Slate, Lyla, Gideon, Paisley and Bethany at each of their own respective tables are packing tinned food into crates, aprons and hair nets donned. 71Please respect copyright.PENANA6kNVmCP3X2
71Please respect copyright.PENANAPeMKOTAzOF
Ester is up the front, supervising them when there is a knock at the door. "Come in." Ester calls out and the person enters, Mikey. "Hey, Mikey!" She smiles, voice elevated and bubbly.71Please respect copyright.PENANAhRR3bxjyA9
71Please respect copyright.PENANArfmnPco8sN
"Can we talk outside?"71Please respect copyright.PENANARZUlZ6ikbP
71Please respect copyright.PENANAbEsIZ7Jw48
"Sure. Hey, group. I am stepping outside for just a moment to talk to Mikey. Please continue your activities and if you need anything, I'm right outside, alright?"71Please respect copyright.PENANARZmcKcB3Oh
71Please respect copyright.PENANAJHAYsqLIx9
And she leaves, no one answering her. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAZguCPt2vTg
71Please respect copyright.PENANAIpBHLT2rU5
Outside, the situation is serious. "Ester, I don't want to cause panic. But... Cloud has gone missing. Security's searching for him now as we speak and we need to talk about, you know...71Please respect copyright.PENANATqSGKlRhmh
71Please respect copyright.PENANAkc8746W63a
As unhappy as Grayson is, his on board with the plan. Should we excute it? Because with Cloud missing like he has, we're all in danger. We know what his like, yeah, we had him locked up downstairs for three years, but his always been highly resistent to any kind of medication, even Merge.71Please respect copyright.PENANAvou7JByEAt
71Please respect copyright.PENANA97VZaaKrTT
It worked too well on the ones in there, likely because their on the younger side. Cloud's a threat and he wants revenge understandably."71Please respect copyright.PENANAU67UVVvzy6
71Please respect copyright.PENANADmRWIk8dSH
"You want to finish what Slate started?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1Jx9aUhPm
71Please respect copyright.PENANAgtYbrqdEU9
"Why not? Break them out. We're all in the position to help them."71Please respect copyright.PENANAOhKDHoTV39
71Please respect copyright.PENANA6efOZDKOsX
"Even we do, we've been medicating them for years. We ruined their mind and their dependent on various drugs. They'll never survive on their own.71Please respect copyright.PENANAmdYXgN9zEY
71Please respect copyright.PENANACr93w69qOp
"You'd be suprised when faced with reality how adaptable people can be. We're not going to leave them in the lurch. We can have them make it to a safe place, and take Solayo out. He thinks we won't ever dare to kill him, but I want to. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAeHrpmVbG04
71Please respect copyright.PENANAOrCgITvyUq
We agreed to this plan, but not to hurt all the people we've hurt. We take Solayo out and then we take over. We clear the zombies out and reclaim Hope-Thorn and everyone can see the sunlight again and live as normal as reasonably possible. Plus with Cloud missing, his no doubt on the wartpath to take Solayo out. We do it first, he'll stop and just leave, we can just let him walk away from all this and we get to walk away from him."71Please respect copyright.PENANAZp4ZXmaxSU
71Please respect copyright.PENANAsim73pZGFg
"Okay, and I want a future with you so, okay. Where do we send the group in there though? They barely know eachother, if they weren't so damaged we could have Slate lead them- I have an idea."71Please respect copyright.PENANABFyCr3zhuJ
71Please respect copyright.PENANAObkDY1NJ3X
"What?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAOx466d1nR9
71Please respect copyright.PENANAO4Z7LMYEHl
"Crashback."71Please respect copyright.PENANAz57zRrzaNH
71Please respect copyright.PENANAZTKKGqA7UG
"But that won't undo the last few years of-"71Please respect copyright.PENANAbiFFQaq8TD
71Please respect copyright.PENANAOO2NqVxX1H
"It won't undo all the forgotten, internalized trauma. But we've stopped giving them Merge mostly. The only person in that room still on it is Beth and that's because Grayson's still making moves on her. That's the reason Solayo is still giving it to her because Grayson is romancing her. He may say he doesn't care, but he does care as Grayson romancing her is going to mess with her further and it's better if she doesn't have an obsessional attachment to him.71Please respect copyright.PENANAu17eeP0AHB
71Please respect copyright.PENANAa2qsHysIDo
Anyway, Slate. We have two options, we can either trigger a crashback based on spot targetting specitic deep burried memories, but that is hard to do, it takes repeated attempts, months worse and there is no guarantee it will work.71Please respect copyright.PENANAxXyX2BD32X
71Please respect copyright.PENANApwXCptQc5E
Or we go the invasive, quick option. It won't bring back his memories and the feelings attached, but we can bring back his personality and the morals he stood for somewhat."71Please respect copyright.PENANALFxzh7Qkb4
71Please respect copyright.PENANAsUoHWgVuYN
"Like his leadership skills?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAcV08FptEHd
71Please respect copyright.PENANAHieN784wBq
"Yes. He was great at dealing with people and leading them. We bring that out even though his memories and associated feelings aren't there, they stand a chance at escaping and hiding."71Please respect copyright.PENANA83r7XIOgOd
71Please respect copyright.PENANAUhwZ6wPXFW
"So how do we do that? His skills are still something that would be a spot target."71Please respect copyright.PENANA2dnb8HSGsx
71Please respect copyright.PENANA253LszgJcr
"Well, it's going to leave two holes in his head. They'll heal, but-"71Please respect copyright.PENANACdIuxVRM4o
71Please respect copyright.PENANAufgesZmAob
"Shit."71Please respect copyright.PENANAbn7udv0TDt
71Please respect copyright.PENANAT7tzYQVo3D
"Can you go get him? Bring him to my lab, I'll do the procedure. I'll meet you there, I would just need to collect the medical supplies."71Please respect copyright.PENANAxKSiv0jQMS
71Please respect copyright.PENANAjLjrpWotD9
"And what about the rest?"71Please respect copyright.PENANA3FaMdnMh7B
71Please respect copyright.PENANAh5JMkMnH8n
"They're fine, they can just keep doing their sorting task."71Please respect copyright.PENANAtmHkiqkWXR
71Please respect copyright.PENANAMtlTryp6L9
"Okay, if you're sure." Mikey heading inside to bring Slate out while Ester heads the opposite direction to a supply cupboard, not knowing she's being watched.71Please respect copyright.PENANAJObmVT6Oxz
71Please respect copyright.PENANAqGssNSti7b
---71Please respect copyright.PENANAJMlULs192E
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Slate covers his face, the light shining brightly in his face. "That hurts." He complains from the sugical chair his on.71Please respect copyright.PENANAAoyvPGbQJZ
71Please respect copyright.PENANAYEEtIDf1NO
"I'm sorry." Ester appolgizes donned in full plastic masking and everything. Mikey is beside her kitted up as well. His never asisted before in the medical procedure side of things so this is a first for him.71Please respect copyright.PENANA9Md6icyIMa
71Please respect copyright.PENANA1qXW7PLjoP
"What are you going to do to me? Why am I here? I've done nothing wrong, I've done everything you asked of me." Slate complains.71Please respect copyright.PENANA7qYEqPAIVJ
71Please respect copyright.PENANARVahH6pL3u
"You're right, you have done nothing wrong. It's us who did something wrong and I know you may never understand again, but we need a part of you back. There isn't the time for us to fill in the blanks you need right now. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAHC3PJ0bO5P
71Please respect copyright.PENANAHUyqmR4k93
Now, Slate. This is going to hurt, but I'll try and make it as painless as I possibly can for you. Please try and bare with me." She tells him, securing his arms to the chair, Mikey doing the same with his feet. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAk8TkcJIG8U
71Please respect copyright.PENANA6iVyXDbeNZ
She then brings a nose tube inserting it and hooks it over his ear, oxygen and attaches some leads, blood pressure cuff and more so she can monitor his vitals.71Please respect copyright.PENANAw3uqPab2Kz
71Please respect copyright.PENANAJSpKs0Gd7s
He looks at them, fear showing on his face. Ester preps a needle and inserts into a tube that is already in Slate's arm. 71Please respect copyright.PENANA8UNoTOueIB
71Please respect copyright.PENANA4XsGXBW6nZ
"We'll be right here with you buddy the whole time and we'll be here when you wake up." Mikey tells him, gently brushing his hair, feeling horribly guilty.71Please respect copyright.PENANALWgnxu2yDz
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnhCGTOMQ61
Slowly Slate's eyes begin to close and everything goes dark. He looks around, his someplace, but it's not a room. It's endless.71Please respect copyright.PENANAYVXkywwJw0
71Please respect copyright.PENANAvyiKXaErhV
Slowly lights and colours come through together to form a picture. The space around him looks like, well, space. Behind him is a shivery silver line, it's attached to his body, but not one specific place and it leads all the way up to a place he can't make out.71Please respect copyright.PENANAXDSH3A1ZiO
71Please respect copyright.PENANAeJIPVAXcfs
Where is he? This can't be space, he can breathe. He reaches a hand out to feel the beam connected to him, it feels light and airy, flexible.71Please respect copyright.PENANARCDB54H5hk
71Please respect copyright.PENANAoCfyt9SFFD
"I wouldn't play with that if I were you. The last person who did was severed from me."71Please respect copyright.PENANAL28OEciLrb
71Please respect copyright.PENANAa8bZq1f5Ix
Says a voice, female. "Hello?" He calls out. No reply is heard.71Please respect copyright.PENANAuBHcbxz5sx
71Please respect copyright.PENANA6e9k7UEJyu
"Why am I here? What am I supposed to do?!" He yells out fustrated. "Who am I?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAE1AOGpisbn
71Please respect copyright.PENANAxL3jXhBfgk
"Your heart knows who you are and you know what you are supposed to do."71Please respect copyright.PENANAnljlRUttd9
71Please respect copyright.PENANAklTScKDrIC
And then it hits him, Bethany. Beth, she needs him. He thinks back, he doesn't know how he got in this situation, but the Tomorrow Party are hurting them.71Please respect copyright.PENANAEjlT77NFxl
71Please respect copyright.PENANARb2PZeeWLG
His other friends need him as well, he was built for this. He can help every single one of them, he can save them all.71Please respect copyright.PENANAjgbHp1eIBR
71Please respect copyright.PENANAk1MCnKgPmB
He was a coward before, and his never going to go back to being one again, he won't let them hurt them anymore.71Please respect copyright.PENANAoSO6Isdrvu
71Please respect copyright.PENANAQFjkbcea1O
When everything comes back, everything is blurry, but he can make out colours. He feels like a computer rebooting. Wait, that doesn't make sense? He-71Please respect copyright.PENANAK52wUUuCNi
71Please respect copyright.PENANAKrrofcvEhC
And then his eyes widen, he sits up straight and looks them both in the eyes. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAv8QRjpaHb8
71Please respect copyright.PENANAfgfgLHLk9s
"Do you know who you are? Who we are?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAa9zTBQlfNA
71Please respect copyright.PENANA8kVIw09brn
"Slate. You both are the leaders, Ester and Mikey. What have you both done? You're monsters."71Please respect copyright.PENANAWHGfRScv3d
71Please respect copyright.PENANA2HsnJPWFpX
"Bought as much of you as possible, back." Ester answers, pulling the quick release knot on his restraints lettting Slate stand on his own two feet. He touches his head, feeling a bandage. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2MoZB8Rpq
71Please respect copyright.PENANATHKi7G4lVp
Mikey holds out a walkie talkie, and a gun to him with spare bullets to him. "I reprogrammed it to mine, Grayson and Ester's only. Go, round up your friends and get your stuff, Zekey and leave. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAOZD5niD87E
71Please respect copyright.PENANAJF8uJq6t73
We'll meet up with ya'll later outside. We'll run you a distraction."71Please respect copyright.PENANALY1Zu4txsB
71Please respect copyright.PENANAh8FXv0y2Hz
Slate breezes right past them leaving them behind, this is the last time his ever going to see them again. He makes it to his room, pulling on his old fighter jacket, red sunglasses and boots. Packing a bag for him and Gideon with clothes quickly, Zekey's needs, bundle of pencils and small sketchbook and high tails it out of his room, breaking the card readers on the girls room and take their bags to, their stuff packed and Beth's guitar. He can't take Zekey yet.71Please respect copyright.PENANAa6MiHiLT9D
71Please respect copyright.PENANAGeovjKtCWX
It's alot to carry, but he can handle it and just needs to hide their stuff because the longer it's on him the more inconspicious he'll look to Security. Change of plans, Mikey. They're escaping, not going with them. 71Please respect copyright.PENANA2G38RxGYj6
71Please respect copyright.PENANAoIX2Y5bnHG
He dumps their stuff outside in the wheat field through the main door that leads to the outside area he doesn't need a pass for and makes a beeline heading straight back inside to collect his friends.71Please respect copyright.PENANAvxYbVAXOYu
71Please respect copyright.PENANAr5QEe9Cq7l
As he heads back towards the sorting room, Grayson passes him, sliding something into Slate's hand. A pill jar of pills. He looks at the label, it's Merge. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAmLUr1RN5sU
71Please respect copyright.PENANAcDhUEk58nk
Take to much in a short amount of time and it makes you really sick. It can trigger a crashback as well, but who knows what memories, feelings or skills come out. The results are alot more unpredictable and dangerous.71Please respect copyright.PENANAF1p3hiztP2
71Please respect copyright.PENANABiPJo5uLmD
He heads into the sorting room, seeing a crate on it's side, tins spilling out and blood on the floor. His friends trying to clear it up.71Please respect copyright.PENANAfdAdbYubzo
71Please respect copyright.PENANAfrV5SVpF9p
Bethany's not present. "What happened?" He asks. "I don't know. She- the blonde one pulled the lid of a can and sliced her wrists and tried to cut her neck. She did it out of nowhere!" Lyla tells him.71Please respect copyright.PENANAELgaggF5HL
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnwEGQoeVhz
We ran outside for help and the guards took her away, proably to triage."71Please respect copyright.PENANAzH48rCpJKf
71Please respect copyright.PENANAMBkSYaRz3f
"Her name is Bethany. I know this is messed up right now, but mine and your stuff right now is dumped outside in the field.71Please respect copyright.PENANAYZrA8iQgVD
71Please respect copyright.PENANATHBAspXxRD
Take these and go collect it, then run for the furthest helicopter away. This will be painful, but it's going to be worth it. I'm getting us out of here."71Please respect copyright.PENANAAJXxlsLibU
71Please respect copyright.PENANAMrdWz00BOC
"What are they? You're acting weird-" Lyla begins. "Here, I'll help you do it. But I don't have much time." He responds, opening the jar and handing her a handful.71Please respect copyright.PENANAhld60wcTEx
71Please respect copyright.PENANAiLMH9ZpKMa
Enough to overdose on and trigger a crash, but not to kill them or inpair their ability to think and run. He holds the same amount out to Gideon and Paisley.71Please respect copyright.PENANA7uWxdf4Jq6
71Please respect copyright.PENANAXZH4C1Pg7a
"Why are we doing this?" Gideon asks. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAKpwTRBo2bv
71Please respect copyright.PENANAwCtKewYaMO
"You might understand once you've taken it."71Please respect copyright.PENANAjhfT7q6LkM
71Please respect copyright.PENANAxj470kpGxn
Lyla and Gideon shrug, downing them. Paisley just looks at them. "Paisley."71Please respect copyright.PENANAIAaihDgwsf
71Please respect copyright.PENANABX1AXWdk9F
"I don't need them, I'm not stupid like you all are."71Please respect copyright.PENANA736kOifBJR
71Please respect copyright.PENANACE13Y3M1mV
Slate is speechless. "Okay, your stuff is outside. Go with Gideon and Lyla to fetch Zekey and then get the bags. I'll meet you all outside, you need to head for the furthest away helictopter."71Please respect copyright.PENANA2hZ9O0NWei
71Please respect copyright.PENANAGplYWs90ss
She nods and takes Lyla and Gideon's hand, dragging them outside. It's going to take a little while for it to work. He runs in the direction of the infirmary, he needs to find Bethany before it's to late.71Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3CAaAg3SF
71Please respect copyright.PENANAOj4j26rr0s
Then he hears panic and screaming, it's hard to get past a crowd. He sees his ex-friend up ahead, Murphy.71Please respect copyright.PENANANcwPyerOyz
He roughly grips Murphy's arms pulling him back. "Woah, look at you." Murphy says, eyeing Slate up and down. 71Please respect copyright.PENANA0fzP1nzstT
71Please respect copyright.PENANAcMC1wZ3ZZT
"Don't think I don't know you fucking touched, Beth. And you also murdered Hazel and Elijah. They we're alive and then you go on a mission and they don't come back alive. You we're pissed off at me and Bethany."71Please respect copyright.PENANAVGzG7wb8un
71Please respect copyright.PENANAKwbNLCw3MD
Murphy laughs. "I don't have time for this crap and I don't know what you are playing dress up for, but someone the leaders say is a threat to us have gone missing. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAxkiTtxfr3S
71Please respect copyright.PENANAmfe6ymH4il
So fly away, Slate."71Please respect copyright.PENANAZHkLZMpvqy
71Please respect copyright.PENANAspapC8g47D
"I can't, I need to find, Beth."71Please respect copyright.PENANAQtMpZXMwsK
71Please respect copyright.PENANAWS28RHSULH
"Uh, Infirmary I think. She was dragged out of the sorting room."71Please respect copyright.PENANAUMHEecOtWy
71Please respect copyright.PENANAUf4MqP4zth
"No shit. So, how can I get down there? I need to get to Beth, I need to know she's okay. She cut herself."71Please respect copyright.PENANAZHX05xdUto
71Please respect copyright.PENANAp06myoLWOw
"Fucking psychotic bitches."71Please respect copyright.PENANA6Y3earvMmP
71Please respect copyright.PENANAaLXUrTlo9V
And Slate punches Murphy to the ground, knocking a tooth out. "You piece of shit." Murphy coughs. "You're a fucking piece of shit." Slate says back annoyed. "If you won't help me, I'll find another way there." 71Please respect copyright.PENANADFbiO9EfZ8
71Please respect copyright.PENANAKeJtOZnJFx
And he leaves, heading away from the mass of people when something or someone catches him out the corner of his eye. A young woman passes by going down a corridor that is reserved for security, her clothing non standard.71Please respect copyright.PENANAoDs5xRHr7D
71Please respect copyright.PENANA04Og8NGfuP
Slate follows behind heading down there and sees the young womam open the door and head in. He arrives in a open common room, tables and lockers. He grabbed the door last minute so it didn't close.71Please respect copyright.PENANAKdj6xAnBjH
71Please respect copyright.PENANA12EFvytAwj
With access now, he has a way around the crowd to get to the medical part of the building. Looking around cautious, he doesn't see the young woman anywhere.71Please respect copyright.PENANAiFzvCtw2Dn
71Please respect copyright.PENANArfL4BgakUo
How could she dissapear this fast? When he hears footsteps behind him. Spinning around quickly he sees nothing, but a pass lying on the ground.71Please respect copyright.PENANACh3Nbkoa0F
71Please respect copyright.PENANAzRDhjFbdI5
It's a high level one and has Cloud written on it. He picks it up, turning it over finding a sticker saying, "Not In Active Use."71Please respect copyright.PENANAFBl2gP8ozC
71Please respect copyright.PENANArvWQ1lnMj7
Cloud hates the Tomorrow Party, he doesn't want to join them. This must have been a pass for incase he did. But how did it end up here? And where did that young woman go? She looked- he can't remember what she looks like or what she was wearing. He takes the pass, using back corridors and finds his way to triage.71Please respect copyright.PENANAl1inm7u8Wt
71Please respect copyright.PENANAkAPy7QVCf3
"Uh, did Bethany come through here?" He asks a nurse hoping she won't realize isn't security.71Please respect copyright.PENANA4mankZCUAP
71Please respect copyright.PENANAta56LLk1Ne
"Bethany?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAI9T4c4KMWI
71Please respect copyright.PENANAfX3Mz2NFvN
"Short blonde hair, blue eyes, she... cut heself."71Please respect copyright.PENANAlXyJlaNe2a
"Uh, yep. She's in with a doctor now. Solayo's personal office I think."71Please respect copyright.PENANAgQYgeu16qG
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnsFCr0SvCF
"Shit."71Please respect copyright.PENANAMA1A1qSkBS
71Please respect copyright.PENANA0aMB6L4UI6
"Are you okay? You don't look so good. The bandage on your head, is it bleeding?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAydPLqP6kED
71Please respect copyright.PENANAL6gNitCs69
"I hit it, that's all. I'm fine." Slate says annoyed, pushing past her to find Solayo. He has to take the elevator down a few floors and arrives at Solayo. He peaks in the door, his friend tied down obviously, Solayo examing her injuries.71Please respect copyright.PENANATR8lg2KEVX
"You cut not that deeply on your wrists or your neck. You'll live thankfully. Why'd you do it?" He asks, taking a seat on a chair near her.71Please respect copyright.PENANACRryXqw571
71Please respect copyright.PENANARUPyHNFcKK
She squirms, not saying anything. "Uh, okay. Um, your meds don't really seem to be working for you any more." He says, checking her chart. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAiLtpbUQ0lV
71Please respect copyright.PENANAHSumyT7vL5
"We could up them, but they're already a high dose. You are just settling in again to the routine, three years downstairs was a long time... so I could just patch you up and we monitor you the next few hours, I get you a bed in psych or at-least on the main medical floor. As long as you don't do this regularly, it won't be an issue-71Please respect copyright.PENANA63FQDRbS1m
71Please respect copyright.PENANABaMtvzPt5K
"Solayo! Come in!" Solayo's walkie talkie picks up. Solayo sighs and answers while he preps a needle for Bethany. 71Please respect copyright.PENANALHH28GG2J8
71Please respect copyright.PENANAk1zK46hZiJ
"What is it Grayson? I'm kind of busy right now playing doctor."71Please respect copyright.PENANAopBh0vuKui
71Please respect copyright.PENANA3D3EoqKCQI
"You won't believe what I and Mikey just saw-"71Please respect copyright.PENANA07kygFXuxX
71Please respect copyright.PENANAn1yJv17DV2
"What?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAk55atYYVNN
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnuKePpMwyQ
"There is a bomb! Cloud NO joke rigged up a bomb."71Please respect copyright.PENANAfWAudTWbcC
71Please respect copyright.PENANAGUwvW6buHX
"Come on-"71Please respect copyright.PENANAopTFxLrmPD
71Please respect copyright.PENANA74pVsNZSC9
"We're going to evacuate everyone."71Please respect copyright.PENANALxYDWOyTtx
71Please respect copyright.PENANAD6So0NKUdd
"Grayson, we can't. This place is too large for that and there are to many people for that."71Please respect copyright.PENANAj5LDoPHhQh
71Please respect copyright.PENANAEL53KMjgXE
"But-"71Please respect copyright.PENANAxON09V0XHe
71Please respect copyright.PENANAatFMFofu79
"Grayson, just evacuate everyone we actually need. Useful or... the ones that are valuable or we have an emotional connection too..."71Please respect copyright.PENANA8j5tVHueKa
71Please respect copyright.PENANAUY4shDkOip
"You can't be serious-"71Please respect copyright.PENANA6zY09CZKDZ
71Please respect copyright.PENANABUHo4DxBVA
"It's that or everyone dies."71Please respect copyright.PENANASaOUluCv9P
71Please respect copyright.PENANApO3qIMm2QC
"Okay, we'll try." And Grayson clicks off the channel.71Please respect copyright.PENANAuwOA5Chs7d
71Please respect copyright.PENANAQUD8dez0Lu
"Just my day." Solayo mutters finishing prepping the needle and approaches Bethany. Slate's ready to run it and has to stop because Mikey radios him. He turns it down as low as he can and quickly answers, ducking down so Solayo doesn't see or hear him. 71Please respect copyright.PENANADHURSaw4Sf
71Please respect copyright.PENANAJbN2IioHlA
"Slate, are you there?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAfKqG33JZGR
71Please respect copyright.PENANAfgORyblwpW
"Cloud's rigged a bomb."71Please respect copyright.PENANAXfWBNFiNDZ
71Please respect copyright.PENANAFcSbAuWVsV
"How'd you know?!"71Please respect copyright.PENANABGH2yMqRXW
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnQC7eHbdaI
"Don't worry about it, just get whoever you can outside. Lyla, Gideon, Paisley and Zekey are already outside. I'm trying to get to Bethany right now."71Please respect copyright.PENANADXffUMueTN
71Please respect copyright.PENANAHGVYyL5Zhq
"That's the problem! They're not. People are everywhere I saw them take a detour, Ester's on her way to them now to let them out a side staff door and Grayson and me are going to pick up em. We're trying to get some of the trucks started right now, not all of Security wants to help us."71Please respect copyright.PENANAqhw02qAmtC
71Please respect copyright.PENANAoeYQqhgn30
"Whatever, you'll handle it. I have to face off with Solayo right now, Bethany's with him!"71Please respect copyright.PENANAB4tPPJkmfP
71Please respect copyright.PENANA4JYs6ewR2f
"Shit. Why?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAtB0d49IRWp
71Please respect copyright.PENANAZEEtIKXop6
But Slate turns off his radio, done. He kicks open the door, aiming the gun he was given. Solayo grasps his from the table and turns around aiming it at him. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAKIRlfHfxjY
71Please respect copyright.PENANAPu8q8xG4ON
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you get that?!"71Please respect copyright.PENANAZZUl2Y2xFA
71Please respect copyright.PENANAEal4KKs6jt
"What did you to her?! Beth!" He calls out, seeing she's not moving, drugged out. He must have sticked her. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAi7E211p7Vt
71Please respect copyright.PENANAAUWpDpQMiF
"You're diffrent. What happened to you?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAIxtH9cdJxv
71Please respect copyright.PENANAq4OyPDOiHU
"Solayo, leave while you still can. There is a bomb."71Please respect copyright.PENANAYB1Kuw5r6U
71Please respect copyright.PENANA2iIXicCwW9
"I know. Fine, you want Beth, you can have her." Solayo says annoyed and hurriedly breezing past Slate, leaving him. "That was easy." Slate breathes and then he hears the door lock behind him. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAfKaRQSxI37
71Please respect copyright.PENANAuG2vf7qKFM
"Dip shit!" He yells, pulling on it. "Solayo! Solayo, come back!" 71Please respect copyright.PENANANrLUT7czEt
71Please respect copyright.PENANAcPrvozy07h
Solayo smirks from the other side of the door through the window. "You sit nice and tight while I bring Security. I'm not leaving without Beth and her Hybridacy. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAlkt5uv0EJk
71Please respect copyright.PENANASMCYGesNAw
You on the other hand, enjoy this room. It'll be the last thing you see. You and me? We're done, I'm cutting you lose."71Please respect copyright.PENANA9O4SxLqOET
71Please respect copyright.PENANAdfmstVf0pW
And he walks away. Slate punches a hand against the door. "I hate you!" And he breaks down a bit crying. "I trusted you- I trusted you. I did everything you asked and wanted of me-"71Please respect copyright.PENANAQL44xSlsnY
71Please respect copyright.PENANA9Nv5VhQoIl
And he gags, feeling blood pour out his nose. He clutches the desk trying to steady himself, a few images hitting him. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAKrQ6h43CIa
71Please respect copyright.PENANAR3066PjC3I
Everything he gave up, everything he did for him, the long term manipulation Solayo subjected him to, the drugs. It hurts.71Please respect copyright.PENANA2clwp2UX9s
71Please respect copyright.PENANAw88n4ui9jV
And then he looks to his right seeing Beth. No, no, he can't breakdown now. He can't, she needs him. His real friends need him, they're waiting. He runs up to her, "I'm going to get you out of here, okay? If it's the last thing I do, I promise." He cries, struggling to undo the leather restraints. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAThghjZZtJa
71Please respect copyright.PENANAI8RC9MLuJS
They're not complex, but it's difficult. He manages to undo them. He looks to her scarred wrist and neck, they'll scare everyone. He reaches for a nearby roll out of bandages and wraps them, gently securing them with medical tape, pocketing the clean bandages and tape as they'll need replacing later.71Please respect copyright.PENANA9kEmzkB9Q0
71Please respect copyright.PENANAq6syb6ULEH
He lifts her up into his arms and heads to the door, Solayo's an idiot. He pulls out Cloud's pass from his pocket, tapping it and the door beeps, unlocking. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAy36xNJupen
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---71Please respect copyright.PENANAZKiTrqJTPf
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Lyla, Gideon and Paisley with Zekey are fleeing down a corrridor that is connected to another, two doors and get stuck unable to open the door, seeing the world it just outside.71Please respect copyright.PENANA2WNvZObAOR
71Please respect copyright.PENANAK5LCrPhkd0
"Shit, we'll have to go back and go around another way if we can." Gideon curses. 71Please respect copyright.PENANARdgF8h6yNa
71Please respect copyright.PENANABoGjFOaJBl
"No!" Yells out a voice and they see Ester running towards them, waving her pass. She stops just before crashing into them.71Please respect copyright.PENANAScX6Zj6ToM
71Please respect copyright.PENANAOmgSBijoQN
"I'm sorry, I don't want to alarm you. But we located Cloud, he rigged a bomb." 71Please respect copyright.PENANAJEXF7tZWWy
71Please respect copyright.PENANAWauN4q6deh
She hands them her pass. "No! What about you? You can't leave us, Mum!" Lyla cries.71Please respect copyright.PENANAsQHocQRRKe
71Please respect copyright.PENANAk5ZhtXmazA
"Lyla, it'll be okay. I promise, take my pass and get outside. I'll meet with Mikey and I'll see you all outside, okay?"71Please respect copyright.PENANA6rT2nOaeNK
71Please respect copyright.PENANAW6CesZ8EjD
"No, just come with us now." Gideon begs, pulling on her arm. She bites her lip and looks at them all. "Please." Is the only and few words out of Paisley's mouth as she rarely speaks.71Please respect copyright.PENANAqAP8Zv2504
71Please respect copyright.PENANACS3Jm2vgEq
"Okay." Ester tells them. "But rug up first, please. It's really cold outside, Lyla." She says, pulling off her coat and beanie, handing them to Lyla, making sure they fit and are done up.71Please respect copyright.PENANA8hxI8MDhzN
71Please respect copyright.PENANAExaTUJd3Rs
"Okay, let's go-" She smiles heading to the door when there is a blood splatter spraying out of Ester's forehead, her expression going blank and she falls to the floor, a metal bullet casing hitting the floor.71Please respect copyright.PENANAuPmx9AnugI
71Please respect copyright.PENANAYp6USAeNMO
Lyla lets out a scream and has to cup her own mouth. Standing there behind Ester just down the hall, holding a gun is Cloud, expression cold. He doesn't anything.71Please respect copyright.PENANA95EboDYFZ0
"You monster!" Gideon yells at him. "We we're nice to you and you do this to a good person?! Ester was a good doctor! She was one of the good ones!"71Please respect copyright.PENANAWDXPyy2FeL
71Please respect copyright.PENANAwoF9oNUoBd
"And maybe that's why you're not dead. Consider yourself lucky." Cloud speaks up and turns around leaving.71Please respect copyright.PENANAmnSVM38Tk2
71Please respect copyright.PENANA2XqtHNwYDO
"Mum." Lyla cries, hugging Ester's dead body. "Lyla, I'm sorry. But we have to go. His going to pick of each of the leaders one by one. We have to get out now, there is still a bomb." Gideon tells her, picking up his blood splattered friend, carrying her outside despite her protests as Paisley is given the pass swiping which sets off an alarm as this is a fire exit, she's carrying Zekey's cage. They all run for the furtherest helictopter, snagging their stuff and Slate and Beth's on the way with great difficulty.71Please respect copyright.PENANAiAfMj5QXkQ
71Please respect copyright.PENANA3HLGyiRQoB
As they jump into the backseat, they see trucks everywhere driving around madly.71Please respect copyright.PENANAJTTt8mTbjy
71Please respect copyright.PENANAVlbHEqTfRd
"Come on, Slate." Gideon breathes as he tries to comfort Lyla while Paisley sits there neutral, just holding Zekey's cage in her lap.71Please respect copyright.PENANAIgxfOiUZNz
71Please respect copyright.PENANAFA78NSkVK4
Slate makes it a corridor and stumbles tripping over Ester's body as he doesn't mean to, dropping himself and Beth to the floor. He gasps, looking over his shoulder. "Ester?" He whispers seeing her lying there, shocked expression and bleeding out even though she's already dead.71Please respect copyright.PENANALRvPcAIjGL
He has no choice, but to pull himself together and get up, picking a sedated Beth back up. He does so and runs, not noticing the bottle of pills that fell out of his pocket and his left behind.71Please respect copyright.PENANAcsFMMCoPeA
71Please respect copyright.PENANAcltelBlb1s
He swipes the pass and runs out the door, the alarm triggering. It's a long run, but he pushes himself after seeing their stuff isn't in the field. 71Please respect copyright.PENANACHMfsr0q2J
71Please respect copyright.PENANAE7iP7uxy7D
He makes it to the furthest helicopter seeing his friends are inside. He pulls open the pilot door and jumps inside, placing Beth down quickily in the passengar seat, securing her seatbelt and then his own. He grabs the keys from where all keys are kept in each helicopter and pulls his door shut.71Please respect copyright.PENANAWbGn6XQEMo
"How we feeling everybody?" He asks as he starts up the helicopter, blades rotating.71Please respect copyright.PENANAd1abMRmHE4
"Really foggy and weird. Our noses bled, the pills you gave us... we remember certain stuff. Not all of it... Slate, what'd they do to us? How long has it been?" Lyla asks, voice shaking.71Please respect copyright.PENANANGSeAaPLgC
71Please respect copyright.PENANAnDYIZqEzP3
"Three years."71Please respect copyright.PENANAXXZ9Qsx3Hu
71Please respect copyright.PENANAiOjdhEIeey
"What?!" Gideon yells while Paisley just looks disinterested, daydreaming out the window. The helicopter slowly takes off, ascending to the sky.71Please respect copyright.PENANA1uTV4WphDA
71Please respect copyright.PENANAis81MdeCRI
This is going to be difficult, he hasn't done this in a long time. They are just before the neck of this place going up when Slate's radio comes to life.71Please respect copyright.PENANARB8WhXANEK
"Slate! What are you doing?! There are easier ways, we have a truck-" Mikey calls out.71Please respect copyright.PENANAJBvOYWuR81
71Please respect copyright.PENANAKbyfZbUYH8
Slate quickly grasps it, switching it off and opens a window as they aren't to high up yet, tossing it and then slams it closed.71Please respect copyright.PENANAjcBh782h9Z
71Please respect copyright.PENANAZbDJJ8Dotf
He looks to his friends smiling and they smile back, except Paisley. He then continues their ascent and their eyes all light up seeing the beautiful world they forgot and the sunlight. Though it looks very empty, no people and in the distance, the dead remains of Hope-Thorn.71Please respect copyright.PENANAUVeqPw6MSW
71Please respect copyright.PENANAgGi4XkyG0H
"Where are we goanna go?" Lyla asks. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAILm1Wjk5UL
71Please respect copyright.PENANAeMDqYqwQ94
"Anywhere WE want." Slate responds, pushing the helicopter forward and they fly off into the sun. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAdmCXxrNcAN
71Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1HjRaez3m
Down below, several trucks park outside far away enough from The Compound which is located inside an old mine.71Please respect copyright.PENANAgcQL21UJbz
71Please respect copyright.PENANAN5ag2MUXsP
Grayson and Mikey each jump out of their respective trucks, they weren't able to save many people. In Mikey's passengar seat lies Ester's dead body, a blanket over her.71Please respect copyright.PENANARuBk2TX9t4
71Please respect copyright.PENANA0y36mqDNrS
He didn't know what to do and he had been yet to tell Gray. "They're gone?" Grayson speaks up, watching Slate fly away. "Let them go, if they don't want to stay, they don't have to-"71Please respect copyright.PENANAz1Rjm7PcZR
71Please respect copyright.PENANAmmqFkW8LBr
But his cut off by hearing the place behind them explode, rocking everything. They get ready to proceed further away when someone comes stumbling out of the ruins, thankfully the others they rescued can't see as they're all gossiping and so fourth. Grayson adds a silencer quickly to his gun and aims it, standing in Solayo's road, Mikey beside him for support. "Do it." Mikey tells him. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAhdpdLGxSnx
71Please respect copyright.PENANAYn2KMc0lGP
Before Solayo can say a word, it's a headshot and his knocked down. "Better now, buddy?" Mikey asks.71Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5aL9DetTu
71Please respect copyright.PENANAmd1sNDeJxh
"Yes. Let's get out of here, find a place to set up. We might be able to cure a section of Hope-Thorn. We don't have the numbers we need to clean the whole place out."71Please respect copyright.PENANAcEwVnMTBns
71Please respect copyright.PENANAebAUq5yjrd
"We'll try." And our remaining leaders still alive walk back to their trucks when they hear the sound of an engine coming towards them and they have to dive out the way, shrieks heard from the back of their trucks as bullets hit the side, the driver of an upcoming motorbike with not so good aim now. He huffs and drive onwards up the road into the distance never to be seen again.71Please respect copyright.PENANA8FJJxFCI18
71Please respect copyright.PENANAZNnZsfEfEn
Grayson and Mikey compose themselves, standing up now that Cloud is gone. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAIaH9aTTOEX
71Please respect copyright.PENANA2MDxFyj3Pr
"Where you think he goanna go?"71Please respect copyright.PENANA5YmRUp0caB
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"Don't know. Sarah's dead, but his ex-wife still might be out there alive. Maybe to find her?" Mikey responds.71Please respect copyright.PENANA0E7wUGeD2I
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The sun is setting, the world getting hazy. "We really need to find a place to land for the night." Slate speaks up. "Gideon, can you reach for the map?"71Please respect copyright.PENANAfVASbWWyit
71Please respect copyright.PENANAyfnNaRTaL9
Gideon reaches his hand out to grasp the map when she beats him to it, waking up and opens the map, struggling to focus on it. "It's okay, Beth. Let Gid have it." He tells her as she's stirring, waking up. 71Please respect copyright.PENANAnQLtBVAimm
71Please respect copyright.PENANA6oRkJaJPfE
Gideon takes the map from her when she gasps for air, panicking and sitting upright, clutching her neck and arms.71Please respect copyright.PENANAGmkDaurDQ0
"You're okay, I bandaged them for you." He tells her and she relaxes, looking around confused where they are. 71Please respect copyright.PENANA83ZxNGfqit
71Please respect copyright.PENANAskTFiNnFwb
"You might want to give her one of the pills, Slate." Gideon tells him.71Please respect copyright.PENANAeroNWQogLV
71Please respect copyright.PENANAVctb7hwY20
"Oh, yeah." He responds, thumbling in his pocket, but the only thing there is his secret folded up note... and the clean roll of bandages he stole.71Please respect copyright.PENANAUkSm5PuRj9
71Please respect copyright.PENANA1P6IqyLumS
"Bad news, they're gone, Gid."71Please respect copyright.PENANAGD215km5U6
71Please respect copyright.PENANABThi5ztt3V
"Well, this is going to be a problem." He responds, everyone looking to a hazy confused Beth in the passengar seat who remembers nothing, not even a hint of something. 71Please respect copyright.PENANADlnZGRsxlA
71Please respect copyright.PENANAeB2rSfGxfs
They could try and trigger a crashback without reversal drugs or surgery, but it won't be easy. Beth turns over in her seat, facing the opposite direction. 71Please respect copyright.PENANABXzBUZeR94
71Please respect copyright.PENANAVZjVUslhCl
Oblivious as Gideon and Lyla are reading the map to him, Paisley reaches out a small hand to Beth down the other side of the seat. She reaches for it and closes her eyes, falling back to sleep.71Please respect copyright.PENANAnDbVLnb3m8