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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHCvB18DGT
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuTESiR0yb
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEe1IJKySh
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSCjne1R7y
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tayWvvU2b
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0blHyiFN6a
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkl8BbfFyt
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqaF7Az9rw
"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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYarue4jaT
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg7XlyHyig
"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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP7JXzuN6y
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MubODMRRi
"It's okay, you need it more than me."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskw0x24ODF
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUvMSgl9K0
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..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhKBq3ASf4
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbAMvcmsCi
"Yeah?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph9a55B6EG
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xM2EkNOvA
"I just wanted to say-"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEozRQqnfe
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaGmtQgThb
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI0acolgsv
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1igYZrojB
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzvgetcoWX
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfgi7avkkr
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpEpqAa39R
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdZ7reHYbf
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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryvERo3uVH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM9dCesh0j
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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4r8RkpeCa
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxlUf8dSd3
"But the water! We need that!"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeRixDS2J5
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvQF94Jbj3
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HakNqHO9A
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHqeCOkc13
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aCE05xGs1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeQgUzePMK
"Uh, I don't know." 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHFxIlTj6w
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswuTrSzsV2
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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4HQ7EmCaw
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePZO5gyPAq
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfHgak33CI
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1FDMZV3nZ
"Beth."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qvLAgUwW4
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi3RmcCUSQ
"Yes?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ64GO1bU8
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFsYsx0JQb
"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-"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltra6XPzC5
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQkpcARHEr
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdu3YvokEn
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YdivNNgA5
"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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9dZVk5s8N
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEfwTKP6lm
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTz3ndy5Mq
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYASp8KXezD
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b7i6Zj9In
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vKKBCzgsT
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX9NPoYFJs
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLSKmnvDuB
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN69IoKPvHm
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQf32xwkPo
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMTinpDspu
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQDoAXG319
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkesfTl2G6
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwgBOmweC1
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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM15yfDXdI4
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YZn86BUt0
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbGFGZ2ncH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7PRynE1DS
The others talking woke me up."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj5wjyYUvK
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqiS8aOomx
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3Jy4YeNY0
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYSB65RK4N
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRaIFW4i7Y
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCf4BWhg8C
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nGwbCon8m
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutLOSAbtPR
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4KEnQv7Vf
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOon6m8Xayy
"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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvndgXhBOw
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpQ6Hso1JF
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N83IGADYi
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b61ea6faR
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzhHhyE1lA
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOWCGc6CmI
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCovJ1URRw3
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu5vbRZ9Lf
"Well, duh!"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XqjTG1neJ
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsfxljIBqb
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2riwLGP3f
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEpgT7bmx2
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. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcNlF7CVYN
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYANPLfvHC
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWcaB4xxkz
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg4YfwZphO
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmeKUemxyN
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sfp2nuEEj
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDM5PDC0wd
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7BhSkQT2I
"I'm glad your alive though..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wASHiO4no
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAmWwjfLl4
"...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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p7RBrOG8I
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP2QKj2wUb
"Did someone stop her?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7TG5slJoi
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn9AfKFw2h
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyjZLjIK5U
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUKzYa50ZP
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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8UowDhEnp
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuk34LxBM0
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6KzMZxS2w
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OMvVSwMAj
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJCFrtmvBo
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSnvGB9DBa
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJWH66QfzD
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w9as0DZnx
"Sorry."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPoGkB8QFb
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1wwV8fHvh
"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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv9CDwv3Tn
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXHTQ4SYho
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcFAKjhPv2
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F0vT3qAxi
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYpbiAs7Qg
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA3HOXV7vF
"Anywhere we want."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfde0fyVrg
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjleuif0oml
"But where is that?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbHOGIgl2i
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf8PncvrYN
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtceyI4t5qT
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaOcBbiviD
"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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioY2jGAMF2
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxsI1UHzcA
"That was hell."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIGNAJv5i9
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDX2ourllS
"It was..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSucBei5DBB
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBfQGq1bOW
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx99zOqg1D
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzqOLDujZS
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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkLKRgtZRH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX37VvpWSQ5
"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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi86DmdzfLh
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc9aY7CstD
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiANphwMG6
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBzSMT5Xxp
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS7Bac3yGz
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwBy3M0xSD
"You can do anything you want, Beth."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O7VK7NotC
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUGAx4pKSI
"I want to grow it out."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFXTi6G8JI
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2s8xSOHCy
"Then you can grow it out."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQQkEtEUOH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SJbikklMK
"....."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb59RvLZs4W
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgtQYUe1bj
"....."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z460r5XuN
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8LaBBMZH8
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBxTYIn9Id
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRptktKIDa2
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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzChJFUGuwM
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtzfBIcStA
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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXMciNkFGp
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGptBdNqFh
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwqWpWhmZ4
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjToNMDsIV3
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzXgRxbWs6
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdHpapaJD3
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBiU3TVKxH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoEmyX1XdG
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKl8uMMULy
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkvO96q9KA
"It's not that."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCoMo85a7K
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPrGUdRwh9
"I don't understand-"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4ZbYIcNYy
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU0g2dZAwJ
"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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWQoGFGKw1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgGeTmdEty
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcdCesoKnF
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2oNvGNXzw
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZyObuTyQc
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx2cjtbF9R
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTagxuL6ko1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc1qEnb6U8
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHDFDnszY1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQnDkZ5CaT
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5qmrLQPm5
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ha7WX3WY7
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDFiig0BFf
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYcZ3IZZ0p
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeL8wXczI9
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAiL9p0UyI
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpds18kZyxi
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIkcYfLQ55
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?151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUU7KIZGpe
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUzhqom5Pi
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...151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXycyPUz2ZB
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW7Eaya5iv
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo43LrieA6
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
