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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qji8CXam5
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg4MOgManh
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbN25EMBzA
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1hDQls27N
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JYEEVJq0O
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmozYbLb2WS
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqpKmYgoIu
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdUq8EZCq2
"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?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XaKUL9cl6
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkim17kQMV
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf7jwPtfaT
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbid5iGCmM
"It's okay, you need it more than me."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRUyYEx9jU
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbf0PNsQeI
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..."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0nqhARNyd
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaqd0xXFqo
"Yeah?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa95tO1ih1G
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jofjBGQyU
"I just wanted to say-"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfYXWjpwtu
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP9iPQepUr
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2aP0o7O8V
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTpYP85WCP
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1cRgPWBJO
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabMt2F5CEZ
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5grpqYpCh
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF819D7hmcO
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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJZH520szC
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1ixUzVx1x
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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqVZPUphnN
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrdlMbouxH
"But the water! We need that!"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vvuetXjPI
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKoQcRU1fT
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyh1dAOVR4
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYFYpZrzgz
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEhcbSofmQ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSa27PTZbl
"Uh, I don't know." 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCscUxY6WT
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsikWLeeKx
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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQLkwlARYy
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3peUIDnUgh
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPj1fLeBmM
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAzaTCEG9d
"Beth."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN8gqBQYE4
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkajAGwiPt8
"Yes?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpBtaaRWD5
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W8oyUJHBE
"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-"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVaqZFuRwn
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y4VAexREp
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH9HqwCoOq
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID5jz5C9h4
"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?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrFSxST6II
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwp5x4kMHB
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e84QcZVpm
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OyjRUoewE
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYFWTdckcr
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL9ichKHdx
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOZPsIqMDv
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGfyLBwtMI
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdvjev0E9l
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKUcna2hsN
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQNwoVdNQX
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoUbw1FuQO
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vM2Kos8lq
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGX23iX0sm
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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlpH03kBmS
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLlb4FgeI2
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLPDNzHkS4
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrXReGh5H9
The others talking woke me up."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡootfSGApaM
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCiCMXDmbm
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE5CVn5WfK
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4d2BiiFaB
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxbs0dMExD
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uXA8PIouD
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1zDdABZ3Z
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnytGmdL4t
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWmR0kb3ao
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXswJ0IePl0
"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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMbKLFt2oG
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zZuDLJt76
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWVLlB0MaX
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYBW1BcwJh
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwxitNZkmj
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxTsxXRqyh
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7nxkk2DsJ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jNgUsxbUK
"Well, duh!"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciSwWsXtLn
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4hn6wNItZ
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp5MYJYOYT
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmaCatFptv
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. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1ZR0HW5ky
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq74x1ehoF
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEURYZnpNa
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqu8atY66D
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdAgzde7Rr
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8agj5bXwY
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdMyeyknP3
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs8Vj9vgQB
"I'm glad your alive though..."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxlo9Gq9Jx
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmkzaGqev7
"...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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UMuN2lwO7
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE1A95vxFJ
"Did someone stop her?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOtO4Qwktc
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGmh1JF5KR
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2wu2cPjKX
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiT8ughERF
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?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhX2s4pTih
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiweF5wHQEN
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2zI0Pa7vQ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKM4a6NKZY
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD2j0K1nRS
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRlodmXZQt
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwzNnBfc6j
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGJUbTbeZI
"Sorry."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvab9lGBNVO
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9CFhn6sIY
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdkxofyeqH
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLJw67jSai
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtXL4PJG9W
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNXUu2ydte
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI7toafzIJ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZIIY4ci8F
"Anywhere we want."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2s8IALPXk
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJncdUssNR
"But where is that?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36eZpgNtDB
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KaeVRDkUw
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8hZAwXcgd
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneq5DZ5F99
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNBYTowZoz
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgYjSd4BJo
"That was hell."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZXX5bAUQp
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpaAQhDUTf
"It was..."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpBBmPjvRN
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7CrRrul3
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28BXAFPmez
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLobVtrcbeu
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?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLjdJ3XXZh
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX3kFGMuQG
"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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ921q0gXwwl
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEiMj479uk
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2MNTTZ5Hd
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4PMKn79ye
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOjBR69NMY
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaGLxCdNK0
"You can do anything you want, Beth."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0gpeyRnMv
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrdFO2nioq
"I want to grow it out."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHyqL9JLbE
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxuv94QDWF
"Then you can grow it out."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z3PcNYcEe
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUThv0MAQMK
"....."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxNldwx7d6
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3apjDKT2U
"....."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1R7neXR6Q
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePpstLMdTc
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzlryhnaaU
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8c1lBfTrz
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx6W1bUWZb
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP9MdtLJcF
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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsllKwLc8m
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoItR4YuE30
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J5JyHoPyF
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoBIN0KcIQ
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCoZuWHgZI
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszzdU68YPM
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkSQUtcA6Q
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPpUSYaAnZ
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY3wdZFj0G
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaxzzm6hfR
"It's not that."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mvTFTVKMV
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljdcAbrQp0
"I don't understand-"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVongSDUr9
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nRYuHUN6L
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MrC283h0X
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotfxtvfd3S
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXijNinnJx
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW7RTcEhS1
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckXifnZPpj
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJRnW59wSz
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN6t0OhekQ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVfWLuDrND
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7lt04OzyF
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SvpQCinPL
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPE7BO6g4h
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR8mRsPLQZ
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmVvRkm6Px
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe5DtK031Y
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzXDQXZGSl
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxhsRb7uvX
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVA06bcbfv
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxfrjswmrU
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?187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeC1ZDoIWI
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDG8kiioQr
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...187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZhJKaV6aG
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTjVGNXx02
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJRhv0UubF
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