Beth lies on the couch in Slate's lap, his gently brushing her hair with his fingers. "It's going to look so beatiful when you grow it out."78Please respect copyright.PENANAIERxNjHuZd
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"You think?"78Please respect copyright.PENANAk3pGsATran
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"Uh, yeah? Well, I mean, I don't want it to matter what I think. This is your hair and your life, Beth. 78Please respect copyright.PENANACfWiiBH5Ws
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The problem was none of us we're in control."78Please respect copyright.PENANAgGHXKouHDK
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"But you still remember more than I do. All of you and I actually hate that. They cut your head open to bring back what they could of the old you. And the others, it wasn't surgery, but they gave them an overdose which released some supressed memories. Not as straight to the core as surgery, but it worked. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAp02guAQCAX
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And me? I never got to have a cure, Slate." She whispers, her voice now lower.78Please respect copyright.PENANAJFWbWZjkek
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"Overdosing them on Merge wasn't a cure, Beth. It was just to-" Lips right beside her ear so the others, not their friends don't hear their conversation.78Please respect copyright.PENANAKOEWlnSigH
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"It feels like the means to an end though!" She yells, sitting up. "And it will be all yours! It will never get to be mine too!"78Please respect copyright.PENANAr2i0weVE82
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She's panting, voice raised and shaking with anger. Lyla who is beside them reading a book, Zekey snoozing in her lap, but is now awake and Gideon playing a board game with Paisley all look at Bethany, eyes wide and their mouths dropping open. "Hey, what is going on back there? I don't mean to pry, but.." Noah trails off, calling out from up the front. His driving the RV and Evelyn is in the passenger seat beside him, reading a map.78Please respect copyright.PENANAOM1TOF09xn
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On her map is a X in the middle of nowhere. No cities around, no towns, just vast land. It's a long distance away from where they are now, the X.78Please respect copyright.PENANA9YgnGA273E
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"I don't want to be stuck like this forever, Slate! Numb and depressed, I feel like I'm worthless-"78Please respect copyright.PENANAcN3mXBR7Yx
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She's just getting angrier and swipes the board game off the table, sending the pieces flying. Paisley bursts into tears and runs down to the front of the RV right into Evelyn's arms who hoists her right onto her lap despite being pregnant cause the girl weighs next to nothing. Despite them feeding them, the most they have put on in a month is 1-2kg. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAGVTxWQkPea
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The group are hungry, but struggling to eat really on account of the food giving them severe stomach pain, bloating, constipation and gas.78Please respect copyright.PENANAbMszWGKNNe
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"Bethany, what the fuck?!" Lyla yells at her, standing up while Gideon sits their gobsmacked and looks at Slate saying with his eyes, 'Do something'78Please respect copyright.PENANAaomY7zespt
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Slate looks back at him, 'Do what? Restrain her? You seriously want me to do that to the girl who was tied to the bed hundreds of times, sometimes for no reason at all by Solayo?'78Please respect copyright.PENANApov0T4t1wa
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When Lidnsey comes out of nowhere, tackling Bethany to the floor. She screams obsenties and threats at her. "Okay, I need to come up there." Noah says. "Did any of you know how to drive? Evelyn can't do it."78Please respect copyright.PENANAnMLw82QO9F
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"Uh..." Lyla trails off. "Yeah, kinda?" Gideon says. "She's your girl, Slate. You stick with her, I'll drive." Gideon says heading up the front to take over from Noah.78Please respect copyright.PENANA5Fm8wxAfV5
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Lyla walks away, heading back the bedroom with Zekey, slamming the door.78Please respect copyright.PENANAtIYnBBSQoT
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Paisley is crying still in Evelyn's arms. "You okay?" Gideon asks her, but she just buries her face further into Evenlyn who gives him an awkward expression saying nothing and looks away.78Please respect copyright.PENANA4gQbS3FZ1N
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"Let go of me! I said let go!" Bethany yells, Noah now helping Lindsey hold in her place. "So, how did this... fight start?" Noah asks. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have-" But Slate doesn't get to finish, Bethany kicking him in the leg. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAhHgo1i2qsS
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"Shit!" He groans, collapsing and then bites his lip to stop himself from saying anything further. "Okay, let's get her into the bedroom. This will be distracting to Evelyn and-" Lindsey doesn't get to finish Bethany insulting him more. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAhdQQjeKNIt
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They drag her into the bedroom, followed by Slate. "Seriously?!" Lyla says annoyed. "Then you get the fuck out. Go help your boyfriend drive the RV." Slate hisses back annoyed, Lyla leaping up and leaving.78Please respect copyright.PENANAIh53QPnNwg
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Zekey runs to the corner off the room, curling up in a ball under a small table, whimpering. "Sorry, boy." Noah says, as him and Lindsey hoist a still fighting Bethany up onto the bed. "Get off me!" She yells. "Not till you calm down!" Lindsey yells back. 78Please respect copyright.PENANANSClQl4pRu
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"Lidnsey! Yelling at her won't make her come down any faster." Noah tells him.78Please respect copyright.PENANANA3zNNhh4L
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"Oh, like you know!"78Please respect copyright.PENANAAeb8S5I2Ly
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"I do! I was a kindergarten teacher, I worked with kids! I've seen my fair share of rage fits."78Please respect copyright.PENANATa67XsC1oW
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"And this is a 18 year old girl! I've worked in corrections!"78Please respect copyright.PENANAh5wCbKQlOZ
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"I'm 28!" Bethany yells, spitting at Lindsey.78Please respect copyright.PENANAH3ZtVJBfTA
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"Did you just- Yuck!" Lidnsey says, letting go of Beth and running to the bathroom to disinfect his cheek. "We're in a zombie apocalypse! Keep your germs to yourself!"78Please respect copyright.PENANAE8GZ1B8Xgi
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Bethany relaxes now that one has let go of her. Noah relaxes his grip and helps Bethany to sit up on the bed. Slate takes a seat beside her and Noah hands them both a blanket. "Do you feel tired? Maybe you want to get some sleep?"78Please respect copyright.PENANAdSTvVOiVfz
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Bethany nods and Slate does as well when Evelyn enters. "Paisley's no longer crying. What happened?" 78Please respect copyright.PENANATDluTm4ds3
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"I'm sorry." Bethany says. "You should tell that to your friends. Look, we've been patient with your group, Slate. But you staying here, we really need you to open up.78Please respect copyright.PENANAM0FGko0o9o
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We understand someone in the wider goverment did this... and you all we're held against your will, but everyone's injuries, lack of maturity, understanding and memories... What's really going on?" Evelyn challenges.78Please respect copyright.PENANAebXVG7ABku
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Slate sighs and explains. The much older adults than our group are silent when Slate finishes explaining. "Merge?" Noah says confused.78Please respect copyright.PENANAAg1HmDZli1
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"Black market drug." Lindsey tells him. "It could have some legal uses in cases, but it was rare a court ever approved it." Evelyn adds on. 78Please respect copyright.PENANADLSktHntde
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"Bethany." Noah whispers, bending down to her level. "What you and your friends have been through was horrible, but, you're not worthless. Don't think you are less than them.78Please respect copyright.PENANAVtUAUmCraR
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While you have little to no memories at all, you still have talent for the guitar and disconjointed memories. Movie refrences, and so on."78Please respect copyright.PENANAlfkcTMGflZ
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"Using Merge to erase even the smallest things like a movie or a ad you saw is a waste of it. It's better suited to erasing core memories." Evelyn ad's on. "You still have some fragments that are a part of you. You can build off them and restablish your sense of identity."78Please respect copyright.PENANADsp326SW24
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Bethany shakes her head and then let's out a yawn. "It's okay, you get some rest. We can continue this later." She tells Bethany.78Please respect copyright.PENANAMI5JfVgny1
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And they leave, Slate remaining behind with Bethany. Outside the room and out of earshot of everyone Slate with Bethany. Also Lyla, Gideon and Paisley are up the front distracted still. "That girl needs a doctor. If we weren't stuck plunged in this zombie hell, she'd be housed in a facility." Lindsey says. "Admitted to hospital, cared for by a team who can help her. You should be nicer, Lidnsey." Noah lectures him. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAGcAt250XTH
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"She's not as well adjusted and self soothing like the others. We've seen the old cuts on her neck and wrists, her ankles. There is even some on her stomach. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAhO1wrYCujx
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What do we do if she tries to harm herself or even take her life? Us nor her friends are equipped to look after her. And her expolsive temperment, she could turn on one of us." Evelyn points out.78Please respect copyright.PENANAJxPnhiEezH
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"I don't know." Lindsey responds. "Do you want to just lock up anything sharp for now? The knives, anything breakable, medication even?" Noah says. 78Please respect copyright.PENANA6FUq32GcYf
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"Well-"78Please respect copyright.PENANAYN1WnxozRE
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"Lidnsey, also the bed sheets and so fourth. We can remove the most risky items, but she will find something. There will always be something."78Please respect copyright.PENANAEucisfvqMp
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"Them what do you suggest, Noah?!"78Please respect copyright.PENANAqP0sXIQzBu
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"We try and teach her how to cope. That in hand with the temporary removal of knives and... yeah, that's the best shot she has.78Please respect copyright.PENANAvjbVuMeVBW
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And you worked with at risk youth. Some of whom we're suicidal, self harming. Try and redirect her anger, teach her karatte or whatever it was."78Please respect copyright.PENANAwKnbgrS0CN
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"Okay..."78Please respect copyright.PENANAJmU5kMZV9T
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"So, that's the plan?" Evelyn interjects. 78Please respect copyright.PENANAInvpC0gOlU
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"Yes."78Please respect copyright.PENANAdiNpXWOj49
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"Okay..."78Please respect copyright.PENANAuUnSTARrej
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"I vote we find some belts, a scarf, rope though. If we have to hold her and tie her up for our and her safety one point, so be it. While the plan may work, what if it fails?"78Please respect copyright.PENANA23iKuQqDfr
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"I don't know, Evelyn. It would be best to bring Slate onboard. He is their leader and his the closest with Bethany. Get his input.78Please respect copyright.PENANAzxqXtZmFqT
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We won't get consent from Bethany, but his at-least maybe..."78Please respect copyright.PENANAxQd0Zd2p8Y
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"Fine. Whatever, Noah."78Please respect copyright.PENANAL80ecYuMK1
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"So it's agreed upon, final." Lindsey finishes.78Please respect copyright.PENANAVMtUl4TWOX
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