Chen renzou is sure that he doesn\u2019t believe in curses. \u00a0<\/p>\n [Image Credit : Photo by Marek Pavl\u00edk<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>]<\/p>\n Delia green is a young writer and author from Ohio looking to expand her portfolio. She has experience in short horror stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
+++++<\/span>From middle school until junior year of high school, all he ever heard were other students talking about the school being \u201ccursed,\u201d but not the fun, Halloween \u2018you\u2019ll grow hair on your tongue\u2019 type of curse. So many young men who once attended the school disappeared without a trace.
+++++<\/span>\u2014 \u201cI heard somebody built the school on an indigenous burial ground,\u2019\u2019 he heard a boy whisper during lunch once.
+++++<\/span>\u201cNo, I think it\u2019s some crazy serial killer.\u2019\u2019 another kid chimed in.
+++++<\/span>Maybe it was? Maybe some of the weird conspiracy theories were true?
+++++<\/span>Renzou doubted it. He\u2019d heard them all before\u2014one too many times. Maybe it was because of how he was raised, or perhaps he just had more common sense than most kids his age, but the stories always felt like overblown gossip to him.
+++++<\/span>Besides, the last disappearance was years ago. Surely if the school really were cursed, it would\u2019ve claimed someone more recently. Still, his friends never let it go. They loved teasing him, telling him he was the perfect target.
+++++<\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re next, Renzou~\u201d they\u2019d sing, laughing at his annoyed expression.
+++++<\/span>He laughed it off every time. \u201cThat would never happen,\u201d he\u2019d say with unwavering confidence. \u201cRight?\u201d
+++++<\/span>But deep down, it always worried him\u2014the stories, the whispers, the possibility that maybe there was something more to them. He hated walking home alone at night: the empty streets, the flickering streetlights, the endless dark corners. Renzou wasn\u2019t exactly built for self-defense, and for all the book smarts he prided himself on, street smarts were not his forte.
+++++<\/span>There was always someone willing to walk Renzou home: a boy named Shin Huo.
+++++<\/span>Huo was a recluse, the kind of kid you wouldn\u2019t notice unless you were looking for him. He came from money\u2014a wealthy Chinese family, or so they said\u2014but something strange about him didn\u2019t quite add up.
+++++<\/span>For one, Huo didn\u2019t seem Chinese. His Mandarin, when he spoke it, was robotic, like someone reciting memorized lines. His skin was pale, his features sharp, and his eyes light. He didn\u2019t look like his family\u2014or like anyone Renzou knew.
+++++<\/span>\u201cAdopted,\u201d Renzou thought. That made sense.
+++++<\/span>Renzou had always liked Huo, though. His quiet, shadowy presence was fascinating. Where Renzou was loud and energetic, Huo was reserved, barely speaking above a whisper. The other kids called him \u201cMouse,\u201d which always fit him well.
+++++<\/span>But there was something more strange about Huo, something Renzou couldn\u2019t put into words. He couldn\u2019t help but wonder\u2014what was really going on inside Huo\u2019s mind?
+++++<\/span>The two boys walked in complete silence, which felt heavier every second. Neither said a word the entire way. Their gazes stayed locked on the pavement as if the sidewalk were the most fascinating thing in the world.
+++++<\/span>When they finally reached Renzou\u2019s house, he shifted, unsure how to break the tension. His front gate creaked faintly in the stillness as he pushed it open, casting a quick glance back at the other.
+++++<\/span>\u201cWell, thank you,\u201d Renzou said, forcing a smile that didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. He wasn\u2019t sure why he was thanking him\u2014Huo had walked him home daily for months. Still, it felt like the polite thing to do.
+++++<\/span>Huo didn\u2019t reciprocate the smile. His face remained frozen in that distant, blank look, as if smiling was something he\u2019d never learned to do. Instead, he bowed slightly, his movements stiff and deliberate, and murmured in his barely-audible voice, \u201cThank you.\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou blinked, momentarily stunned. \u201cWait\u2026 thank you?\u201d<\/i> he asked, his voice rising with confusion. \u201cFor what?\u201d
+++++<\/span>Huo didn\u2019t answer.
+++++<\/span>Before Renzou could finish the question, Huo straightened up, turned sharply on his heel, and walked away. His figure disappeared into the night, and renzou felt.. scared.
+++++<\/span>Renzou stood frozen at the gate, watching until the last trace of Huo was gone. He swallowed hard, his head spinning in circles.
+++++<\/span>\u201cWhat was that about?\u201d he thought to himself.
+++++<\/span>He always found Huo\u2019s quietness interesting; it was something he couldn\u2019t quite figure out. But tonight, interest gave way to something different, something that knotted his stomach and tightened the air around him.
+++++<\/span>A chill settled in his chest, one that he couldn\u2019t shake. It wasn\u2019t just the silence or how Huo left so quickly. It was something else, something he couldn\u2019t name.
+++++<\/span>Something sinister<\/i>.
+++++<\/span>When Renzou thought about it, Huo seemed like the perfect target for this so-called \u201cserial killer.\u201d Quiet. Timid. Practically invisible. If Huo disappeared, would anyone even notice? So why hadn\u2019t he been taken yet?
+++++<\/span>If the school were cursed, it wouldn\u2019t discriminate. Whatever it was\u2014curse or killer\u2014it wouldn\u2019t pick and choose. Anyone could be next, right?
+++++<\/span>Or\u2026
+++++<\/span>Maybe the reason nothing had happened to Huo was because\u2026
+++++<\/span>He\u2019s part of it.<\/i>
+++++<\/span>A chill went down Renzou\u2019s spine at the thought. Had he been letting someone possibly involved in the kidnapping of other kids walk him home every night? His mom even invited him in once on a hot summer day.
+++++<\/span>\u201cNo, that\u2019s silly, \u201d he whispered to himself as he sat at his desk in his dim bedroom. His eyes were wide as he stared down at the homework he desperately needed to do. But he couldn\u2019t keep his mind off this situation. Why was Huo acting so weird?
+++++<\/span>No matter how much he tried to shake the thought, it kept creeping back in, twisting his stomach into tighter knots.
+++++<\/span>The next few days passed in a haze of restless nights. Renzou didn\u2019t dare ask Huo to walk him home again. He couldn\u2019t bring himself to see him\u2014not yet. Instead, he begged his dad to pick him up after school, no matter how much grumbling and complaining it caused.
+++++<\/span>\u201cCome on, you\u2019re almost an adult,\u201d his dad had said more than once. \u201cYou can walk on your own, can\u2019t you?\u201d
+++++<\/span>But Renzou didn\u2019t care. He wasn\u2019t taking any chances. Still, as the days passed, he couldn\u2019t escape the nagging question: Why is Huo so strange?<\/i>
+++++<\/span>And more importantly\u2026 What was he hiding?<\/i>
+++++<\/span>Renzou stood in front of the school gates, darting his weight from foot to foot as he scanned the street for his dad\u2019s car. His stomach churned with apprehension.
+++++<\/span>He was being watched. He could tell; he felt exposed, and it sent a chill down his spine.
+++++<\/span>His head snapped around, his eyes darting across the empty courtyard. Nothing. No one. He let out a shaky breath, trying to convince himself it was just his nerves.
+++++<\/span>But when he turned back to face the street, the feeling lingered. It clung to him, crawling up his spine and making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
+++++<\/span>Before he could think further, he felt it\u2014fingers wrapping around his arm.
+++++<\/span>He yelped, jumping as he turned sharply, his heart pounding in his chest. It was Huo.
+++++<\/span>The taller boy loomed over him, his face expressionless, those light, empty eyes staring down at him.
+++++<\/span>\u201cO-oh! Hey!\u201d Renzou stammered, his throat dry. He forced a smile, swallowing hard as he tried to steady his voice. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d He cleared his throat, hoping it would make him sound less nervous.
+++++<\/span>\u201cDo you need help getting home?\u201d Huo murmured, his voice barely louder than a whisper. His gaze stayed fixed on Renzou, unblinking.
+++++<\/span>\u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d Renzou said quickly, a little too quickly. \u201cMy dad\u2019s picking me up.\u201d
+++++<\/span>\u201cOh\u2026\u201d Huo\u2019s hand slid away from his arm, his touch lingering just long enough to make Renzou\u2019s skin crawl. He glanced away briefly, his face unreadable, before looking back down at him.
+++++<\/span>\u201cDo you want to come to my house?\u201d Huo asked softly. \u201cWe can study.\u201d
+++++<\/span>The words hung in the air, heavier than they should\u2019ve been.
+++++<\/span>Maybe this was Renzou\u2019s only chance to figure it out. Maybe he could help someone\u2014or stop the disappearances.
+++++<\/span>\u201cYes!\u201d he exclaimed too quickly. He cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. \u201cYes, I\u2019d like that,\u201d he repeated, offering a smile.
+++++<\/span>Huo\u2019s eyes lingered on him for a moment before he nodded. \u201c\u2026Wonderful,\u201d he murmured, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
+++++<\/span>Some of the tension eased, and Renzou felt himself relax. Maybe he\u2019d been wrong about Huo. Maybe he was just a socially awkward kid. That wasn\u2019t a crime.
+++++<\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Huo said softly, stepping back for Renzou to follow. And renzou reluctantly did.
+++++<\/span>Huo\u2019s house wasn\u2019t what Renzou expected\u2014not really. He knew Huo came from money, but this?
+++++<\/span>Nestled at the edge of town, the massive, gothic mansion looked like something out of a ghost story. It loomed over the unkempt yard, its dark exterior shrouded in vines. Tall grass threatened to overtake the windowsills, swaying faintly in the cool breeze.
+++++<\/span>Renzou swallowed hard, his eyes trailing up to the sharp peaks of the roofline. His own house was lovely\u2014 but not rich, and nothing like this.
+++++<\/span>\u201cThis\u2026 is your place?\u201d he asked, his voice betraying a slight tremble.
+++++<\/span>Huo didn\u2019t say anything at first, simply nodding as he walked toward the towering front door. The door looked ancient. Renzou couldn\u2019t help but think it might\u2019ve been built by Huo\u2019s ancestors long before anyone they knew was alive.
+++++<\/span>Huo paused at the threshold, fishing through his pockets before pulling out an old iron key. He slid it into the lock, the loud click<\/i> echoing in the still air.
+++++<\/span>The sound was so harsh and grating as the door creaked open that Renzou winced, resisting the urge to cover his ears.
+++++<\/span>Huo stepped inside without hesitation, glancing back at Renzou. \u201cAre you coming?\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou hesitated for a moment before stepping through the doorway.
+++++<\/span>The smell of food cooking hit Renzou\u2019s senses. It smelled good, and he was shocked. He\u2019s not too used to home cooking, and whoever is cooking right now is exceptional at it. But there\u2019s this faint smell of chemicals in the air.
+++++<\/span>Probably just cleaning supplies,<\/i> he thought. That wasn\u2019t so strange, right?
+++++<\/span>His eyes wandered around the room, taking in the space. It was a large and surprisingly ordinary living area. The furniture looked worn but comfortable. A shoe rack by the wall held five pairs of shoes, and baby toys were scattered across the rug like a toddler had been playing there just moments ago.
+++++<\/span>Huo has a younger sibling?<\/i> Renzou thought, startled. Huo had never mentioned it\u2014or any of his family, for that matter.
+++++<\/span>Renzou slipped off his shoes, placing them neatly by the door before following Huo further inside.
+++++<\/span>\u201cMom! I\u2019m home!\u201d
+++++<\/span>The sudden shout made Renzou jump, his heart skipping a beat. He turned, wide-eyed, toward Huo. It was so jarring to hear him like that\u2014so loud, so forceful.
+++++<\/span>Huo didn\u2019t seem to notice Renzou\u2019s reaction. He stood there quietly after calling out, his usual calm, unreadable expression settling back into place.
+++++<\/span>A woman descended the staircase, her steps slow and deliberate. The way she carried herself immediately caught Renzou\u2019s attention\u2014there was an awkwardness in her movements, something timid and unsure, like a battered housewife in an old movie.
+++++<\/span>Her eyes were weary as if she hadn\u2019t slept in weeks, but she managed a small, polite smile as her gaze landed on the two boys.
+++++<\/span>\u201cOh, hello\u2026\u201d she said softly, her voice gentle but strained. \u201cHuo, is\u2026 this a friend from school?\u201d
+++++<\/span>\u201cYes.\u201d Huo nodded once, his tone as flat as ever. \u201cThis is Renzou.\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou cleared his throat and stepped forward, his instincts kicking in. He offered his hand, trying to make a good impression. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 very nice to meet you, Ms. Shin.\u201d
+++++<\/span>But as he extended his hand, she flinched.
+++++<\/span>It was subtle\u2014just a quick, involuntary movement\u2014but Renzou caught it. His eyebrows knitted together as he hesitated, lowering his hand awkwardly.
+++++<\/span>She recovered quickly, her smile faltering but still present. \u201cOh, it\u2019s\u2026 nice to meet you too, dear,\u201d she said, her hands clasping tightly in front of her to avoid touching him.
+++++<\/span>Renzou forced a smile back, but something about the interaction unsettled him.
+++++<\/span>\u201cUh\u2014well\u2026 dinner is about done, so\u2026 stay if you\u2019d like,\u201d Ms. Shin said softly, her slight smile lingering.
+++++<\/span>Renzou nodded politely, some of his unease easing. They seemed friendly enough\u2014normal, even. Maybe this weird hunch he had really was just his imagination running wild.
+++++<\/span>\u201c\u2026No, I really shouldn\u2019t,\u201d he murmured, glancing down at his feet. \u201cI don\u2019t want to intrude.\u201d
+++++<\/span>But even as the words left his mouth, his palms were clammy with sweat. The house was clean, it smelled good, and everyone had been perfectly friendly, yet something deep inside him screamed at him to leave.
+++++<\/span>\u201cNo, stay. Please.\u201d
+++++<\/span>Huo\u2019s voice cut through the air as his hand landed firmly on Renzou\u2019s shoulder. The younger boy flinched instinctively, recoiling at the contact. Huo\u2019s touch always made his skin crawl.
+++++<\/span>He felt cornered, the tension in the room suffocating. With no graceful way to refuse, Renzou swallowed thickly and nodded.
+++++<\/span>\u201c\u2026Fine.\u201d
+++++<\/span>The dining room radiated elegance. A long table draped in pristine silk stretched across the space, its surface adorned with ornate details. Overhead, an intricate chandelier, polished woodwork, and delicate craftsmanship that seemed to define every corner of the house.
+++++<\/span>For most people, it would have been awe-inspiring, but for Renzou, it was unsettling. The sheer size of the house, the grandeur of it all\u2014it only made him more nervous. His chest tightened at the thought: If I needed to run\u2026 where would I even go?<\/i>
+++++<\/span>He sighed softly and lowered himself into one of the heavy chairs, his knees brushing against the table\u2019s edge. The room was so quiet he could hear the faint creak of the chair as Ms. Shin sat across from him. She rocked slightly, her hands gripping the armrests as she let out a shaky breath.
+++++<\/span>The chemical smell he\u2019d noticed earlier was even more pungent here. Renzou\u2019s gaze darted around the room, searching for its source. His eyes landed on a corner of the ceiling.
+++++<\/span>A camera.
+++++<\/span>Its small red light blinked steadily, watching.
+++++<\/span>Why would they need a camera in here?<\/i>
+++++<\/span>His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. A man entered the room, tall and lean, his bleach-blonde hair almost unnaturally bright under the chandelier\u2019s light. He looked young\u2014maybe in his twenties\u2014and carried himself with an easy confidence. An older brother, perhaps?
+++++<\/span>The man quietly placed plates in the center of the table, his expression neutral, almost bored.
+++++<\/span>\u201cZongneng,\u201d Ms. Shin said suddenly, her voice cracking slightly. \u201cCan you please go get the baby?\u201d
+++++<\/span>The man, Zongneng, didn\u2019t respond right away. He turned towards her, a smile coming to his face. \u201cOf course, mother!\u201d he chirped.
+++++<\/span>Renzou shifted in his seat, his unease growing. He glanced toward Huo, who sat silently beside him, his gaze fixed on the empty plate in front of him. Huo hadn\u2019t spoken a word since they sat down.
+++++<\/span>That man, Zongneng\u2014his chipperness<\/i>\u2014stuck with Renzou. Why was he so happy? He acted completely opposite from the rest of the family. Ms. Shin\u2019s fidgeting had only worsened the moment he left the room, as if Zongneng\u2019s presence had been the only thing keeping her slightly calm.
+++++<\/span>The door creaked open again, pulling Renzou\u2019s attention.
+++++<\/span>A tall, brooding man entered the room, his presence instantly changing the atmosphere. Everyone tensed. He was intimidating, his face devoid of emotion, and his sharp gaze swept across the room before landing on Renzou.
+++++<\/span>\u201cHello, family,\u201d he said flatly, his voice low. He sat at the head of the table, his movements deliberate, calculated.
+++++<\/span>\u201cWho is this?\u201d he asked, gesturing toward Renzou with a flick of his hand.
+++++<\/span>\u201c\u2026Oh, um, honey-\u201d Ms. Shin started, her voice trembling. She seemed to struggle with her words, her tone cracking as she forced them out. \u201cThis is Renzou. He\u2019s\u2026 Huo\u2019s friend.\u201d
+++++<\/span>\u201cOh,\u201d Mr. Shin replied, his expression unchanged as he gave a slow nod. \u201cLovely. Usually, we have to find them. This is the first time they\u2019ve come to us.\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou\u2019s brows knitted together, confusion coming to his face. His stomach twisted and turned. What did he mean by that?
+++++<\/span>\u201cUhm\u2026 wha\u2014\u201d Renzou began, his voice shaky as he tried to ask what Mr. Shin meant. But the door creaked open again before he could finish, pulling his attention. He turned his head, his eyes landing on the figure in the doorway.
+++++<\/span>It was Zongneng returning. But he wasn\u2019t holding a baby.
+++++<\/span>Renzou\u2019s heart sank as he realized what he was seeing. Zongneng carried a boy\u2014no older than a teenager. But the boy had a pacifier in his mouth, dressed in a onesie as though he really was a baby. Zongneng set him down at the table, removing the binky with a practiced hand. The boy\u2019s jaw hung oddly, deformed as if it had never fully developed beyond infancy.
+++++<\/span>Renzou stared, his stomach twisting. He felt sick like he could throw up before he even started eating; what are they doing to this boy?
+++++<\/span>\u201cHere you go, Xiaojin!\u201d Zongneng said cheerfully, placing a bowl of baby food in front of the boy along with a colorful spoon. But the spoon was pointless; Xiaojin grabbed the mushy food with his hand, shoveling it into his mouth.
+++++<\/span>Renzou\u2019s stomach turned. He covered his mouth with his hand, squeezing his eyes shut as though pretending this wasn\u2019t happening might make it disappear. \u201cWhy did I agree to come here?\u201d he thought desperately. \u201cWhat is wrong with this family?\u201d
+++++<\/span>\u201cEveryone, dig in,\u201d Said Mr. Shin In his low, commanding voice.
+++++<\/span>Renzou hesitated, slowly opening his eyes to look at the food before him. His appetite was gone, replaced by a sickness he\u2019s never felt before.
+++++<\/span>Renzou kept his head low, his eyes fixed on the table as everyone picked up their utensils and began eating. The clinking of knives and forks against plates filled the air, accompanied by the faint, wet sound of chewing. The meat in the center of the table gleamed under the chandelier\u2019s light, it was strange-looking, a slight gray color, and renzou couldn\u2019t even begin to tell what type of animal it came from.
+++++<\/span>The longer Renzou sat there, the dizzier he felt. The oppressive air of the house weighed heavily on him.
+++++<\/span>\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you eating, Renzou?\u201d Zongneng asked suddenly, his tone light, almost teasing. He tilted his head with a faint smile. \u201cYou don\u2019t like my cooking?\u201d He chuckled softly, but the sound sent a chill down Renzou\u2019s spine.
+++++<\/span>\u201cU-uhm\u2026 No, it\u2019s not that, it\u2019s\u2014\u201d Renzou stammered, his voice barely audible.
+++++<\/span>\u201cEat.\u201d
+++++<\/span>The single word came from Huo, cutting through the air like a knife. His voice was low and commanding, a tone Renzou had never heard from him before. It made Renzou\u2019s heart skip a beat as his gaze snapped toward the boy sitting next to him. Huo\u2019s deep eyes were locked on him, unblinking, his expression devoid of anything.
+++++<\/span>Renzou\u2019s hand trembled as he picked up a piece of the meat with his fork. Every instinct screamed at him to stop, to put it down, and to get up and leave. But the weight of their stares were suffocating. Slowly, he brought the fork to his mouth and took a bite.
+++++<\/span>metallic, sour, and revolting is all he could taste. His face twisted in disgust, and his stomach churning as he forced himself to swallow.
+++++<\/span>\u201cHow is it, Regjin?\u201d Mr. Shin asked, his voice steady and emotionless. A sharp click echoed immediately after, though Renzou couldn\u2019t tell where it came from.
+++++<\/span>He blinked, his brow furrowing as confusion overtook his nausea. \u201cRegjin? Who\u2026 who is that?\u201d he asked, his voice shaking.
+++++<\/span>The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to choke on. Huo\u2019s deep, dark eyes stayed fixed on him, unblinking, as a faint smile ghosted across Zongneng\u2019s face.
+++++<\/span>\u201cYou, silly,\u201d Zongneng said with a laugh, his head tilting. That same sinister smile clung to his lips, mockingly. \u201cWho else?\u201d
+++++<\/span>\u201cYeah, Regjin,\u201d Ms. Shin chimed in, her voice soft but strained. \u201cHow was school?\u201d
+++++<\/span>Click.<\/i>
+++++<\/span>That strange, sharp sound followed her words again, setting Renzou further on edge.
+++++<\/span>\u201cI\u2014I\u2019m not\u2026 I\u2019m not Regjin,\u201d Renzou stammered, his voice cracking as he looked around the table, his heart pounding.
+++++<\/span>The room froze for a beat, and then came the sharp crack<\/i> of Mr. Shin\u2019s hand across Renzou\u2019s face. The force sent Renzou\u2019s head snapping to the side, his cheek stinging as tears started forming in the corners of his eyes.
+++++<\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t talk back,\u201d Mr. Shin grumbled, his voice low and deep. \u201cYou are who we say you are.\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou clutched his face, fear flooding his veins. His mind screamed at him to run, but his body refused to move. he felt dizzy, like he could pass out at any moment.
+++++<\/span>\u201cDad!\u201d Zongneng gasped. \u201cDon\u2019t smack him like that! He\u2019s your son too!\u201d
+++++<\/span>Renzou\u2019s head spun, forgetting about the sting in his cheek from panic flooding his chest. \u201cYour son too?\u201d The words echoed in his mind, terrifying.
+++++<\/span>Summoning what little strength he had left, Renzou pushed himself up from the table. His legs wobbled beneath him, failing to keep steady as he stumbled toward the doorway.
+++++<\/span>The sound of chairs scraping against the floor followed him, and the heavy footsteps weren\u2019t far behind.
+++++<\/span>Renzou clawed at the walls for support, his legs unsteady and his vision twisting and turning. The hallway felt endless, the corners turning in on him. Every step was a struggle, but he kept going, desperation and the thought he would never see his sibling again driving him forward.
+++++<\/span>But he wasn\u2019t fast enough.
+++++<\/span>A strong hand gripped his shoulder, yanking him back. Before he could react, he was shoved down onto the floor.
+++++<\/span>Huo was on top of him, straddling his chest and pinning him in place. His pale eyes glistened with something unrecognizable; pity? Sadness?
+++++<\/span>\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Renzou\u2026\u201d Huo whispered, his voice trembling. \u201cBut you\u2019re Regjin now. You have no choice.\u201d
+++++<\/span>True fear surged through Renzou\u2019s body. His heart pounded in his chest as dread consumed him.
+++++<\/span>Then everything went black.<\/p>\n![\"Facebook\"](\"https:\/\/www.close2thebone.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/facebook.png\"\/ "\\"Share")
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