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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMC9IGIJ0a
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.
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"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NQFYHLYzV
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuY9UzjFIG
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!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2GYTPB2RY
"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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ9UbUQlfC
He met my gaze for the first time.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN5uSwqolD
"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VGHAJoxSr
"Then we have to go."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4xWQNWzk4
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbprfUYgYK
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
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"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm1V3QdzPA
We didn't stop running.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLszuxjtEL0
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9IrmcZRGO
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDZA5rJCbI
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg2Gxuh7zg
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.
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Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOmQCfo9Yz
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTwDzzxZe1
"Absolutely not."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7QR3nJhou
Okay, then.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlpZ8rYpxN
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeljCLtb0s
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaArhweBUte
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WgThvdHS2
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrfFKbkuJ9
"You sound just like Patch."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ6RTdL1Gt
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJfipj9gFd
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEzP6eTswG
"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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvdOeQMZpQ
"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWlUSlxTa7
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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv3yCU0CrG
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAZasZ6VZJ
"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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAL2gqpOHk
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xEH7Wc0ZZ
"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso0ByXEZrG
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVc0wgmsEz
He shook his head.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppN6UrW5OM
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyX3aqUTJu
"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQbLjXM2Hy
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFPzDZps62
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9pDOSj4LG
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7mEtCwPEd
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfdqof5DbZ
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshpuNIl39S
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFwwWYjzMS
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmiuZNwcJw
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv72XDdtkU
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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREP4j27vdE
"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0nUQEmvm3
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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBuAlW4LzK
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.
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Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfDzK4W9xb
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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUYLl7fw55
"What? Why?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2OygKQqJg
"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?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgczX8E57BS
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBi8IRTfOh
"That sucks," I said honestly.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanVNI45LkW
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyC1UiHETe
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBBKPOStw5
"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!
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcM32Hq7ql
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWQTYn57dF
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjzr9Ds62f
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?
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBn3mLmxYi
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.
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Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY7BtGQmwc
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbtFzrs5QU
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?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5iGp1Xuxx
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhd2VTCeUQ
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoiJIe40yA
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaAkpe6lZd
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDRsZnJHZZ
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLi4tTTuqv
"I'm sorry," I said.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdhegebLmS
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5nEfnr558
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."
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"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehlV1hIx8i
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt70ZsOv6k8
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8xurfSpNF
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCpo5Arzik
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmVMXPuC0n
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXhpdAwYY1
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtoMuWo5It
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI34lG36YO
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYeeHkc1NM
"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?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjr7KQNLp3
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNRrCQVP2w
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS2NYgBAaF
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEINyG9JJmj
"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!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cSv2gFubU
"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.
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"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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDJFKoEsnP
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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45hKRA84HM
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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew6F43eGhS
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.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgM98FSdTL
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?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURNVg1dnAg
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
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I snatched the picture from his hands.
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"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
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I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0716vmlJZ
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!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkCf5qgEXK
"Yeah, for a split second."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANWEtc4Spm
"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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMsg1UIj00
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pXIrqD57Z
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrLnZPDDtO
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5nua2bANu
"You can't stop me!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ro5Ri69YS
"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."
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"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hROltAlVN
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLck4sT52s
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8T7nDOE7K
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgygWBwDAy
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oMw923LAY
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP71YhrwF6J
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK2h0p56e9
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?"
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIRyHxLtxf
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrpRqQ04EJ
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqemQ6jadXg
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamQ39vEvUj
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3nem0fAM7
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7K9L2Np1z
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0OI4X51fe
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqCBaZAGWJ
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5dDGNupRt
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."
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XQRMLDFWD
Atlas nodded.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRNE6qtxVH
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.30da2
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