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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uZ15bSPj7
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkK3irqmtN
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSgExl5BTk
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMPnpOHhXv
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPni9SHMqLX
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv62PkBC4UB
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQNZ4M5yqa
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFsXFs1T5k
"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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8DRUzmOtW
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7RnIkXyrI
"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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGICP1yXQS
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLNkJx9X3K
"It's okay, you need it more than me."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rmXfIcL4Q
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiytDeeyFpW
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..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjFdmiouvG
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMkl2U0hxc
"Yeah?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMrlpKSdz8
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYYbuSkpFM
"I just wanted to say-"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpBH2ofew9
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO2LsGxVGm
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzcQ3XQVAU
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoFKJP6dd3
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdw4NcWsJH
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTXc9IswfD
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuuhSfzwYK
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4affAMG9R
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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyNaxHncJD
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpA7KKbR64
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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZlq6oXuMB
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Yaf1bbuL
"But the water! We need that!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvnmNBAzJi
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzbMplHYXP
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmQ7VLAc8J
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVOKUzj6XV
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEkHzXVWjL
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQKA5x4MCh
"Uh, I don't know." 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OTiK0hLJH
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IlT3NlBBt
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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRphNww0Yq
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0sR24S40F
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCcSRYtWSB
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlxszFBIPh
"Beth."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndnWXxmUFq
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KjUpfyQNb
"Yes?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzWgaCo86l
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0LSJWnDqu
"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-"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5oZcuamcl
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6GFXiBjn7
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnlOShibfM
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJIda4kIBK
"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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsURjals79
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlay6t0C8ro
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKakAbFJW41
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzNDJsS9Cf
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdlz9GAP7c
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDihvyo31N
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTRmioFz9C
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqbH7yZtGU
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVyWtddLIj
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F1EnQL8FF
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNUejkO4q2
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6If2xrahP
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0vqrErTpH
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3YXma9iP5
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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYaXEL17h7
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzNmUUQb1N
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HbKVxwEnV
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkXnWmKXNb
The others talking woke me up."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1xixh1sUo
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLLNzWa7Ra
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK18dvlb5zU
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPLGJOWA9t
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO7pcMECeZ
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF2smxWNPN
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPSdNZbUzf
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmnQ9egA68
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WnTiZ5U8r
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4D6eV152j
"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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BoWHcWpnH
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4BDmqpEnt
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9HOuGBwMg
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkn9vlBas5
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81BKHq03LI
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wY7WkG7sd
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD9AYWtfDL
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydtCk4kFTZ
"Well, duh!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAB7F4NwGS
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nl5ROcKGJ
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjP1NicMUN
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VUj3mCCBM
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. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3HguDCmVP
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTgaeiTsqY
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyVlNqFdKk
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq5EDu4rRP
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcLgYva4MP
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ8kAT2Mqe
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzfIqN3cFT
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlu5Y6L71E
"I'm glad your alive though..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S0m1CuAwm
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjgycrlTxl
"...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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHnrkxGyFl
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaWWzisVRY
"Did someone stop her?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGvtDANeA0
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2gCPf3GXg
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspXdkwMui4
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjvgMCcvf2
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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxzCYGEnQF
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE36Qd76hZE
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGZ2d5g86w
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh7oEPwyEH
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX094HfW0B
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrRr32KYTg
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiOVLElFpK
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD89EJITAS
"Sorry."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFzjtBI5Hw
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDWpQ5aerg
"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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mGkI1pEcz
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcrx4D0y6q
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7O8Ophftd
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsSJsCjPkK
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXYaCYiGwf
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75HROHoq3t
"Anywhere we want."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSxrrrktH2
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvoxPtn2dO
"But where is that?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPje4UVVxZh
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzeJtvSBlr
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaQeeA9hN8
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqbRKvEGvq
"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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcfYv6tSXc
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOEu2iepkD
"That was hell."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj4y1Db8ID
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9kIPJxrgx
"It was..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnoylnxR3e
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WF9o4y7Su
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd8syc4EJD
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUKaIx1Wtx
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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN4jbimxMN
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9MAkg8EQF
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKFMtoTghs
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkXSxtZvP6
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmMwQvQ4rT
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROxNQ5H4nD
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GBoUIRNQS
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKLdrwtzCJ
"You can do anything you want, Beth."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJtrIPWKAH
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0nBSyqqtP
"I want to grow it out."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr3Cx7YveZ
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuouLAxMrI5
"Then you can grow it out."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGacrBp7CHs
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdN20mXVXW
"....."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic3Yuh3gXw
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOPPBR9EB2
"....."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYtvylpdbP
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTSoGqsrmG
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrjczsLHvt
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVB8oLNGFFE
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ3ftdQLE2
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu6y6P3VvN
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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvCJMOYVpN
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM8dLnK5f4
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyKzusa5sb
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyfWBFfQRP
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtJw247YU9
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MjzcTvhag
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIlMVokva7
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Y1qIAfIA
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9zEveRcpa
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBZy60b0mh
"It's not that."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKUJvJPNSP
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QNhTj7Q3W
"I don't understand-"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRKo7Nffl6
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mCN79MCB7
"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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB01vAuGAYF
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJrbfceCMW
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzMbEECe6T
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8crbN7h5hw
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGsW18eRWG
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8iQgC533f
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy4oTT39bP
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjHjeKjG5G
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs5gEq6W2I
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC2QLEzrt4
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn4V9eOG15
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzcLKrbwYP
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwNmz6e0c8
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNloETwnHcb
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE432RPUeN
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBNi5qvALH
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocBoKVwBV1
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAIpKKqaDK
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?188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEWYu5e4ig
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpLPM9IXjg
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...188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86gu5iIOf6
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWBsJ0sdg4
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu12mNR9Dp
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