Curse of Her

By Skye J.P.

Kota loves Urban Legends, so he’s simply overjoyed when he learns that his new town is the home of a live Urban Legend; one of which the whole town is afraid of. But Kota is determined to find out the truth, and even MEET the Legend in person . . . will his interests be disappointed? Or will he become a part of what everyone is so afraid of?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Mar 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982294212

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Copyright © 2022 Skye J.P.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-9420-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-9421-2 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/17/2022

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Kota, we’re leaving in five minutes! Yes Mum! Kota replied from

upstairs, taking one last look at his empty bedroom, before he would walk downstairs and hop into the middle seat of the moving truck. He watched the house from the window, scrolling from a slow roll to a fast disappearance. That was it. Kota and his parents were off to the other side of the country, and they would never be coming back.

Sigh . . . driving across the country takes even longer than I thought. And I knew it would take a long time. Kota, we’re staying in The Vegas Hotel tonight, remember that one we stayed at during our beach holiday? Oh, right... I stammered, kind of snapping out of a daze. I remembered that hotel. It was, alright. Nothing fancy. Good enough, I was tired from this long drive. Into the carpark the truck pulled in, I just had to let out a yawn I’d been saving as we stopped. You look tired Kota, Mum laughed. Bet you can’t wait to sleep in that double bed all to yourself again. Uh-huh. I do like me a big bed. With another chuckle, she grabbed her handbag and opened the truck door, hopping down in her high heels. I was kind of afraid she’d fall if she did that, but she was fine. I soon followed after her, just with not as much energy. I sure was tired, but I

wasn’t sure why. Maybe... no, not maybe. I knew. I would miss that house, that town, my friends and my school... I felt that I would never truly be home again.

Ah, it always smells nice in here! Dad exclaimed as he opened up the door, arms wide. It must be perfume, maybe you could get it for me this Valentine’s Day? Mm-hm... I turned away as my parents shared a little kiss and snuggle. Another sigh escaped my lips as I dropped my duffle bag and plopped onto my double bed in the next room. I wonder what it’s like... I thought aloud, as I thought about Mum and Dad’s relationship.

They’re so close, yet so many parents out there these days are getting divorces within years of having children... I guess I’m lucky.

I sat up, realising I was hungry. Is it even safe to go out there yet? I joked within myself, getting up. I forgot to take my shoes off... well, what are cleaners for? Hey Mum, what’s for dinne- I was stopped. Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise you weren’t finished... Oh never mind honey. We weren’t doing anything, come have dinner. I packed something we can eat right here. Yeah, as if I didn’t disturb anything. She opened up the giant blue bag she’d brought with us and pulled out, chips. Yes, three large bags of chips. "Mum... what were you thinking? Chips for dinner? Well we don’t have much choice, we have to save as much change as we can on the way to our new house! Oh - and Kota, your new room is going to be MUCH bigger than your old one, so are you excited? Well you seem excited, that’s for sure. I opened the corn chips with a big POP and didn’t waste any time to shove one into my mouth. I am excited, and so is your father. There’ll be plenty to do in this town, and it’s much more populated so you’ll make friends easily." I stopped chewing for a moment at that sentence. Would I really be making friends that easily?

There’s also one more surprise, but I want you to find out from one of your new friends. What? A surprise? "Yes, you see there’s something, well... different, about where we’re going. But I’m not telling you, and don’t try and bribe me into doing so! She proudly munched down her all-time favourite; plain potato crisps. Dad? I hinted, shooting my eyes towards him. Nope, not spillin’."

Of course not, guess I’ll have to find out for myself... when we get there.

Well I’m off. I’m really tired. Goodnight honey, have a good sleep. The door didn’t make a single sound when I opened it, just like the door in my room. Well... my old room. Such a quiet door. I like quiet doors. I just hope things will be okay...

Alright, I’ll say it. I’m scared.

Honey, are you up yet!? A muffled voice yells in my dream. Oh wait... it’s not a dream. That bright light couldn’t possibly be a dream. And neither could that loud noise. Come on, the truck’s ready to leave! Mmm... Is all I can mumble as I rub my eyes, waiting for them to adjust. Come on, scoot scoot. That got me. Mum always used to say that when I was little if I didn’t wake up for school. Alright alright. I gave in. There was no need to get dressed or anything, I was still wearing clothes from yesterday. Yay, another day-long drive. Hey wait, I’m kidding. This is going to require an ipod and a pair of headphones at full blast. Yes, the truck’s rolling off once more, and the music pumping in my ears is driving my imagination. We pass houses, but they’re actually abandoned cottages, and the big ones are Haunted Mansions. Those trees are actually overgrown cedars, infested with wasp nests and home to the local crows and werewolves. Oh, sorry... I’ve been kind of obsessed with urban legends and creepypastas lately. No, more like my whole life. I’ve watched scary movies since I was 4, you know, the ones that other kids my age would run away and cry to their parents about, while I sat there and starred in amazement. It would be so cool if the town we were moving to had some kind of urban legend. Oh yes... how cool would that be.

Kota... scoot scoot... It’s happening again, but Mum only says that when I’m asleep. Am I sleeping? Oops. "Sorry Kota, I turned off your music hours ago because you fell asleep. Don’t want your eardrums blowing up like bombs. Bombs? I try to wake myself up more, but no need when BUMP- Woah there, that scare ya’ kid!? Haha!" Dad laughed. Now I’m awake. "The council should really pay more attention to the pot-holes in this area, they’re everywhere! Mum complained. Someone’s going to get killed out here. And some poor people are gonna get woken up. Dad, you don’t have to rub it in. He let out another giant laugh. I was so, awake. What was it? I was just so excited. Why couldn’t I stop tapping my shoes against the truck floor? My head was darting from left to right, observing this place I’d never seen before. You like what you see Kota? Huh?" Mum must’ve noticed my excitement. It may not seem so, but I did try to hide it. You know, a little. I don’t know what it is, but something just seems really cool about this town. I wish THIS is where we were moving to. Oh, is that so? I nodded. I could just feel Mum’s giant smile behind me, so I turned around. Oh God, that’s just creepy! You can’t do that Mum! Sorry, now I can’t hide my own excitement! What, do you like this place too? I sure do! And I have a surprise for you. Boy, you guys sure do like surprising me. I do love surprising my Kota! Hey, why are we slowing down on this road? There’s no hotel here. "Nope, it’s not a hotel, it’s... home! What?" Now I’m genuinely surprised.

I thought you said we were crossing the country, Mum! This is only a day away from our old house! Are you excited? This is another surprise! Go take a look at your room and then you can help us unpack. I looked up to the second-storey window within the white clatting, bricks across the single surface of that wall. Something was, eerie about it. I LOVED it. I walked up those stairs, just like the ones in my old house, only these ones creeked. Every. Single. One. I liked creeky stairs. Time to take a look inside the room... my fingers grip the cold handle. It sends a shiver up my spine and a chill runs through my body that makes me visibly shake. This is just like in a movie, so eerie and exciting. But it’s now time to turn this hard golden handle, and open the door... oh no, creeek.... Why? Why is it like this? I love scary movies, I love urban legends, I love creeky stairs and cold door handles, but I just, can NOT stand creeky doors... My ears ring and my shoulders rise with every tiny movement the door budges open. My teeth grind hard against eachother and my head cocks side to side, I can’t take this! I must get it over with, I can’t dwell on this slow squeaking, SHWOOM! Ah, the silence that comes after something ear-piercing... is horrid. My eyes are shut so tight they could split, and my shoulders tucked so hard into my cheekbones I can almost feel them cracking, is it safe to open my eyes and look around my room? Oh, too late, my left eye is already peeking. I see... darkness. The window is closed, and the curtain is blocking the light. Pee-YOO! I need to get to that window fast, I can’t breathe in here. Need, fresh air... I RIP the curtain aside and try my hardest to lift the jammed-shut window. Oh man, we must’ve got an old house. This thing won’t budge.

I run out of the room to inhale something breathable into my collapsed lungs from that dusty room. I also detected hints of mold and mildew, I hope my roof doesn’t leak... said no Kota ever! That would make all this just that much better! The sound of a light drip within the darkness, never truly knowing where it’s coming from, or if it’s even water... and as you sleep, the sound seeps into your dreams and gives you the sweetest nightmares, ah! That would be the best beginning of my very own urban legend. Yes, that is my dream. If I am to ever go out, I want to be remembered and well-known by many, as the greatest urban legend there ever was.

Kota! Are you done looking at your room!? We could really use your help unpacking! C-coming! That’s right, I only just remembered that my parents are waiting for me out the front. We’ve gotta’ set this house up if we’re going to live in it after all. Sorry Mum, got a little side-tracked. So I’m taking it you like your room? It’s nice and big, isn’t it? And dark, just how you like it. "It is the room upstairs, right? Of course! And here’s your first box. I think it’s your video games. Sweet, thanks Mum! I’ll run it up and be right back!" I couldn’t wait to take in the bliss of every stair’s creek, as even more weight is loaded onto each step from my heavy box in my sweaty palms. I left my door open though, there’s no way I was going through that shoulder-raising agony again. Heaving that box onto my frozen