Marjorie pressed a large button on top of her desk, which caused bright lights to flicker and a loud siren to sound. "Security! There's been a break-in and something incredibly valuable was stolen! Scour the premises and find the thief at all costs!" She shouted her orders into a microphone hidden in the succulent on her desk.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD9BoRNaim
I grabbed Atlas's arm and tugged him towards the open window. "Come on! We have to go while Marjorie is distracted!" I said through our cerebral link.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnoxD78j7G
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj5zI6EKD2
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBQuXgfdIk
Tugged on his arm again, this time with much more force, but he still didn't budge. "Come on, pal. We need to leave! Now!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahIiEoWrk6
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
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"I don't care about that; I care about you."
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He met my gaze for the first time.
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"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
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He shook his head.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpJh4Fic99
"Then we have to go."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQF93mKbQa
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wh5yGi1Zq
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OgfzEd6pg
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyaULrmrVN
We didn't stop running.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEJB8hQvQG
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP1KnLNQBU
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvYUMQwWXz
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4Oi50FIk7
We scaled the fence once more. This time, the climb wasn't nearly so perilous. I was running on pure adrenaline. I escorted Atlas to a darkened alleyway near Sydney Harbor. "I sent a message to Katrina, the girls will meet us here soon," I said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZdAFaSqKR
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTG3vpY6xU
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKfdvisuFo
"Absolutely not."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL93blaTza8
Okay, then.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8ibMdUezE
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeL9NKqS6e
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo6AoqaqQX
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ycAf0FbYU
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtkDMiInzm
"You sound just like Patch."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3hMGmo3tl
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFKvSWV4vq
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bLovg6dDk
"It's not all your fault. It's not your fault Patch was kidnapped and held hostage. They forced you to make an impossible choice."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11HIdD8kJL
"It was all for nothing, we lost the map and Patch is going to die!" Atlas kicked over a trash can in anger, disturbing a family of cockatoos feasting on the refuse.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6DrxyENoQ
A local cleaning bot whirred by. It paused when it caught sight of the mess. We covered our faces, so the bot couldn't identify us and report us to Bionic Corp. The cleaning bot quickly swept up the fallen garbage and reoriented the bin to an upright position. "All better." The tiny robot said in its adorable voice.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM5uoecjY2
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX1m13LAKZ
"You totally make an impact. You somehow made me into a slightly less awful human being. That's no small feat. You should be proud."
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"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
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"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
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The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
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We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
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"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
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"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisYWwt5n3M
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5bXWJv61v
He shook his head.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYWEFucLbu
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3dswzjio6
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
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"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3JNmSBBHo
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdmulLjRxi
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZEEzcDWVP
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcvFA2F1xC
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeOfiBbTHY
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WRnc8RIXK
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrEdwVvZ3I
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKzSgaPwEH
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgufQJDxW6i
Atlas showed no reaction to her comment. His face remained stiff and emotionless. "I don't have time for this," He signed and stomped towards Ikigai II.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNQykabUkN
"Atlas, wait up!" I jogged after him. I'm so glad I'm an only child. I'm not cut out for dealing with sibling drama, and I love being the center of attention.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpSuaIlPFo
Lightning flashed in the distance as we trudged back to Ikigai II. Big drops of rain pounded the surrounding ground. Within seconds, we were soaked to the bone.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhvWoKsR1I
Lucky for us, the Ikigai II customs agents were slacking tonight. They seemed as perturbed to be stuck in the rain as we were, so they didn't ask too many questions. We made it safely onto the island without much of a hassle. It's about damn time something went right for us tonight.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRviCY1Tt5
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteLF8w77ah
Atlas slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It probably didn't help, considering it was completely soaked. It's the thought that counts.
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On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
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"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
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Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohKoEVn21A
"What? Why?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44QJzO79tZ
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
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"At least it's still here, right?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvzEXbi4nS
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbdYdWqA8y
"That sucks," I said honestly.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF56eAaTMQL
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4MRwWuJeT
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFOGNJX4b7
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4JMembdTk
Together, we wheeled the Hovercycle to the safe house. Atlas stashed it in the alley beside the building. Then he led us up a secret flight of stairs to the upstairs apartment.
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The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
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Katrina stifled a gag.
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This safe house is even more dilapidated than the previous one. The ugliest wallpaper I'd ever seen lined the walls. The color was somewhere between chartreuse and mustard yellow. Rats, cockroaches, and fungus seemed to have formed their own ecosystem within the walls. The old, worn couch in the center of the room had large holes with springs and stuffing sticking out. The light fixtures were missing, and the windows were boarded up. The only light came from a small lamp on an end table that looked like it had been knocked over one too many times. Something sticky had melted into the carpet, and my shoe was now stuck to it. Gross!
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmKVEsApmn
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn25NMynDO
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JEJBQ2INr
We all stared down at the ground. No one answered. What could we do? Maybe I can take Atlas back to New Sacramento with me. He can forge a new life there, he's already changed his identity once, what's one more time?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32lr968XwV
I shifted my gaze to Atlas. He wrapped his arms around himself and watched the raindrops trickle down the windowsill. The lost and broken look in his eyes broke my heart. There had to be something I could do to help him. But what?
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"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlPP8vk9Lj
Atlas sighed. "Everything was going according to plan until Marjorie returned to her office earlier than expected. He tried to hide, but she found us. She started to interrogate us."
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"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
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"What happened next?"
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No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhOPmcmPjq
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVZtP41Qed
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypolKwK8qt
I don't know where he was. She showed us live video footage of him in some kind of interrogation room. He's in rough shape. It looks like he took a beating."
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Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkP1XO90T1
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYe3jxgAyM
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFoB0Br3TL
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaheGbvFPgV
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7W5uVz5eD
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9nIP1XGWN
"I'm sorry," I said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5J04kjPIv
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg0v94Xcuq
Atlas stared at her long and hard before finally giving in. "Marisa. He's telling the truth. Patch heard that Bionic Corp was coming after him, he got scared and made a run for it."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4eUCAFtce
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8wYRupN9q
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGpLhKCtqE
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCzvAMXJkE
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwprzP9PQze
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyVhX45y0u
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79tNmZgE0r
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4EgmIqO6V
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvTbfF76lC
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQZ3aD1Qe1
"I was the one who turned off the lights, and I was the one who messed with everyone's Holowatches! Is that what you wanted to hear?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLAnsDECow
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQt1p7Zn5y
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKz3Fa6dpH
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9w8cWlJV3
"Of course not, but I did what I had to protect Patch! I thought you'd understand that. Besides, finding the Annihilation Code was never your responsibility in the first place!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXyrwHRUWL
"Well, thanks to you, we lost the map, and Bionic Corp is going to kill Patch tomorrow!" Atlas stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxvkGDG3pl
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
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"Go ahead, it seems like you're the only person he'll talk to these days." Marisa rubbed the heel of her palm against her chest.
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I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, and let out an uncomfortable chuckle. "Um, okay. I think I'm going to go now, bye."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ533gjmUxRu
I knew I'd find him on the roof. Every time we used our cerebral link, our connection grew stronger. I could sense his emotions, so intensely they felt like my own. Now I know why Atlas was hesitant to form a link with anyone. They are a powerful and overwhelming thing. Knowing what I know now, I can't believe he agreed to form one with me.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ahugh4lCi
I found Atlas curled up under an umbrella on the rooftop. He was furiously scribbling something on an ancient Holopad with one hand. With his other hand, he shoveled Flamin' Hot Cheetos into his mouth using chopsticks.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNXwFFGZzO
This was the sight of a man in desperation if I'd ever seen one. I tried to make my voice sound as gentle as possible. "Um, hey buddy, what are you doing?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad20lLh0Fg
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bj3C7jhSB
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GwenzWlMj
He nodded.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRHpHZ6VPL
"What are you sketching?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBQYRl5GYs
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w6jM2uXvG
I snatched the picture from his hands.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjnQEvcrTb
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs5TZYrjrh
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQHd0dBl5v
He tried to pry it from me again, this time I released my grip. "I saw it! I saw the last piece of the map!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7TituS3qi
"Yeah, for a split second."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T95HmrgtU
"I remember what it looked like! I can recreate it from memory! If we hurry, we still have a chance to find the map before Vindicator does."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIM9Moly4Z
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGeA0vyPlW
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCUljJ9mCs
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDMCj3EOtp
"You can't stop me!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIojEKyYUW
"I know." I massaged my aching temples. "Once you set your mind to something, no one can stop you, but I'm sure Patch wouldn't want you to die trying to save him."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnU6p2V9gC
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EPLTXEfMr
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmMmGa3CfL
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfSlomYgxM
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iqT9PLfxF
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJxu7ZQXSd
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zEBChjSyJ
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYyXlsMtVP
I placed my hands on my hips. "What the hell, guys? Don't you know eavesdropping is rude? Did no one teach you manners growing up?"
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygv0dJm3ZY
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78TOTKv3LF
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU8ovyyLYH
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuRAZPf9pd
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvNQJFgPUT
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvW63GP4rX
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVykVh353xf
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvJnC7yeok
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡignga8y7sG
I raised my shoulders in a half shrug. "I think she has a point. Our options are limited at the moment. I believe she cares about Patch and will do what it takes to save him."
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlKrT7Ltxs
Atlas nodded.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwpfOYBjW2
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns3.12.104.80da2
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