def from_formatted_lines(lines):
    """
    Return text from a list of `lines` strings using the Debian
    Description rules for handling line prefixes and continuations.
    """
    if not lines:
        return lines
    text = [lines[0].strip()]
    for line in lines[1:]:
        line = line.rstrip()
        if line.startswith('  '):
            text.append(line[1:])
        elif line == ' .':
            text.append('')
        elif line.startswith(' .'):
            text.append(line[2:])
        elif line.startswith(' '):
            text.append(line.strip())
        else:
            text.append(line.strip())
    return '\n'.join(text).strip()
