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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EYey6AiOM
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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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05FGJHAoFs
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZORrNcdCC
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWKXMuNsjJ
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPo2lB3LRf
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva0l7Co7ii
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fvmmWwPiV
"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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoolcUalWP0
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wnx0eljsL
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzqnVKSjnK
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GSKaOAn1n
"It's okay, you need it more than me."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rlPIH6ciy
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleS6PnWsTY
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..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodmCWioAG7
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmabmnMPcr
"Yeah?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh2S2Mgi0D
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuFbIMjkbB
"I just wanted to say-"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODpnPbPTwZ
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bf5d2Hrip
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq6BoXBvsD
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdeoiuIcPM
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIGbdLtv0H
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUSXqavNkW
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi2jdui4M8
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4rLEo9nUX
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTsfCoAoBo
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduNAbAtMh4
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVHR2oXz7e
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziRCYSvZWx
"But the water! We need that!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dbyE08UnM
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUPzH0xgLb
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu3qltE5WT
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzOHwG1sKf
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7I54kfthS
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0GSMEl9X8
"Uh, I don't know." 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnYKjO9vEc
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMCeQ9NTWG
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri1XjyIy9v
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLK8ZWgnKv
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzOdcGwsMh
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL0Dar0dZC
"Beth."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHysFjxMZII
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0IB18BHJF
"Yes?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlTXxh2mpA
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4eV8lC3fr
"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-"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1sLMwRXWf
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGWLPgnvyR
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vl3bVHhCM
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQhp80kc8U
"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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbwAnwlQSv
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8VfIaGP2K
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChKhJAPrOc
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwXUJgOUdz
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nGZtHaQb4
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqcJQwFeDu
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFwCsHGnsN
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH7OPeeU5i
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXNMS7pCFw
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQklYGFCvZ
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTkpYwTkjg
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBMXyuTphL
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9GcGUWt9L
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApS1qwl7iR
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYATSf3PGD
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48RhtV3xQK
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhmsZV8wHz
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGAQuE7Cl6
The others talking woke me up."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydjq234r2T
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRaKEXlSks
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFKW3IJzaB
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJCF6YhSSg
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB61DbA1Gr
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHhhwz8OnG
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5G2yd5Rjb
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzqD4hb1eZ
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJbaJaTVMs
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEELUVROtH9
"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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatNWnKPV2c
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi2iqB0LnA
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ4hylWOKl
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTJxi3VvKo
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQWG36iusX
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qBuf3j0Ei
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovdzdfIIPr
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdYnMneGNo
"Well, duh!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7gcsbROtf
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFxh5XjaOF
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VZ6j99vYt
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vcX7TYsug
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRTnI53dKv
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmyMLU50Ke
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79ObuXQK2V
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS08duirW3s
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGacUDvSdF
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9EznWQKYq
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUqAeSjFL0
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCLHCSbHJX
"I'm glad your alive though..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvB8jC6EuE
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80240L0PRZ
"...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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IPlBGQHGb
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBv9a8eTIG
"Did someone stop her?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMUPsK07Xx
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGp0ke0y1x
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs5btfJliu
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIZgSfTJwq
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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh7FvI0KXH
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff389H14Ko
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNqPIf1YAh
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxQDQYwl5E
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKF8UqROp0
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk2B29oLL7
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue2z1uchwb
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABlLvmQUvN
"Sorry."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7iZ7hdJHd
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD3umnEGbE
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNdNlMD2gC
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxhHZRXty9
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK34Baaevs
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFutSX2fHn4
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWUm382ij6
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PIBINVkf0
"Anywhere we want."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5JFb4AhyS
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Px0E4KfT8
"But where is that?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SKNzYh2rW
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6dGw6NJ8P
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqkqlNPaN5
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqShOIiTWqI
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8IsMa7anf
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgciVUUVw22
"That was hell."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM99DnFzMT
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJimF4cUBBY
"It was..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGAbrax5ha
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqGvYKrBR6
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcxIfszi7y
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE4TXYoAKr
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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87JQxJwo0i
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYbJ6rurVF
"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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUErGNAKOl
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOFfDmxQnl
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZSYUNqc7R
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqVHbne4xS
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBUXmB1X8X
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1OxNEHHej
"You can do anything you want, Beth."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6NPDtbF3i
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUVGAeckGB
"I want to grow it out."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ1PiyiXXA
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmdZ3flUWh
"Then you can grow it out."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4t5vkamK4
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPAd4cLLiv
"....."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU99UcZaFL7
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"....."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdooh0lQtQ
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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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ESlZ1dz1N
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8icapXNNu1
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqtfG6u9AW
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R9YdolfRB
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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J4ftVu0Cg
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3bMiybx4t
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dtykMbJ9X
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjU3wCIakb
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIqrzjcW84
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhwpc79Jb1
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgu939bhnD
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwdbjX1sm7
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf7Ue8yf67
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtcVV0hzaO
"It's not that."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOAIPIF2Nb
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lBmNqBfqt
"I don't understand-"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0a0R8RCiMr
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMS7syDYwO
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKgkxke0KF
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErbQdinOdC
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJIz7DT6gX
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkMjuxTIbg
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJveqH5cjUk
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0V9lyeCCL
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKZyOuo4D0
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkPe3EPZcx
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpLi4gf9QQ
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8II2bEigO
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBaeXd1U5t
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxBRRSXkL8
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOq7sM8nNu
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfj2xKdB1E
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0XGkUdTtZ
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwghOLc1PZ
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRJfH2LiPK
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECSq0u0nLW
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?206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ4IlJ5spS
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gzo5uhMUz
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...206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm5cziyQ5I
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIQrClZkE8
206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKsA0fBkrD
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