The Curse of Zaza

    By Joseph Perricone

    The Curse of Zaza cover image

    17 May, 2024

    a woman sitting on a bed in a bedroom with a window behind her and a lamp on the side of the bed, american realism, a poster, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, promotional image

    Mia, a daring high school senior, sat in her room, bored and restless. She had always loved the thrill of the unknown, the unexplored.

    a group of people sitting on a bench in front of a house at night with a lit candle in the foreground, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), comic cover art

    During a sleepover, to entertain her friends, she proposed they summon Zaza, a malevolent entity from an urban legend, as a joke.

    a group of young women standing in a hallway next to a doorway with a light on above them and a door way to the room, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Artgerm, comic cover art

    They gathered around the mirror, chanting Zaza's name three times. Mia, trying to keep the atmosphere light, wished to ace her upcoming exams.

    a woman sitting at a table with a book in front of her and a lamp above her head in a library, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Bastien L. Deharme, art greg rutkowski

    The next day, Mia found a mysterious textbook with all the answers she needed. She used it, acing every test, but soon odd things began to happen.

    a woman with long hair standing in a dark hallway with a window behind her and a light on above her head, photorealism, a photorealistic painting, Aleksi Briclot, ultra realistic digital art

    Mia started to sense a chilling presence. She constantly felt watched, and whispers seemed to follow her. The horror was just beginning.

    a painting of a group of women sitting at a table with papers and pens in front of them,, private press, a comic book panel, David Palumbo, comic cover art

    Her friends started facing terrifying accidents, and some even disappeared. They realized Zaza was real and was exacting a gruesome toll for granting Mia's wish.

    a woman reading a book in a library with a chandelier above her head and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, fantasy art, a character portrait, Art of Brom, magic the gathering artwork

    Mia, driven by fear and desperation, started researching Zaza. She discovered Zaza was a vengeful spirit, bound by a curse and fueled by the fear of her victims.

    a woman holding a candle in her hands in a dark room with a brick wall and a window behind her, gothic art, a character portrait, Charlie Bowater, comic cover art

    With her friends' lives hanging in the balance, she realized she had to break the curse. But Zaza delighted in their fear, making every step a harrowing descent into horror.

    a painting of a girl looking in a mirror with a creepy look on her face and another girl standing behind her, fantasy art, a character portrait, Bastien Lecouffe-Deharme, mars ravelo and greg rutkowski

    Mia decided to face Zaza, to fight for her friends. She confronted the entity in the mirror, demanding it to release them from its curse.

    a woman standing next to a large animal in a forest with other people behind her and a bear on the other side of the picture, primitivism, a poster, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, promotional image

    Zaza, thriving on fear, grew stronger. But Mia remained resolute, her determination unyielding. It was a battle of wills, the air heavy with tension.

    a woman standing in a room full of debris and broken windows with a clock on the wall behind her, brutalism, a character portrait, Dirk Crabeth, promotional image

    Mia, despite her fear, stood strong. She recited an ancient incantation, the air crackling with energy. The mirror shattered, Zaza's shrieks echoed, and then, silence.

    a woman standing in front of a crowd of people on a street at night with a full moon in the background, harlem renaissance, a comic book panel, Craig Davison, comic cover art

    Her friends started reappearing, confused but unharmed. Mia had won. She had broken the curse, banished Zaza, and saved her friends. But she knew she would never forget the terror of Zaza.