
"Beth."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVQhhF7kHH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPh9MHjCGb
"Yes?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZNYj6U5Ps
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKpvHrNUiS
"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-"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6Ibhbti37
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwmUC13LHm
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9xJkm05zh
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5Xzhsqzx1
"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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbjQd78NtJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxKNGrulgG
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41XTiyN1Np
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisXNc04JNU
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXzqB1AAmG
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW0AYwhrk7
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1kVflrR5T
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatBbGvhgef
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE42A8Se2K
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKLNOK8WEa
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVv4SsT0PT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUNqug7y7v
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkzOgaO2vk
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWszzN8nxup
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoR1FWIL3k
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDiuEijFj0
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFMa8Wg17s
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIrPb6kmfb
The others talking woke me up."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs12VBp9tQA
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dqYt8NErk
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrZpoTsgYo
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmAFuCPj0L
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAwsAHxLoQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aWtYGZt72
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiiQhiZUyI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFYfAzaNHX
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCHVUEUmlj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLryn3HMJhE
"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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl2ebkKGhz
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKmkSg66u1
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9ksIFurSF
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41LcXqUkS5
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jo7sR0J20
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS1xCfcwFJ
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwcOnG5dxQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7nNYsENdu
"Well, duh!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysFw6fJNWR
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00WdOD6KnI
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSnVqxgO1Z
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOU6p0m9hR
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsOH9fTVBw
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZglbkAfht
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTD35bp8GL
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGGBlQwhSv
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgN9kWsTCK
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zx2aBFtvt
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS97lu5Vu43
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0MXVbvtjO
"I'm glad your alive though..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6V8QwyJtN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjnBLf9CSv
"...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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWFxtZA7HT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGAqpAHMo9
"Did someone stop her?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sdK2fLTH2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrp5MOFH1u
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48Gyce0yxH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEhTXNIsx2
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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2DXGp6vQp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1zshoQ1Jg
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHmbvlau6i
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTsFBlIwwI
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGOxL13OgE
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQW3YPDHLS
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA7w0Dok4F
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw7GY3v7Bn
"Sorry."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigRm174nmH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFeFBs6gL1
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4fkSgwzN4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc8vB7GMZp
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lJETQO6bI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsOEQ3ACBx
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeii4yZzu5b
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkkgUbH36X
"Anywhere we want."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHUnkIFDS7
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡethRD2ktzI
"But where is that?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BWAQZUK9L
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqWr4P6smN
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8gRoukcIM
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttGoKyxUPJ
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3V0CCZ6AT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFht7UxMUyX
"That was hell."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAxIkcdyBN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFCy52bVKT
"It was..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlYFvnshX1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL9MUpydiP
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt8QjYjF70
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwtUhxNdgL
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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ325ZD7Zcde
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI51GTxokj
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcszcvMZUL
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLwRXwJMzp
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdhcxjjhqH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50zpEYDgu7
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWkSarK6X0
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIsfX7mGZs
"You can do anything you want, Beth."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8NMXVQhdJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdSL2SY28O
"I want to grow it out."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwCWyMkfEm
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuckzU5EF4
"Then you can grow it out."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0iAt5nvXr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4DVBTYya6
"....."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGOerkjR7x
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52KfPGPBnM
"....."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcQhcjt5Dj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzyUCJVyaJ
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx0y9ZwJji
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneVQAxPRm0
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9l7Iy3QsU
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxHLwvr37w
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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtWpSG0Nki
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjPoXfslQF
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOhFVrL7iJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL2YVm4ptO
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k5mljaq5V
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGjhvMEMBC
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xCJkFyeiV
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQN7VrtMkR
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHdG3zQJX2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEjKIi8pfB
"It's not that."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZme0RJ7mi
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3eubzjZEH
"I don't understand-"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFAtyPiwFD
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIn0ffCxlh
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt2mExZjRC
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9m7ym3uCE
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ImjVZ5xp0
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeyRYMCVCq
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv4Rc3d50d
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi4gBTNvja
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEybXVOFuLN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYYMtDuWZZ
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrtcsIrxL4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kr1EGQCos
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhCDlA4EVL
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbAdu3Mg2d
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6XtSUeOhJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dCwakYVRj
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUOAvl59i6
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0rdQWAfIS
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5CEGIdRJr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ8ZaPq6KQ
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?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlcaKaNVTF
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlVZVQfEUH
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...207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nSDmJXHB9
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWOcBPw9xf
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo8HwR46p7
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