I’m out exploring an area I haven’t been before, and enter a large house which at first seem to be abandoned. I turns out the house is under a curse, caused by an Egyptian statue which resides in one of the rooms. The statue is man-size, made of wicker, and with a classic Egyptian mask in black and gold.
As I enter the house, I too is hit by the curse, and am made to stand on a small ledge on the front of the building, about 4 stories up. The ledge is about one meter from one side to the other, and sticks out about half a meter from underneath the glass door where it is attached. The curse prevents me from going back into the house. Underneath the ledge is a rough cliff area, and I know I will die for certain if I attempt to jump. I know I will have to stay here for a long, long time, and am just hoping to eventually survive.
Even so, I’m not the one worst off in this house. Around the same time as me, a young boy entered. 10 or 12 years of age, sweet and innocent, large brown eyes and skin as black as ebony. He is made to stand in the middle of a room with guards continually watching over him. On his shoulders they have placed his little brother, who is no more than one or two years old. The baby boy has an iron collar around his neck, attached to a heavy chain. If his brother moves away, or falls down from exhaustion, he will be hanged. The guards do what they can to make this happen. They tease the older boy, starve, distract and torture him. But he never gives in. He just stands there, carrying his brother and the full responsibility of his survival.
One day, after many years have passed, I see a young woman, about early twenties, walking past outside. Sneakers, ponytail, fresh and sporty-looking. Reminds me of a young Brooke Shields. Her companion is strange creature, like a gorilla, but with slimy skin and almost no facial features. A mix between ape and alien. I am thinking how much society has evolved in the years I’ve been standing here, and wonder if the creature is her pet or her partner.
The two of them are searching through the house, looking for 2. hand things they can use or sell. I get very excited when I see them dragging out the Egyptian statue from the house. It is completely broken! It looks as if it has been burned in the middle, and the mask is missing. I’m thinking that if they take it away with them, the curse will be lifted. At this point I don’t even care if it will be taken out on these two instead. I am only thinking that I may still survive. When the girl looks up at the house, she sees me, and shouts a greeting. I freeze, trying to pretend I am a statue myself. I don’t want to enter into any conversation. I don’t want her asking me any questions. I just want them to be gone, and take the statue with them. But she catches the flicker in my eyes, walks back into the house, and a moment after I hear her bursting into the room behind me. She comes over, and start chatting to me through the glass door. I look at her, and she goes quiet. I hear my own voice, rusty for not having been used for so long. ‘Do you know how long I’ve been out here?’ She shakes her head. ’10 years’ I tell her. ‘I’ve been here for ten years.’
