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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9pz3WwIWE
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2l6YYvBrd
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkRtfkWvDi
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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB9B2udtbo
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0l1Rk2Evh
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AZTNkbDlF
"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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5qTVztEqQ
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW5u52M5fS
"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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnP6DlJCBi
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHMcRT609q
"It's okay, you need it more than me."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAVj0bKEXq
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlC807vRtc
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..."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2INKSov6j
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"Yeah?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Kf9BZq9JZ
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiEhoB1fKj
"I just wanted to say-"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsFie4PJUp
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWHJa9NLK3
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFgr2R8Z2j
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexSTVVbCWj
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceJ11cFKjv
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe5Uwju5ZX
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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBodBQPoAeK
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHisSIJbFkc
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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorahYufotT
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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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP8hTjvrtz
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"But the water! We need that!"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtmf1T9Bw7
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRECWidl4w
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vgbVIjfm2
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnyTt91ONz
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtnfo9VLbe
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"Uh, I don't know." 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6NW0jez5r
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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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVP2llg3wm
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHckG2lhhRL
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0QC35xHWC
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt8WDkqBbD
"Beth."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLY9LQkiTb
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLRC1iu7sj
"Yes?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFyctluYFv
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DAGafBqLk
"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-"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwzAIXzCkg
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWdeOuQNHQ
"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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDSduX6DaR
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC557YrzO2Q
"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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutROIrEFVF
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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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu5kTvZwKK
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFn2tChkfG
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxWsLSCO2M
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"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90mK3NVXw1
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2b1Hy31Mx
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SurMO710K
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"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b4gECnwzA
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXL1bJKAeM
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY18nf2a3Jw
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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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiDrMxc5Tj
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTz8ruGyvg
"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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaV8fhkXRR
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdp0gSK49w
The others talking woke me up."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJWtB8Xp66
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFtngFA8qV
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDLsHtaKKt
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbo2zVUjZa
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuAzXgbuUm
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QsLevggjT
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNtoFJSCOJ
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"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqe1sLgdHo
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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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcWsp2quKx
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19clG6nWWi
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcsnePp1Id
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"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW43abHVHmh
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"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MX0YXFMS9
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yzonzh058
"Well, duh!"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgkJFHPucC
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ4xkm6FFw
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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. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoCJOGfR1t
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Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6adwtPHxg
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mEEGEonvA
"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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP1tF6IWG0
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNJljrvkAh
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8vdR5rPue
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv6uVGKyqb
"I'm glad your alive though..."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGp7LY1BpC
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkcil26yTE
"...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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvAQHG40DB
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnNUXmaKeI
"Did someone stop her?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWOEk9TcBy
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"Yeah, a colleague of hers."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtch6yauUuy
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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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCveZRJB46
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAmqGjNoPv
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"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hKsDeSlHt
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"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfsxwyCSjC
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3eK9CRLSo
"Sorry."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIqgixg8mF
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wefd3XxMg
"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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxeuevHUjT
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM5n7JO6o7
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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUken6a98Z
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After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo8XeyeinL
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"Anywhere we want."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfgmaeKArc
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"But where is that?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iFnvflIjG
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoilA0s55Fy
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pBOihIDhn
"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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN0727ZMxP
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzqK4HnoFX
"That was hell."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3BZaCWhsk
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"It was..."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeWkT0EP6r
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupxrvIWROU
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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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqvylHRCjR
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMVpeyPkB4
"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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQpZHO0MOr
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"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN0HsXxrXK
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1K8rrhBit
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlFUB0C75u
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuWVGdR0x5
"You can do anything you want, Beth."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD7d2jscT9
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIABjnKypoc
"I want to grow it out."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADh6oFoVfD
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOjZbZ6don
"Then you can grow it out."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7NdYX0hJ0
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRtwjDiyyd
"....."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpFZ0G4aRt
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"....."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e5fLk8UGo
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5f29m0e4v
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uI65Gu71o
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEIAhRsPBP
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"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHaDHYxSFW
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASDSSNwh1g
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisQkBnV85k
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"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiEKSelp9w
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQUkzhWGZZ
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o1WLAEKDf
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOome84TNI
"It's not that."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWozoJo2DPV
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"I don't understand-"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqWEKmfpr7
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO44RXg6tC
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGcV9pRSvz
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwmMmnSKd8
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And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyCCsNrF1v
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"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtAToiHWtE
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"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnUVE0lsUu
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAcGn2mVUo
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVCmQVPAt1
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mNyokxk9c
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"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSOvsBjWTD
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His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahyxyOwfiw
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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?204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzky7CXE3am
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EM1rqEVav
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...204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdZDmOJYts
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