Cursed

--> Ch. 2 <--

Chapter 2

Age 5 (12 dreaded years ago)

As soon as I was through the door, my legs were already pounding up the stairs. My usual routine of coming home from school and sprinting to my room was in action.

I was practically panting like a dog would after going for a long jog when I stepped in my room. There absolutely no one in sight, so it was a little creepy when she spoke.

"Well it's about time." Nora's familiar little voice announced, appearing out of nowhere. The tiny, petite girl in my room was the same age as me, but tended to have an attitude with mostly everyone. It was particularly a good thing my mom couldn't hear her...

I whirled around to see Nora sitting by my bed. It looked as if it took a lot of concentration for her to do that.

Nora stood and leisurely walked over to me. "So, what do you want to play with today?"

Her beady little eyes wouldn't stop wandering over to my Barbie Dream House, so I assumed that's what she wanted play. Like always. I don't know why she even asked.

I sighed. "Barbies, I guess." Relief spread over Nora's face. I didn't know she liked barbies so much.

I got a box out of my closet that was full to the rim with barbies galore. Most of them were just Barbie or Ken showcased in a bazillion different ways. I chose the one wearing a wedding dress with pearls and everything. The toy company was so thoughtful, they even remembered the tiny, fabric veil.

Nora was still trying to find the Barbie she wanted when I was opening the doors of the barbie play house.

"I can't! Get it! Out!" Nora stiffly said, frustrated after it seemed like the fiftieth time of trying to get a specific doll out. I felt bad for my friend, non the less, all of my friends. Not even one of them could hold something as simple as a doll. And here I was showing it off to them that I could.

I set my doll onto the tiny door steps, and crawled over to where she was kneeling. Her face was red with aggravation. "Nora, do you need some help?" I asked her politely, trying by best to not piss her off even more. She had a tendency to be bi-polar.

She nodded her head fiercely, lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed in a way I'd never seen on her before.

"I want the disco one." She declared through gritted teeth, pointing at the eye-catching doll with a twitchy finger.

I reached into the box and took out the one of her request. Sparkles were all over her clothes and glitter was sprinkled onto her eyelids. Her clothing was tie-died with rainbow swirls. I was jealous that I didn't see this one first.

"Wanna trade?" I asked, like any other envious five year old probably would.

Nora shook her head and almost lunged for the barbie. Only, her hand slipped right through it.

“I said no! Just give it to me already!”

“You don't know how to hold anything. If I give it to you, it'll just fall on the floor.” I pointedly explained to her, making her face turn a shade redder.

Nora glared at me and her eyes narrowed into slits. "Reese! Give. It. To. Me." She threatened, holding her hand out for the barbie. I looked down at her waiting hand with raised eyebrows and shook my head stubbornly.

"No! I want it now!" I suddenly screamed back at her, feeling an odd pang of power in my tone, while moving the barbie above my head. Muffled footsteps could be heard just outside my door, but the arguing continued on relentlessly.