Untouchable
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Your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it and you'll ask yourself: Where is my mind?
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Post by Finland (x) on May 2, 2011 19:11:51 GMT -6
Tino stumbled down the hallway, nerves eating away at his internal organs as he slowly made his way down the never ending corridor. He felt so very guilty about leaving the others. They were probably still fast asleep in the bed, huddled together for warmth in that isolated room. Tino hoped that they'd stay that way until he got back. When he returned, he'd have Berwald with him.
Tino treaded lightly, lost. He had taken several twists and turns that confused him. Combined with opening doors to empty rooms, his sense of direction was completely thrown off. However, he had scribed a small message into the wood beside the door that housed his friends, which would inform them of his trip, plus it would help him locate the room.
'Be back in 20 minutes -Tino'
Regardless if he wrote that half an hour ago, they'd only see it when they woke, which would hopefully be in a few hours. They were all exhausted, so Tino believed that he had bountiful time. He just had to be careful. He left the camera where it was on the bedside table, in case the others needed it. If he ran into a ghost... well, he'd hope that he could get away from it. Or negotiate with it. Otherwise, Tino would be up a moving body of excrements without any means of manpowered propultion (in other words, up shit creek without a paddle).
Regardless if his small voyage wasn't planned well, he still had his dagger and Hana. While Hana was no weapon, Tino realized that she was able to sense ghosts in the last fight. If she seemed agitated, then Tino would turn and book it the other way. Perhaps he could avoid an encounter with her help. He help her tenderly in his arms and kept a close eye on her. She seemed uneasy, but showed no indication of agitation. So no ghosts. So far, so good.
Tino tried the door on his left, which, surprise surprise, was locked. 'Well, only the eightyith one..' he thought sourly, turning to continue. “Berwald?” Tino called aloud, confindent that he was far enough from the room so that the others wouldn't be woken by his calls. The sound seemed to echo down the hall as silence soon settled. Nothing. Not a sound. It was eerie. Normally houses had some sort of noise, whether it was mice, the house creaking, a clock... something. All he could hear was his own heartbeat, thumping in his ears and his breath, rising and falling.
Tino shook his head and continued. He would find Berwald. The Swede wasn't easy to miss. Plus, if Sweden was searching for him, it would be easy to hear (or see) him in this hallway. Obviously, the taller nation wasn't present here, so either he was on a seperate floor or in one of these rooms. So Tino would comb through this floor before moving on to the next.
Three more locked doors, plus two empty ones, which left Tino slightly discouraged. However, the next one had Hana's ears perked. Tino slowed, very cautiously approaching the door. If Hana was at all worried, he had to be on alert. He stood at the wooden door, eyes on Hana. Her eyes were open and alert and her nose twitched as she tested the air. She seemed to do nothing more, so Tino's hand managed to migrate to the doorknob when an idea struck him. Hana could probably recall Sweden's scent, but what if the night of scenting tired her? He reluctantly moved Hana to his pouch, where she could protrude her head if she needed. His hand touched the brassy knob once more, before slowly turning it. The door creaked open slowly as Tino cautiously entered. Nothing jumped at him with a massive sword, which was reassuring. Tino noted that the room was utterly dark, even with the light flooding in from the doorway.
Finding the wall, Tino ran his hand in imaginary circles, searching for a switch. Tino’s hand just flicked the switch upward as Hana let out a shrill howl. Light flooded through the room, vaporizing the darkness to leave everything illuminated and exposed. A flash of movement was all Tino really saw before he felt something smash into him and countless teeth pierce his left shoulder.
His scream immediately filled the silence. Something attacked him! Something big! He staggered back with the added weight as he grazed the wall. He felt the perpetrator’s teeth imbedded in his sinewy shoulder. Oh god, he felt it graze bone as it tore away his muscle. It was eating him! Eating him alive!
Instinct kicked in as Tino threw himself against the grimy white wallpaper, trying to squash whatever had attached itself to his shoulder. The two bodies thundered against the wall as the figure was crushed by not a normal person’s, but a nation’s strength. The blow dazed it, causing the clamped jaws on his arm to weaken. Tino took his chances and instantly threw the thing to the side(aided by adrenaline), tossing it across the room to collide with an old chair. The object shattered upon impact, but the thing seemed unfazed as it quickly rolled back onto its feet. Tino staggered, his shoulder screaming in bloody murder because the creature had dug in its teeth to try to hang on when Tino heaved it off himself. Its attempt was unsuccessful, but it left Tino in great pain.
Fuck was it ever fast. Tino barely had time to swiftly retrieve his small dagger before it was on him again. This time, it attacked low, as teeth sank into the meaty part of Tino’s calf. He cried out and dropped, trying to slash at the creature, who moved to avoid it but managed to keep its hold. Tino hissed as he lunged again with his arm, successfully scoring a long, jagged gash down the thing’s face. With some sort of primitive grunt, it freed his leg and went for Tino’s vital arteries in his neck.
Tino’s wounded arm shot forward, managing to contact the thing’s chest, keeping it’s snapping jaws just inches from his face. It instantly writhed, now on top of the smaller nation as if tried to lurch around his limb. Tino’s cry strained as he felt his arm buckle. He couldn’t hold it back, it was too heavy.
A bark sounded in the air as a furry white form smashed into the things side, distracting the creature from dealing a killing blow. Hana furrowed her tiny, sharp puppy teeth into its ribs, causing more of an annoyance to it than real damage.
That was all that Tino needed. His other hand came up, poised accurately and deadly, piercing the thing’s chest right where its heart would be. The thing howled in pain as Hana let go and leaped away. Tino got his foot under the thing and kicked with all his might, flinging it off him for a second time.
Tino was upright in nanoseconds, his dagger tightly pressed in his palm, coated in dark blood. He almost threw it. He almost let it soar across the room to make sure the thing was dead, but if he missed it and it was still alive, he would surely die. The weapon remained in his palm as he glared ahead, dagger pointing threateningly at the staggering thing.
Tino finally got a look at the attacker. It was roughly the size of a human, but larger than the Finn because Tino was shorter than the average man. Instead of pale, peach toned skin, it had a lifeless grey tone, as if it were made of stone. The skin was stretched tight over what appeared to be bones, while its face was another story.
It had a wide, large forehead that almost looked like a primitive monkey. Its jaws were small, slightly ajar, and filled with razor-like teeth. No wonder Tino’s shoulder was burning with pain. Yet, its most frightening feature was its eyes. Large, coal black eyes that seemed to have no pupils, yet he knew it was staring at him. They were huge, reflective, and reminded him of an animal. Strangely enough, though this thing looked very similar to a human, it seemed more closely related to some beast.
At least it was hurt. It staggered, almost looking like it would pounce again. Tino bared his teeth, a low rumble in his chest as his hair on his neck prickled with anticipation. The creature began to circle him, looking for some sort of opening. Tino didn’t blink once, afraid of a split second assault. The thing was injured pretty badly, as its claw like fingers were clasped over its oozing injury. Yet, what threw Tino off was its sudden smile.
Tino tensed, trying not to show fear as the thing eased itself over to the wall, an eerie smile still present. It glanced at Tino with its huge, beady black eyes before its talons clicked off the light switch.
Tino’s fear shot through the roof. He slashed his blade forward, expecting it to be there but he only cut through the thick air. He stopped and slowed, straining his hearing to pick up any sort of sound. When a voice spoke, he nearly jumped.
“You’re sitting…. In the darkkk….” it sounded; its tone rough and snakelike. It was the creepiest thing that Tino had ever head, rattling him down to the core. Tino wildly slashed at the air beside him, as he could have swore it was hissing the words into his ear.
“But don’t worry…” Tino couldn’t take this. He forced himself to stand, his weapon-bearing hand quivering as he slide down the wall, his steps uneven from his injured leg. “There’s nothing…”Tino’s hand slide across the smooth wallpaper, desperately searching for the light that would expose it. “To be afraid of…”
-FLICK-
Tino whirled around, expecting another attack, but was surprised to find the room empty, sans himself and Hana, who was quivering uneasily on the floor. Tino didn’t let up his guard, holding his dagger outwards in defense as his eyes scanned the room. The door, which was to his right, was open. The room itself was decorated with a bed, two chairs (the third had been decimated when Tino hurled the monster into it), and a small fireplace. A second and third door lined the back wall, which were Tino’s focus. Very warily, he limped over, grasping the handle with his bad, weak arm. Flinging the door agape, he slashed without thought, scoring through a few old coats. A… closet. He used his knife to part the fabrics, making sure that the clothing was the only thing in the tiny space. Satisfied, he moved to the next door, opening it and attacking in a similar way. Again, he was relieved to find an empty bathroom. Tino circled the room once more, checking under the bed and behind everything before closing the door to the hall.
His leg finally gave out as he collapsed to the ground, adrenaline slowly leaking out of his system. With the hormone gone, the pain and injuries that he had tried to previously ignore hit him with full force. Tino leaned back against the wooden door, closing his eyes for a moment to collect himself. Yet, he had an extremely hard time. While fighting the monster, he didn’t have time to think. Now, when he did, his head was flooded with agonizing pain. He withheld making any sort of whimper as he cracked open his eyes to inspect his wounds.
His leg didn’t seem too bad. The puncture wounds were deep and quite painful, but in comparison to his shoulder, they were nothing. They were clean, one bite with no tearing involved. He removed the leg warmer on his healthy leg, made a makeshift bandage, before tightly tying it around the teeth marks. He had to hold back tears from the action.
Next was his shoulder, yet Tino didn’t know if he could do it. Just dealing with his leg exhausted him, added to the fact that he’d have only one arm to work with. He turned his neck to simply inspect the gnarled flesh. The creature had really done a number on him… the corner of the blue tunic and white undershirt that he was wearing was soaked with blood. He could see his torn skin through the tears in the material, unsure if he could really do this by himself. He definitely couldn’t do it…
Tino leaned back, utterly exhausted by the fight. He knew that he should drag himself back to the other Nordics. He really needed them right now… Boy was he foolish. It took four of them to take out a ghost… but Tino really didn’t think that there were monsters here as well. He needed to inform them, warn them in case they got attacked too….
Tino couldn’t bring himself to his feet. He felt no energy in his limbs, only searing pain that made Tino question if he would live to tomorrow. Would he even? He was bleeding pretty heavily... Hana whimpered, pawing at his side, but he didn’t have the strength or motivation to answer her. What if that thing came back? Or a ghost appeared? Tino couldn’t fight one off again. Hell, he could barely fight off slipping unconscious. He just felt so… tired… his shoulder just throbbed with unbearable pain… he just wanted to sleep to get away from it. What if he never woke up? What if the other never found him…? Tino wanted to get up. He managed to sit up a little straighter before he froze.
Footsteps. He could hear footsteps. Very quiet, but approaching feet. His first thought was that his family was looking for him. However, the fact that only one pair was moving in his direction made his heart thunder against his ribs. ‘It’s back…’
Tino ground his teeth together to try and cope with the pain as he pressed his ear to the door. Yes, something was definitely coming… The Finn’s body tensed, only causing more pain to shoot through him like agonizing fire. He waited, hoping that it would pass but only became more terrified as the footsteps slowed to a stop, right outside the door.
Tino’s ‘deer in the headlights’ look was shattered when the doorknob began to turn. Instantly, Tino shot his good arm out, despite how tired and how weak he felt. He gripped the brassy knob because his life did in fact depend on it. He felt the body on the other side struggle with the knob, before crashing against the door. Tino held back tears, painfully aware that the thing outside would not stop until it got in. The door shuddered behind him, indicting that the person had rammed it again. Tino’s wounded left arm gathered up his dagger, preparing himself. “Hana…” he whispered, looking at the worried white puppy. “Go hide. Under the bed. Only come out when it’s safe.” The dog didn’t move. “Hana. Go.” Tino hissed, yet his tone suggested that he was holding back tears, not anger. The dog slowly disappeared.
The door thundered once more. Tino paused for a moment after the strike before rolling away from the door, his bad leg hindering his movements. He quickly switched the dagger into his good hand as the door swung open. Tino glared defiantly with shiny eyes, but froze at the site of the thing. The weapon dropped from Tino’s hand, landing with a thud. Tino’s eyes were wide white orbs, unwavering from the body who stood in the doorframe. Tears of overbearing emotion spilled over as Tino managed to choke out a single word. “Berwald…”
XxXx
Just an idea that came out of my mind XD. Sorry for the cliche parts OTL, but the idea wouldn't leave me alone. More part to come.
-Kas
PS - This isn't going to happen XD. It is an abstract idea branching off of the Nordic thread, BUT IT IS NOT PART OF THE ACTUAL STORYLINE. =3
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 20:17:35 GMT -6
I completely agree bror! <3 Owe Finny is so talented!
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Untouchable
Offline.
Your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it and you'll ask yourself: Where is my mind?
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Post by Finland (x) on May 13, 2011 23:42:17 GMT -6
Berwald woke very slowly, like a bear emerging from hibernation. He stirred with a a grumble, his head pounding on top of his broad shoulders. His limbs ached, as they were twisted over each other as if he were a human pretzle. Realization slowly dawned upon the man as he slowly came to. It was dark... He was...
Where was he? The Swede shifted uncomfortably, slowly realizing that he was in a very small space. Slight panic pricked the man's mind, but he remained calm. Slowly shifting his arms out from underneathe his body, he realized that he had lost most circulation to his upper limbs. Pins and needles prickled his fingers as he flexed his hands, trying to pump more blood to his arms. Slowly, the sensations went away and the Swedish man resumed his plan.
His hands went to his face, searching for his glasses. Luckily, they were still clinging to his head. Regardless of that, the spectacles weren't much use in total darkness. Berwald rumaged around awkwardly, his bulk preventing him from truly turning in such a space. His hands met a surface, which he assumed to be a wall. Slowly, his hands traced the surface to find a corner. Then another. And two others. Berwald was surrounded by four walls. He breathed in slowly, then exhaled, retaining his calm composure.
Where was he?
The Swede remained still and stone faced as he pondered his whereabouts. Well, where could he be? He tried to retrace his steps. The world conference, America mentioning an 'awesome place', Mathias convincing the Nordics to go... Berwald had secretely been against it, but when all the others were going, he decided to follow. Once in the mansion, someone screamed and the lights went out. Berwald remembered grabbing onto Tino, but then everything went a little fuzzy. Judging by the lump that was still present and the headache that he purposefully ignored, he guessed that he had been knocked out.
Slight anger stirred within as he remembered the rules of this game. Try and scare the others out. He thought it was stupid, but Mathias was so enthusiatic about it. So another team thought it would be funny to pull a fast one and knock out the others from the getgo, hm? Well, why not toss them outside then and there? Would that not count as a win? Something just didn't seem right. Berwald rubbed his temples before deciding to mobilize.
The man straightened himself out as best he could, unravelling his knit legs. The man silently bumped around, jostling his elbows against the walls. He managed to prop himself up before standing, only to crack his head into something above. Crumpling back down to his knees, the burly man hissed in pain as his fingers laced into his choppy blond hair. Right were the major goose egg throbbed from the first and now the second hit. Berwald grumbled lowly, swallowing the pain as he slowly rose again, this time a hand waving above his head to alert him of the thing above. Something jangled as his hand bumped something before bumping a solid, cylinder thing. Berwald paused, truly wondering where he was.
Bumbling about, the half crouched nation finally grasped some sort of handle and yanked, tumbling out into the new space with little grace. Berwald remained on his feet though, after some stumbling. A chill envelopped him in this room as he surpressed a shutter. Something gripped his chest in an uncomfortable way. He didn't like this place. It made him feel uncomfortably anxious. Berwald narrowed his eyes, unable to locate anything in the sheer blackness. Luckily though, he quickly came across a light, which he immediately flicked on.
Berwald blinked a few times, adjusting to the unnatural brightness that now lit the room. He blankly stared, noting the fact that he was placed in a bedroom. Well, no, he was currently in a bedroom. He had fumbled his way out of a different area... Turning around, the man's face darkened.
They placed him... in a closet?
Slight annoyance bloomed in the man's chest as he inspected the storage room. He must have cracked his skull on the steel rod that supported the hangers that previously jangled upon contact. Turning, Berwald widened his examination to the new room. A bed, a warbrobe, and a few chairs. Nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, aside from the odd cleanliness of the room. Wasn't this mansion abandoned?
Regardless, Berwald was aware of one painful fact about this room. He was alone. Or, rather, Tino wasn't here. Disappointment was clearly shown on the stoic nation's face as he did two laps around the room, searching pointlessly for the Finn, or any of the other Nordics. Nothing.
Slightly frustrated, the Swede headed for the door. He just bearly opened the creaking entrance when he heard a piercing, bloodcurdling scream that rattled through the halls. He froze, eyes wide and composure broken. He... he knew that voice. Raw panic exploded in Berwald's brain, overruling anything and everything else.
“TINO!” He roared in alarm, throwing himself into the hall without a second more of hesitation. Crushing confusion made Berwald's chest tight as he could hear the wimpering cries of the Finnish man, but he could not tell where from. The sound just seemed to echo through the endless corridor, bouncing off the walls in cruel amusement as it tormented the Swede. His heart hammered in his chest as he threw himself down the hall, his boots like thunder against the floor. Where? Where?!
Berwald thought he was going to be sick to his stomach as he heard more cries echo the halls. “FIN!” he tried again, but was left unanswered. He saw nothing in the halls, so he threw himself at the first door, threatening to go through it if need be. The door opened without delay, but Berwald only found books and shelves inside. No wife. He moved on as he felt cold tendrils of dread spread through his body. He could still hear the cries, quieter now, but that alarmed him even more.
Then silence.
Berwald surpressed hysteria as he continued, his calls for the Finn getting more and more frantic by the minute. Door after door, the burly man forced his way in to always come up empty handed. True panic began to settle as he fought for control. Tino... Tino was stronger than he looked... so why... did he...
Rational thoughts had no effect on Berwald now. For all he knew, the silence meant that Tino was no longer able to cry out for help... which meant... Berwald paced faster, flinging open door after door without slowing once. His breath was soon short, but he continued, his turmoil pushing him forward.
Ten minutes passed and the Swede was still alone, left to wallow in his icy panic. He could hardly breathe now, but more-so from the fear that Tino was... Berwald reached for the next door, snapping the handle open, but was met with surprise when it suddenly ceased movement. Frowning, the man gave the lock a twist to find that it didn't budge. Either it jammed or someone was holding it. The latter was improbable, so Berwald began to roughly shove the door. It heaved, but held stubbornly. Not in the mood to be patient, he threw his shoulder against the wood again, angered when it did not open. The knob was not locked, so why would it not budge? With one last, final effort, Berwald raised his leg and crashed the heel of his left foot into the wood of the door, surprised when it flew open without resistance.
The Swede froze at the blade poised towards him, before the metal clattered on the carpet. Berwald's eyes swelled as he stared at the bloody, defiant figure below him. Not once did he confuse the silouette for anything but the nation that he was searching for. Tino's brilliantly violet eyes gave him away, even if they were clouded with tears.
Berwald found himself rooted to the floor. Blood. Tino was covered in blood. The Finn that he knew for ages, reminded by the reminiscent Viking attire, was mortally wounded. Berwald couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. He only stood, his face forever locked within the startled and alarmed demeanor that it possessed when he first laid eyes on the injured man.
“Berwald…” Tino rasped, his voice ragged and horse, as if he had not spoken in years. Tears streamed down the younger nation’s face, causing a terrible pain to stab at Berwald’s mentality. The word snapped Berwald back into reality as the burly man collapsed to one knee, eyes locked on the Finn as he stared at him with such an intensity that would make the Gods tremble. Tino, for the first time, didn’t flinch and shy away.
“Tino… wh’t h’ppen’d?” Berwald said urgently, concern and care sounding more like withheld anger from the Swede, though Berwald was far more worried than he was enraged. Tino merely smiled, watery tears still streaming from his expressive purple orbs as the Berwald’s words went in one ear and out the other.
“You came…” Tino mumbled, as if he didn’t believe that Berwald was right there in front of him. The response shattered Berwald’s intensity as his face softened. He didn’t press the question again. Instead, his response was quick, unlike his normally slow and well thought out replies.
“’Course. Had to wh’n I h’rd you y’ll..”
“You’re okay…” Tino mumbled, still shaken and possessing the look of incredulity. It finally clicked with Berwald. Tino was in shock. Slowly, Berwald crept forward, gently wrapping his arms around the Finn. Only then could he feel how cold the smaller nation was and how he trembled like a leaf.
“It’s ok’y Tino… I’m h’re. Y’re safe n’w.”
He could feel Tino resist the breakdown. Resist crying. He sensed Tino tense, his small body rigid against the Swede’s. Yet, the Finn had to crack the shock. Berwald’s grip was gentle, yet protective. His hand slid behind the Finn’s head, pressing it into his navy shoulder. “It’s ok’y…” Berwald soothed gently, his rough voice soft as he cradled Tino like a child.
“I’m h’re.”
XxXx
Tino didn’t want to cry. He didn’t want to burst. His pride was forcing him to fight the overwhelming emotions. He just wanted to tuck everything away and bottle it up, yet he couldn’t. There was just too much. The pain from his shoulder that threatened his sanity never dulled. The terror of the monstrous thing that attempted to kill and eat him was still present. Its words still lingered in the air despite the light that illuminated the room. And finally, Berwald, who appeared when Tino thought he was about to be slaughtered.
It was too much.
Tino didn’t even realize when Berwald held him that he began to shake. He fought it when he felt fresh tears prick his eyes. But as his head was guided into the nook in his friend’s shoulder, he just couldn’t… The resevoir of events had overfilled. The dam broke as Tino began to cry.
At first, Tino just let the tears flow. But as he let some of his emotions go, the snowball effect occurred as his chest began to heave with sobs. The pain of the injury, the relief of Berwald’s presence, the fear of the monster, the happiness of Berwald’s safety… Everything came out in tears. And Tino could trust that Berwald, of all people, wouldn’t speak a word of this to anyone.
XxXx
The calloused man was not simply ‘just a shoulder to cry on.’ He was there for Tino, but in more ways that just a physical presence of acting as a tissue. No. He knew that he was Tino’s closest friend. He knew that Tino was at a breaking point and needed him. He would be there for the Finn. Damn, he would always be there. Berwald’s grip slowly tighted, yet he was wary of the injured shoulder than Tino had. He was careful, but he made sure to hold Tino close as sobs shook his small frame.
What… had done this to him? Berwald was aware that Tino was sensitive, but a rough fight didn’t bring Tino to a cracking point. The Swede knew that Tino’s tolerance for hardships was tremendous; after all, he had suffered some hard wars in the past. So why? What had hurt him so? As Tino broke down in his arms, he eyed over the painful wound. Good god… what in Thor’s name had attacked the Finn? After a moment, Berwald closed his eyes, unable to stare at the injury that he couldn’t prevent as he gently patted Tino’s back. Even with the gruesome injury, Berwald believed that Tino would try and shrug it off. He didn't think that the wound would shake the Finn this badly. No, there was more to it.
For a while, they stayed like that. Berwald crouched, just holding the Finn tenderly as he poured his emotions out. They could have been there for minutes. They could have been there for hours. Berwald was unaware of time. He was only aware of Tino and Tino alone. Ever so slowly, Finland's shuttering began to cease. As this occurred, Berwald silently rose, shifting his one arm under the Finn so he could carry the nation. The latter didn't protest as he stiffled small hiccups, trying to calm down from the 'unmanly' show of tears.
Easily hoisting the slender man upwards, Berwald briskly walked to the bed, setting the nation down very carefully as icy blue eyes fell on the gruesome wound once more. Berwald hesitated, tempted to examine the injury more closely before Tino interrupted, his hand suspended in the air as he pointed at something. Berwald blinked before the Finn quietly said, “The door...”
Xx Thank you Xx
BERWALD CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET *shot*
Sorry, Part Two is such a fail, but I didn't want to dive into the next part or it would extend on for another few thousand words. So this is most definitely not finished. I still have many ideas playing around in my noggin. Just pester me to write them and I will XD.
So when I'm not posting, I'll write this. Just a note once more, this is not an actual part of the Nordic storyline. This is like a side story because we lack a Su-san ;_;
Moi Moi~ Kiitos käsittelyssä!
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