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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzfqEwQZjr
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKbcvHM1Sd
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4y4FpQedp
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTI3zT9uRD
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF9rlAWkbd
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n66VpIZDE
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJi1iZ0ofv
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLrGZ7SY7b
"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?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79IyoK8ZOL
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bLIlljiJE
"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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeX3ffXFfD
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2Icnpl7VE
"It's okay, you need it more than me."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScliDgmioA
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq9A2iAzYA
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..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW59MknuHjH
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2XQijaHE6
"Yeah?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G210VaMjf
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HNnH1eUtV
"I just wanted to say-"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEFpf2K3Ry
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPVEg8FTNC
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7PGWRQXl8
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslFlfJNsd0
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o50jnDDNn
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv28zaITCdF
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfebXXdbHPN
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzwysVlSac
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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhZONUUNB1
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMCmksExqL
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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonFB8K22Yp
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO8wvGKI5G
"But the water! We need that!"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ441l11Zcs2
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC2t43oIGY
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrTSNVoBGA
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaZ7HxZZHN
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfngEy5LQFF
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBqDAeJL4c
"Uh, I don't know." 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QO66iU2ep
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzwqkPlhDR
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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7WgNoCOjZ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFmjgLW5GI
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqc112ZTew
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77dKCdP08E
"Beth."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5truIfxYu
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkcyWQVo3y
"Yes?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8GLwLB0Jw
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzLvf6mNAJ
"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-"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRTK8TW1qF
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8xGACxOJl
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg5dGWbujX
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTdvIZQ1d6
"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?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1Ege2zlip
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpyngdTmj7
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN3Bcu3pwt
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUu3CoJ8Ak
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS5kwLaeTZ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzPgrCqCB3
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHGmSup1PE
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpEmNi8kTN
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuU8TMw36O
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxb2UQNbmZ
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1efjZNDBIk
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwD1eAO60g
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FfsncrTQk
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJeyR2uWGg
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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXlPPyOtn3
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhhsgjb7uG
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2Ekh8SAte
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GzdwFz0Fb
The others talking woke me up."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe1iX1lVml
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkkMvaTfEx
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNB4gbGXQP
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOVtmkouFo
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXXNjhePIV
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0qaIg2QPl
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdzruP6yPJ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR3kTJcSgp
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypEozfcfQp
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMwFuYY9yl
"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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolFLDEJPf8
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHHGKwUcyL
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqIZ5alevi
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7uUizPeFy
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTCk9VwW9y
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcKxtUYL3F
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhQFlknOht
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzboMqCDsen
"Well, duh!"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP8cpES3UL
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6qXvHHeh0
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAgkbIGWV5
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTFhTn9m0E
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. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4avq9rSid
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBFZGfOnRt
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9yJ9MTtze
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YXVUbJrmL
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL80WBlRIhc
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V8VOj1U6y
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya87V9JPG5
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpOsQN5R5L
"I'm glad your alive though..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQQU7mfoOO
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2HziFnyBj
"...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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskwwKl8vDo
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jGaEJQ866
"Did someone stop her?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPETGS8RS0W
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTINfpQjuQq
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7AJ6syljU
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH4seNmh6c
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?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHP8tZmG6F
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzZrs23qHJ
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99RZltFMy1
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSrg3GG7hF
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV2SaHkzsL
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0j3AWftGz
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6rDDfYgdE
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y14jNFUPy
"Sorry."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31Rmy7X1q4
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRrfwARkZm
"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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH71YruQ2EA
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHy6LX0D79
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvB529zVhl
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICHdGHXw6i
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcCJ2Trc9G
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ACyVrXAYs
"Anywhere we want."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0koSqTnBn
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMYDRIZXsb
"But where is that?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsTXu7BLTJ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrrrRYxRuY
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzrtrOKPHi
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwNKlXVGwt
"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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDRHJh0eJz
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOD5pmvdeK
"That was hell."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLlJT1Xtjn
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnfTzs87jc
"It was..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkKoF79Lsh
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcf6tXHR8m
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl6YGE9vaI
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKez5gxuFh
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?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSfPP2aJEw
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGPr0ugQYZ
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn8fKuwndI
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn2EFK9HHp
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zrC9GtuEZ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugj0CrAqS7
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu21baEUJIr
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUUlzqf9rR
"You can do anything you want, Beth."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo13Xk3GOKD
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdkegxLBcz
"I want to grow it out."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F8No1sSQL
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TkzclBzSz
"Then you can grow it out."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqmY9nF6Ys
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pCTSfZXti
"....."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZsAoWq1mq
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYxFuRC66Z
"....."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92H9DvmrIF
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2o39vCN9N
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfCDxIng0q
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7dEPAz5Kd
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP92M1TUMd
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNefG74Hyul
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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6heH6w1Bm
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rx04AbaWJ
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47OVy2xYxs
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6Y69yNUDp
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOZuUB0yEG
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIKuj7pjLn
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipeDvZouvj
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xxVM5zG1f
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZnejt8lGi
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVa4t1LijZ
"It's not that."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6KM4UeXpL
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxxOE5VG7T
"I don't understand-"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIvJ5P0ZEJ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dOXyC4yhL
"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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJe675cOZM
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaJt3klbIc
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLcRmTbgl4
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkN9R3j30g
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20gOhKRGXa
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJSIcUTe1N
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2cx3Ig0Sx
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8ApPmSnSq
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOAsnnUdd7
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUvC3DoeVH
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCfzzz8uvJ
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvGSvpv05j
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSKkmTdZyl
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y6ROUzGX1
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhc85QUzmm
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzCe66daqX
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDyzcoDP07
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKVRrvUiHO
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?205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiPGSlKu1T
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS51pJE1xXH
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...205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzXEvK5VXi
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hD6jnTkB0
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXFj2z63o2
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
