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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD9sDQIYNL
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno4oLfRWQX
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LK8T5kAKw
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSLorS4BiT
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!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebuR0dwzlg
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewRIjp6gVz
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3MX1rztto
He met my gaze for the first time.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv81OnCk24
"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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7FcV6JoxQ
"Then we have to go."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJTKeI6Dg
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliYbPezTke
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoJ6YIj3Nf
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
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We didn't stop running.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WksziRdBu
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gz9BhmLrH
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBairZpzSgw
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCtP3oJuAS
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja5JrupKOL
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOztCyEaXeg
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtDIhcQezQ
"Absolutely not."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaVOVyIcWC
Okay, then.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVYtvGkfOV
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j1ruMQvT2
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjjOXQR7Uq
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyvm896dzf
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrmaoqbcyt
"You sound just like Patch."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq3W1nrbN5
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMIDvr5YCG
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxYl4XKYoR
"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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV7C2Ajx4K
"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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQIAdUaQji
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9txOs1yd0L
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMYeJsDX9o
"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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7ddDg4Y18
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oXEUMFCRg
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICU5HK6YxA
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrq6bGGS7x
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoKiv5aNVc
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvwbZEIeDD
He shook his head.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhaAwvfqBY
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MdYVZpnyL
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv9ksduo0K
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepVOLLQUpT
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5CpJFdYZ4
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
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Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMLPkH4S6Q
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ZadonWFA
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OF1K6OH8T
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWELxHc9r8a
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0XcN7YJ2d
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
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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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDxuwU61sf
"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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwib5YKZPII
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjFZjCGP9g
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsYjmWOBTf
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgvlFUrNln
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAqUKRFMy9
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rkPMzpVyp
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNOMy0ySvd
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcxJWVJaGm
"What? Why?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DmbK5VAmV
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULhMFjGvXC
"At least it's still here, right?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEKU28vN85
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFnwZjSCVk
"That sucks," I said honestly.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt3st8jpze
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
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I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdnsH6LCjz
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
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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!
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"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
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Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLMI6OWXil
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?
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pti6Ks1i9
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.
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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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRwvrMZopN
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBqk7Cbjnu
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SbbxMzlaW
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?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn641DDssiT
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWvLQ70cyJ
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfvuD4s5jc
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY6raUvYsn
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bWoN6iToz
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2ENnaMjHX
"I'm sorry," I said.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG1R94ioPS
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUn8MGKfUI
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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5VAc659RR
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKOx4Cvbnu
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XDrzP10cF
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMcCCOkpm1
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9BNyTJCWK
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxrYBJDvXn
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJpM7I2SmT
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb91SkOMau
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSNKBbKEcw
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90VMqgV20f
"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?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmhYQAEb2P
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBd9YMcAs2
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFafgzUhfH
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uz2l3QMFL
"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!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtk4JJ9tzU
"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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEKRJDIF77
"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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZn4n0ae2r
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e8N0AnnHC
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.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoJDUOEOnv
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?"
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His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
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I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
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He nodded.
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"What are you sketching?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1KVIXr9me
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
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I snatched the picture from his hands.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkS1h6z7Ux
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1Ymwjgj1J
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKZ2GketCy
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!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqG8S0xSrL
"Yeah, for a split second."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFZnQCLuec
"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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfRFAbmHx2
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8ThCrIkC3
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRftTPd3kx
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6y2Vngw42
"You can't stop me!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimI7OXQd4n
"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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNyAOq7uJE
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrA6kwYwls
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRD9UDpJSl
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIIz6pB95C
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcffhstAsRL
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB864zhGyEJ
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi3pLi2NnJ
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zn3sb79fL
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?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2lepPNXIr
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfcahJZEFh
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogXlwz4whS
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhbfLzUPQ2
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDprv500n16
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM5G44XU0i
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq3KLRfhn1
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UXSu0coa7
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2NG4xhdcC
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."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudriW56A6M
Atlas nodded.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YMcTwgCj3
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.206da2
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