"Well done, Pumpkin. Your mother and I are so proud of you." My father tells me, his forest green eyes shining with tears of joy as he wraps his strong arms around me and squeezes tightly. "Alright, Gerald! My turn!" My mother interrupts, playfully slapping his arm with her purse.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEyfBXVNIK
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He steps back, still smiling as my mother hugs me close, stroking my thick blonde hair and kissing my cheeks, leaving bright red lipstick marks after each kiss the way she used to every day before school.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgz6OXLBY0
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Just then, my brother appears in the doorway of my new dorm room. "I still can't believe you're going to college." My mother says, dabbing her face with her silk handkerchief.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJNhwHER6I
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"Well, I can't believe you all made me carry her stuff up all these stairs! What did you fill these things with? Bricks?" Says Jason as he drops both suitcases on my single bed to the right of the room. I walk towards him and ruffle his thick, red hair."I'm really going to miss you, you little rugrat." 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOrGB91kfy
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaZBEARr7n
"Alright. We have a long drive ahead of us, so we better get going and give you a chance to settle in, but before we go, I want to give you something." I turn towards him, excited about finally receiving the special surprise he's been talking about all week.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmvb1VsurM
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU5UM59Z0K
He reaches into his pocket before extending his hand and placing a small box, covered in dark red wrapping paper on my pillow. "It's just a little something I found that I thought you'd like. I want you to open it up once we're gone." I smile and wrap my arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek as I pull back.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCOET5daHX
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmwt26ackX
"Thank you, Daddy." He nods and we all exchange quick goodbyes before they leave and I'm left alone in the quiet room. I walk over to the other side of the room, looking at the bare walls and plain bedding. I wonder if I'll have a roommate, I think to myself as I unzip the first bag.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlcOIFFUyn
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9oJ6MEUU9
The next two hours pass by in a blur, and finally I'm almost done unpacking. I just finished laying the last of my toiletries on the old oak dressing table, when I look up and something catches my attention in the mirror. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUTBv8uo9E
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4fTNeUYx0
A girl with straight, jet-black hair and large hazel eyes is standing in the doorway. The first thing I notice is that she has no bags, which is a little weird considering her side of the room is bare, so she clearly didn't unpack before I arrived. Her skin looked pale and arms skinny as she slowly walked into the room. I put one hand on my chest as I turn around, excited to make a new friend. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxTdm3vIh8
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHLCnhYof3
"Oh my goodness! You startled me! So lovely to meet you, my name's Katerina but you can call me Katy." I say cheerily as I skip over to her. I expected some sort of handshake, hug or actually anything besides the icy silence I was facing right now as she stared at me with unblinking eyes while I held my hand out and waited. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpceRD1DwB
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUdyC3DwPF
After a few moments I realise that she isn't going to say anything so I let my hand fall back at my side before turning away and walking towards my side of the room. She's probably just very shy, that's all. I'm sure once she settles in we'll be the best of friends. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ISbqjsyr
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZv7mXSjtG
I tried to make small talk a few more times after that, but was met with the same uncomfortable silence, while she did nothing but sit on her bed and space out for hours until eventually I gave up, showered and climbed into bed. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZiUmEuk6u
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6S1oLaQHB
Just before I switched my lamp off for the evening, I remember my father's gift. I quickly rip the wrapping paper to pieces and gasp, trying to conceal an excited squeal the second I see the black leather underneath.
As soon as I open the little jewelry box I see the most gorgeous necklace I've ever laid eyes on. The sparkling ruby stones dangle from the thin, elegant silver chain. My vision goes blurry as my eyes well up with tears.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dFyLhYnwB
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyysYrpE3M
I quickly wipe them away, not wanting my roommate to notice. Just when I'm about to close the box, I see a little note peeking out from under the soft pillow the necklace was resting on. I mouth each word as I read. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qVFO1tSCS
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lFAPNZOyf
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtVI7qnouw
Dear Katy,682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh01G6TbY9N
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFg0aC5DJH
I found these stones on my latest tour in Egypt, it once belonged to a very powerful pharoah. I know how much you love history so I pulled a few strings and got this for you. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VCKhWG855
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGqicv13kW
Love, Dad.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkiULR8Si8
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682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2unXuRRhiW
Wow, that's insane! My heart is beating hard and fast in my chest as I gently run my fingers over the priceless gem. It belonged to a real pharaoh! How many people can say they own something like this? My thoughts are interrupted as, for the first time today, my roommate speaks up. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNODVRgm6j
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepD9LkM2x9
Her voice is barely a whisper as she looks at me with sad eyes and says, "I used to have one just like that." I look over, surprised to have finally heard her say something. I'm about to reply when she lays down and faces the other way, shutting down any chance of conversation. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo66YgSgU7
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiodctzjZcV
I sigh and put the necklace back into it's box, closing it with a loud snap before turning over and drifting off to sleep. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsqnEXLg7S
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HoJemJbEN
I wake up from a terrifying nightmare hours later with my heart racing and my clothes drenched in sweat. My eyes are closed but the hot breath caressing my cheek makes it clear that there's someone inches away from where I'm sleeping. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMScKJUiV5C
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyeMSteD85
I try my best to calm down, I'm sure it's just my imagination. There's nobody in here, the dream I just had freaked me out that's all. I tell myself this over and over before I finally build up enough courage to open my eyes, it's something I wish I never did.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrMuDMg7Km
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BsPFPK2Bp
I stare up towards the ceiling, suddenly feeling like all the air has been pulled from my lungs, as my eyes rest on a horrific creature hovering above my bed. Her black hair is flying wildly all around her, the clothes she had on when she arrived are shredded, revealing muscle and bone underneath.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VMrNA7TzI
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ864t6xy9pL
I gag as she slowly gets closer and the smell of death gets stronger. Her once pale skin is now yellow in colour and decomposing, leaving her cheek bones exposed and eye sockets empty. The smell is almost unbearable as she swoops down, suddenly wrapping her hard, skinny fingers around my neck and squeezing.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvHOnqV9Fv
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXc7sutcP7
I fight hard, uselessly swinging my arms and crying hard as I watch my fist pass through her while I struggle with the feeling of someone sitting on my chest, making moving almost impossible. Suddenly she opens her mouth, exposing rows of sharp teeth and darkness as her jaw dislocates and her face twists unnaturally. I feel weaker and weaker as she squeezes, and I'm left spluttering, staring at the thing I was told never existed in the first place. I can't believe it, I'm going to be killed by something I never believed existed; a Pharoah's curse.
Tears run down my face as my arms drop down, no longer carrying the strength to attempt to push this thing off of me. Darkness starts to cloud my vision, and an indescribable pain erupts from my oxygen deprived lungs, and still I can't move. I close my eyes and think of my family, of all the people I never got to say goodbye to, the future I'll never get to experience. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGFBjVJgzU
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I let out my last breath as I give in to the darkness, no longer having the will to fight a losing battle. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhssKjlkdlQ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquhNFJdY2e
The next morning I'm woken up by the bright rays of sunshine streaming in from the window above my bed. I blink a few times before rolling over and standing up. I feel weird though, like something's not quite right. I try to move my hand up to my face but my body doesn't respond. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq91LrZK7zq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtGqmOvxQJ
"Oh, no you don't." I hear myself say. Well, it sounds like me, and it felt like it came from my body, but I didn't say that. I try to sit back down on the bed, but once again nothing happens. Instead I find myself picking up the necklace my dad gave me and walking over to the small mirror on the dresser. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YUXb9FHgL
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRQgAAOsFa
I put the necklace around my neck and suddenly I feel weak again, not physically, despite my body not responding, but mentally. As if I'm barely able to think straight. I watch the reflection in the mirror numbly as a smile spreads over my face, a smile not at all like my own. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFgmL7QupH
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI93qNeRI8
Just then, the door bursts open and a plump young girl in jeans and a purple hoodie comes in, carrying two large suitcases in her hands and a sheet of paper between her teeth. She walks forward, drops her bag on the floor and extends her hand. "I'm Trish, your new roommate." I feel that same unfamiliar smile creep onto my face as words I never planned to say come pouring out of my mouth. "Hi! Lovely to meet you, I'm Katy. I'd love to stay and chat, but I have such a busy day ahead of me. I'll see you a bit later though, I have a feeling we're going to be best friends."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxnE7WyOFd
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzF4AciRbw
I grab my backpack and march out into the empty hallway. I try in vain to scream and shout as panic takes over once more. Although I can hear my attempts in my head, no sound comes out. Only when I hear a deep, menacing laugh echo in my head and bounce along the walls out loud, do I remember exactly what happened last night. That's the moment I realise, Daddy's gift is a curse.
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