The Marauder's curse

Muses Publication Society Presents

The Marauder’s Curse

Index

Eden Elections 2023-2024 - 1 Welcome Party - 2 Blood Donation Drive - 3 Vikings Super Cup - 5 Mental Health Awareness - 7 Pinktober - 8 Sorting Hat quiz - 9 Friday the 13th - 12 Haunted Whispers - 13 Fantastic Beasts Almanac -15 Psyche Decor - 19 Hogsmeade’s Finest Froth - 24 WizFilm Reviews - 25 The Enigma Files - 26 Sorting Cinema - 33 The voice in your head - 35 Eerie Encounters - 41

Eden Elections 2023-2024

by Alisha Fatima, Mashael Faisal, Muneeb Ahmed and Karen Santamaria This year, Eden Elections 23’-24’, was fierce. The candidates for Head Girl were Prinka Kumari, Maleeha Nasir, and Amael Amin while Muneeb Ahmed, Hamza Sami, Hassan Zeeshan, Haseeb Chaudhary, Amr-e-Rabi and Abdur Rehman were the candidates for Head Boy. Some candidates made allies to form their campaign teams, this mostly included their devoted friends, showing unity amongst peers, with students lending their support to the candidates they believed would best serve the school. The race was marked by a flurry of activities as candidates left no stone unturned in their quest for votes. Campaign posters were found on the college's walls, benches, windows and even on the teacher's laptops.

Many candidates gave stickers to their supporters while many made memes! Campaign speeches were held a week before the votes, and many speeches captivated at attention of their fellow students.

When the day of the elections arrived, students voted through a confidential, electronic process.

Each voter weighed the candidates' promises and potential contributions to the school community and then decided whom to place their votes for.

After a couple of days, the moment of truth finally arrived. The college students gathered to witness the selection of the newly elected leaders.

The Head Boy position was taken by Amr-e-Rabi while Amael Amin was awarded Head girl. Prinka Kumari was elected to be the Deputy Head girl while Hassan Zeeshan was elected to be the Deputy Head Boy. All candidates were simply delightful and showed great potential to be memorable leaders.

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Welcome Party

By: Karen Santamaria, Talha Manzoor and Muneeb Ahmed he Welcome Party for the Batch of 2025 took place on the 5th of October at Hawksbay where students of AS and A2 were invited to join a fun and relaxing experience at the beach.

As the students boarded the bus on their way to the beach, an air of excitement filled the vehicle. Laughter and chatter echoed through the bus as friends shared their anticipation for the day ahead. Some played upbeat music, turning the journey into an impromptu dance party in the aisles. Others shared snacks and told stories, further building the sense of camaraderie.

The college beach party was an electrifying event that left everyone buzzing with excitement. The bright sun, warm sand, and rhythmic waves set the stage for an unforgettable day. Many moments later breakfast was served which included Halwa Puri and Bun Kebab.

Beach volleyball and football added a competitive edge, while others lounged outside of the hut, sipping on refreshing drinks. As the sun was beaming down on everyone, students began searching for shade to sit under. Soon enough lunch was served and students got to eat biryani and barbecue which got positive reviews due to its aroma and flavourful taste.

As the day turned into evening, a breathtaking sunset painted the sky, creating a mesmerizing backdrop to the festivities and students took this as an opportunity to click as many photos to seize the moment.

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Blood Donation Drive By: Alisha Fatima, Mashael Faisal and Iqra Hashim Picture this in your mind: Monday, 9th October 2023, a sunny day, and the clock showing 9:00 AM. Eden College's auditorium was buzzing with activity, and it wasn't for typical announcements or friendly gatherings of college events, it was a blood donation drive, a day to make a difference in the lives of others. This energetic crowd was busy until 4:00 P.M. This incredible event was a collaboration between Kaavish, the college's welfare club, and Indus Hospital.

Kaavish, with its volunteering affords, called on its members to step up as its representatives. They took on important tasks like helping with registrations and keeping track of house points where 20 to 25 points were required, making sure everything ran smoothly. The best part? It wasn't just about donating blood. Anyone who wished to volunteer could do so. No pressure, no obligations, just a friendly invitation to make a positive impact.

Now, let's talk about the age rules. If you're 18 or older, you're in! All you needed to do was provide your CNIC number while filling out the registration form. Easy, right? For those who were 17, there was a little extra step. They had to complete and submit a consent form. This form was like their ticket to donate blood. Without it, donating wasn't possible. They did their part and submitted those forms at the registration desk, all on that special Monday, 9th October’ 23.

As for the younger ones, those aged 16 and below, they had to wait a bit. While their enthusiasm was heartwarming, the rules said they weren't eligible to donate blood just yet.

But the real heroes of the day were the folks from Indus Hospital. They brought in all the cool stuff, from special chairs to syringes and bandages. They made sure everything was in place to make this day as smooth as possible.

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Here's how the blood donation process went down. First, they checked your weight to make sure you were in good health. Then, they guided you to a comfy chair where they put a Velcro strap on your forearm. This made drawing blood super easy. The kind nurses and doctors then checked for your veins, and they used a gentle alcohol swab to clean the area. Next up, they carefully inserted a syringe attached to a bag to collect the blood. And guess what? According to the students who donated blood, it was a breeze. No pain, no problems, just a smooth and easy process. The nurses and doctors were gentle, caring, and cooperative.

This event wasn't just about giving blood; it was about giving hope. It was a reminder that when people come together, they can create something amazing.

Every drop of blood donated was like a drop of kindness in the world, and it made a big difference.

Let it be an inspiration for you and others. Blood donation isn't just about blood; it's about extending a hand to those in need. It's about unity and caring. This special day at Eden College was a reminder that together, we can create a better, kinder world.

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Vikings Super Cup By: Eshal Dagha and Eshaal Nawaz

From 12th October to 18th October, the Vikings’ Super Cup sporting event was conducted in Eden College. A competition between numerous schools fills the college with a bustling atmosphere.

The participating schools were CJM, Origins, Education Bay, Habib Public School, DHA CSS, Keystone Academy, Haque Academy, Credo School, Greenland Public School, AMI, World Academy, PECHS Girls’ School, PEACE International School, Reflections, Nixor O Levels, Beaconhouse and Happy Palace Grammar School.

Futsal winners Girls: Haque Academy Boys: Credo School Throwball winners Girls: DHACSS PHASE 4 Basketball winners Girls: DHACSS PHASE 4 TEAM A Boys: Habib Public School Badminton winners Girls: DHACSS PHASE 4 TEAM A Boys: BSS Gulshan Table Tennis winners Girls: PECHS GIRLS SCHOOL Boys: NIXOR Eden College congratulates all the winners and recognizes their hard work and dedication. Organizing such an event brought out young talents and passionate kids. Every participant showcased their brilliant talent and immense enthusiasm throughout the tournament and shone while doing so!

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Daniyal from Habib Public School amazed everyone with the amount of baskets he scored during the Basketball matches. Mariyam from AMI dominated the throwball court and for the most popular sport, Futsal, Zara from Haque Academy and Suleman from Credo excelled in the field.

Huge shout out to Miss Yasmeen for directing and managing the whole event. Our amazing student council was a huge help as well. Fatima ZahidCaptain of Griffin's House was responsible for scorekeeping and helping with the management of the whole tournament. Head girl Amael Amin and Deputy Head Girl Prinka Kumari did a wonderful job presenting and closing the award ceremony.

Media manager, Ammar Raza captured memorable moments throughout the tournament. We thank them all for their effort in making this tournament as magical as it was! Of course, we cannot forget our amazing sponsor Young’s Spread. The company partnered up with Eden College for the Vikings’ Cup and fueled our contestants as well as our students with a variety of unlimited sandwiches.

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Mental Health Awareness

By: Muhammad Shahbaz, Mashael Fasial, and Talha Manzoor Mental Health Day at Eden College was marked by a deeply impactful session that shed light on the imperative nature of prioritizing mental well-being.

The day commenced with a series of earnest conversations emphasizing the crucial role mental health plays in overall well-being. Students, faculty, and guest speakers participated in these talks, emphasizing that the issue of mental health should never be sidelined or dismissed. The discussions delved into the intricate personal experiences of students grappling with depression, revealing the profound impact it had on their daily lives and academic pursuits.

Throughout the session, a poignant narrative emerged, underscoring how depression often becomes a significant hindrance to educational success. Students articulated how the persistent feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, and an inability to focus created barriers to their learning and academic progress.

The discussions seamlessly transitioned to address the pervasive issue of anxiety and its profound impact on the student community. The open and honest dialogue fostered a sense of empathy and understanding within the college community, highlighting the importance of creating a nurturing environment that prioritizes mental well-being and provides accessible resources for students in need. The session on Mental Health Day at Eden College served as a reminder of the significance of recognizing, understanding, and supporting individuals struggling with mental health issues within the academic setting.

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Pinktober

By: Eshal Dagha, Amael Amin, Muneeb Ahmed, Arfa Khalil and Eshaal Nawaz

Throughout the world, the month of October is dedicated to educating people on breast cancer. Breast cancer is a severe lifethreatening disease that affects every 1 in 9 women (a small number of men can also develop it) and is the top diagnosed cancer today. However, it is also one of the only cancers that can be completely cured, which is why bringing awareness to breast cancer is done so enthusiastically.

On the 19th of October, our student body came decked out in all shades of pink clothing. The hallway was decorated, and students were ready to have a fundraiser and a blast.

A bake sale was held throughout the day with all sorts of goods being sold. Ranging from sweet and tangy wings to delicious brownies, chocolate balls, all sorts of flavored cakes, tres leche, cupcakes, refreshing pink lemonade, pasta and lastly, who can forget biryani?

We also had a super informative and interactive session with Ms. Sabeen and her team who told us that women are also affected mentally by this disease. Our girls learnt a great deal from them about the signs of breast cancer and how to avoid developing it or catching it at its earliest stage. The day ended by bringing fruitful profits from the student vendors which were donated towards research for breast cancer awareness.

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Sorting Hat Quiz

By Alisha Fatima and Ayesha Ansari 1) What pet animal are you most likely to have?

A. Snake.

B. Owl. C. Cat. D. Ferret.

2) What spell would you use to protect yourself from a death eater?

A. A shield charm.

B. Avada Kedavra.

C. Portego.

D. Expecto Patronum.

3) Which character would you like to be friends with?

A. Luna Lovegood.

B. Neville Longbottom.

C. Professor Slughorn.

D. Newt Scamander.

4) You are doing a group project. What do you do?

A. Take charge and lead the group.

B. Let others do your work for you.

C. Do a little of everything.

D. Volunteer for everything.

5 ) Do you cheat in class?

A. No, of course not!

B. Yes, everyone cheats.

C. It's not cheating, it's helping people who are struggling.

D. Depends on my preparation.

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6) You see a group of students picking on someone. What do you do?

A. Go up to the bullies and tell them to stop.

B. Laugh.

C. You feel pity for the victim but would mind your own business.

D. After they are done bullying, you find the students and help them.

7) Where would you like to live?

A. Weasley's house.

B. Malfoy manor.

C. The Lovegood's residence.

D. Order of Phoenix headquarters.

8) What would your position be at the Ministry of Magic?

A. Auror.

B. Minister of Magic.

C. Healer D. Someone who deals with muggles.

9) If you ever were to be a part of the movie, what role would you like to play?

A. The hero/lead role.

B. The villain/anti-hero.

C. The second lead.

D. Supporting role.

10)Lastly, who's your favorite Harry Potter character?

A. Hermione Granger.

B. Draco Malfoy C. Luna Lovegood.

D. Cedric Diggory.

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Answers: If you got mostly As you are a Gryffindor: Gryffindors are known for their loyalty, bravery and boldness. They're the only ones who won't be the bystanders when anyone's being teased. They are emotionally intelligent and may not all be A-star students like Hermoine but they manage to get decent grades. However, they are known to be short-tempered and restless which is why a lot of them probably have a type of ADHD like Fred and George!

If you got mostly Bs, you are a Slytherin: Slytherins are often seen as ambitious and cunning but in a good way. Contrary to popular belief, they are not two-faced, mean snakes and might use unconventional methods to achieve their goals but they mean well. Unfortunately, they're sometimes misunderstood and labelled as villains. Their character growth often occurs later on. they're known for their leadership qualities, though this can come across as bossiness.

They are talented debaters although argumentative. you could see Slytherins participating in every MUN, beating the Gryffindors' butts in every committee.

If you got mostly Cs, you are a Ravenclaw: Ravenclaw, the "smart house," values learning, wisdom, wit, and intellect. Ravenclaws can always be hungry for information. They can not decide on one major because they're interested in learning about everything under the sun. They are logical and rational. They use their learning and intellect to help their friends in need when they need it. Many muggles mistake them for just being smart and snotty which is not the case. Being a Ravenclaw means you are wise, talented and hard-working.

If you’ve got mostly Ds, you are a Hufflepuff: Hufflepuffs are known to be pure-hearted. They're loyal and honest and are most likely the mom-friend and/or the therapist friend but they frequently get told that they're being 'too sensitive'. They are passionate about human rights issues and love to attend protests. Some mistake them to be too kind, but if any of their friends get hurt, you best believe they will fight with everything they have to stand up for them.

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Friday the 13th By: Anita Bhojani, Prinka Kumari, Marjan Shahid, Karen Santamaria and Amael Amin Thriller - Michael Jackson Beat It - Michael Jackson Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell Another One Bites The Dust - Queen Little Dark Age - MGMT Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs Maniac - Michael Sembello Somebody Got Me Started - Simply Red Killer Queen - Queen Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett, The Crypt-Kickers Freaks - Surf Curse Oh Klahoma - Jack Stauber All the good girls go to hell - Billie Eilish After Dark - Mr.Kitty Cradles - Sub Urban INFERNO - Sub Urban, Bella Poarch Bury a friend - Billie Eilish Masquerade - siouxxie sixxsta

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Haunted Whispers By: Arfa Khalil and Karen Santamaria Heard a Knock? by Karen Santamaria The relentless tapping on my bedroom window woke me, and I peered out into the inky darkness. Rain poured, and lightning briefly revealed a ghastly figure, drenched and distorted. I froze in terror, unable to move.

The figure's grotesque face pressed against the glass, and its bloodshot eyes bore into my soul. Its lips parted, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. A guttural voice whispered, "Let me in."

My heart raced as the room grew colder. I clutched my covers, praying it was a nightmare. But the glass shattered, and the creature slithered in, its malevolence filling the room. I was trapped by the ungodly presence.

Stuck Between Reality & Memories by Karen Santamaria In the dimly lit, decaying asylum, Sarah sat alone in her room, her eyes darting nervously. Schizophrenia had taken hold of her mind, tormenting her with hallucinations and whispers. She clutched her trembling hands, desperately trying to hold onto reality.

One chilling night, the whispers grew louder and more sinister. Shadowy figures danced at the edge of her vision, their cruel laughter echoing through the empty corridors. Sarah's heart raced as she struggled to differentiate the real from the imagined.

As the days passed, her grasp on sanity slipped further. The asylum's cold, stone walls seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, feeding her paranoia. Sarah began to scribble frantic notes, convinced that they held the key to the truth behind her torment.

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One evening, a malevolent entity took the form of her deceased father, his eyes hollow and accusing. He whispered that she was responsible for his death, that her schizophrenia was her punishment. The room seemed to close in, and Sarah's screams pierced the night.

The asylum staff, hearing her cries, rushed to her room. They found her curled in the corner, her eyes vacant and devoid of recognition. Her grip on reality had been torn away completely.

Sarah's tragic descent into madness, fueled by schizophrenia, was a horror story that would forever haunt the corridors of that asylum. It served as a chilling reminder of the terrifying and relentless nature of the human mind's darkest afflictions.

Spectral Serenade, a short horror story by Arfa Khalil In a quiet cottage surrounded by a big, dark forest, there lived a deaf artist named Lily. She loved the peacefulness of her home, where the only sounds were the whispers of the trees. One evening, though, something changed. A strange person with a hidden face appeared out of the shadows. This person made Lily feel uneasy and disrupted the calm she enjoyed. At night, a creepy song echoed through the woods, luring Lily to explore its mysterious source.

As she walked deeper into the forest, Lily found an old, spooky mansion. The song seemed to come from there. Inside, she discovered a creepy music box.

When she opened it, the song got even scarier, and the room filled with shadows.

The mysterious person showed himself, looking very mean. Lily realized he wanted to take away her ability to speak, trapping her in silence forever.

Terrified, she fought against the dark force.

In a scary ballroom, she found an old chant that could break the bad connection between her voice and the spooky song. Lily bravely said the chant, and the mansion crumbled away. The bad person disappeared, and the creepy song went away, too. Lily went back to her cottage, and the once-silent forest was now filled with the usual sounds of nature. As the sun rose, Lily knew the scary night was over. But the memory of the spooky song stayed with her, a reminder of the eerie moment when silence almost turned into something much scarier.

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Fantastic Beasts Almanac

By: Anita Bhojani, Karen Santamaria, Alisha Fatima and Shaima Ahmed 1) Azhadaar by Alisha Fatima Azhdaha or Azhdar is a mythical creature in Iranian mythology. They are basically like dragons who can live on air, the sea and even on land. In Persian literature, Azhdaes are described as a giant snake with wings. They are known to have a huge body and a vicious-looking face, they have a wide mouth with many teeth and bright eyes.

A book written by Mohammad B. Mahmoud describes them as normal snakes, but since they can live up to 100 years, Their length increases to approximately 30 gazes(a traditional measure of approximately a meter). He further states in the book that since they harass other creatures, God throws them into the brew where their bodies continue to grow and they eventually grow two wings. The waves in the ocean are said to be caused by the movement of these Azhdars.

According to the historian Hamd Allah Mustaufi Qazvini narrates the same thing but adds that they grow so much that they aren't able to fit in the sea hence when they are killed, their meat is used to feed the people of the land. Some benefits of the Azhdar are as follows:If you eat the heart of an Azhdar, it brings you bravery and courage. Their skins are suitable to heal wounds (of love) and if their heads are burrowed, the soil of that area flourishes. Many other myths talk about Azhadaar as a monster that many heroes have killed and protected their people from.

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2) Wendigo by Shaima Ahmed A mythological cannibalistic monster in the spiritual tradition of North American Algonquian-speaking tribes. It is associated with winter and described as either a fearsome beast that stalks and eats humans or as a spirit that possesses humans, causing them to turn into cannibals. Some legends say the wendigo is an emaciated figure with ashen flesh.

Others describe it as a giant creature up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall or as a beast that grows larger the more it eats. It may have sunken or glowing eyes and sharp yellowed fangs and claws. Its lips are chewed or entirely missing because it has eaten them. It may be hairless or have fur, and it may have pointed ears and horns or antlers like a deer. It smells of rotting flesh and is usually first detected by humans by its horrible odor.

Wendigos are believed to have exceptionally sharp eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell as well as superior strength and speed to stalk and overpower their victims.

They live in colder climates among the woodlands and lakes of Canada and the northern United States. They can move easily through deep snow and across ice. A shaman may be the only person who can subdue and destroy a wendigo, using either a silver, steel, or iron bullet or a dagger. Some legends, however, claim the wendigo’s heart must be cut out and melted or burned in a fire before its spirit is truly vanquished.

The wendigo is sometimes described as a spirit rather than a physical presence. In Cree mythology, for example, the wendigo is believed to be an evil spirit that possesses humans. The spirit enters a person by biting him or her or through a dream.

The possessed person becomes cannibalistic or otherwise deranged or violent. Some people are believed to be more susceptible to becoming possessed by a wendigo, including those who are greedy or gluttonous as well as those who are suffering from hunger or starvation. A colloquial phrase for this experience is “going wendigo.

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3) Barmanou by Karen Santamaria The Barmanou is the Pakistani equivalent of the Bigfoot.

The proposed range of the Barmanou covers the Chitral and Karakoram Ranges, between the Pamirs and the Himalayas. This places the Barmanou between the ranges of two more famous cryptids, the Almas of Central Asia and the Yeti of the Himalayas. The Barmanou allegedly possesses both human and apelike characteristics and has a reputation for abducting women, It is also reported to wear animal skins upon its back and head.

The Barmanou appears in the folklore of the Northern Regions of Pakistan and depending on where the stories come from it tends to be either described as an ape or a wild man. Shepherds living in the mountains have reported numerous sightings of the Barmanou.

The males are a little over six feet tall and very hairy, the females are smaller in size and have less hair. They walk upright; appear muscular and extremely strong, and have longish arms and large feet. Speech is limited to guttural grunts and high-pitched shrieks when angry or hurt. Their food is nuts, berries, fungi, roots, leaves and, quite possibly meat but, whilst they do prowl around remote houses during the winter, they do not steal livestock.

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4) Mare/Kikimora by Anita Bhojani This creature was mostly known as a demonic entity among the Germanic and Slavic cultures. The word 'nightmare' itself has a version of this demon’s name within it (mare). Regional differences have a variety of names for the demon ranging from Kikimora (East Slavs), Mora (South Slavs) and Zmora (West Slavs). Although it has a range of names, it is a creature with a specific talent for causing a serious lack of sleep.

If you ever had sleep paralysis and woke up trembling, fearing to go back to sleep, the Slavs would likely blame it on this demon. It was said that they would sit on the victim’s chest and steal either their strength or blood. By morning, they would leave when the victim awoke. In the worst cases, some people may not have woken up at all.

Typically, they were thought to be shapeshifters, like many demons in Slavic mythology. Their normal form was thought to be dark and humanoid, sometimes resembling a rotting corpse or a vampiric creature, while Kikimory was believed to have looked like old crones. They could shapeshift most commonly into animals such as cats, mice and frogs but even inanimate objects were possible for these demons.

They were believed to have the souls that had once belonged to wicked women who died of unnatural causes and in some cases, come back from the dead to haunt and disturb people who had wronged them.

They are quite terrifying creatures, are they not?

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Psyche Decor

by Shama Ahmed and Anita Bhojani 13th October, 1972 Archie speed walked along the pavement, his quick feet crunching through the warm-coloured leaves, the wind and icy droplets of rain whipping his cheeks red. He paid it no mind. It had started raining in the park, where he'd been sitting, waiting for an opportunity for inspiration.

He was almost home. He could get there.

He sucked in an intense breath and forced himself to move forward. A bright light caught the corner of his eye and he stopped. A run-down shop with large old-fashioned windows that bestowed a warm, golden light, enticing, whispering to him to enter.

How strange, Archie thought.

He was nearly home, an apartment he bought with the money he got from selling his paintings.

Archie had walked here millions of times searching for an inspiration, a muse.

Yet he never came across this peculiar little store.

I certainly would've noticed it, it's quite charming in its own right, he thought.

The sign read Open so maybe Archie could warm up there, away from the rain and wind biting at his skin and pelting at his soaked clothes. He pushed open the aged door, the bell ringing to announce his presence.

"There you are! Took you a long time." Archie stared.

The man who spoke was hunched over a counter. He looked to be middle-aged with wrinkles on his hands and face seemingly from years of labour. The man grinned at Archie, who thought he resembled an alligator diving in on his prey. His smile stretched wide over his cheeks, mouldy teeth on display. Archie shivered in disgust.

"Do I know you?" Archie asked, nervousness seeping into his voice.

"Perhaps, but that is not important right now." The man moved away from the counter and towards Archie. "What is important is why you have come into my shop."

"Sir, I just wanted to warm up," Archie rubbed his arm awkwardly, his coat sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

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It was an October evening, he hadn't planned on staying at the park long and the weather forecast mentioned nothing of rain. Archie's coat was not waterproof.

"I see." The man spoke, blinking slowly.

"But uh…" Archie trailed off, pursing his lips anxiously. He didn't want to be rude. The man was creepy, but he had entered his store without any intention of buying anything.

"I-I could look around." Archie finished.

The man smiled again but did not say anything.

Archie wandered the store, looking over briefly at the nicknacks and items. There was a lovely silver hairbrush, some photo frames, and an old-fashioned radio. A leather handbag caught Archie's notice. He trailed his fingers down the surface of it gingerly. A potential gift for his mother, maybe.

She loved antique items.

"Snakeskin. Very lovely bag." The man commented.

Archie's eyes widened, quickly set down the bag he had been admiring. He eyed the store desperately for some low-value trinkets to buy. He needed to leave, there was just something not right about the place.

Then it caught his eye. A lovely paintbrush set, one unlike any he had ever seen. It glinted, lovingly and carefully crafted. A bejewelled beauty of a thing. Archie stared at it, enraptured.

The man walked over to the set, delicately picking it up and bringing it over to Archie. Archie admired it.

The brushes were even more beautiful up close, shimmering where the warm light reflected off of it, almost a bit magically. The bristles were of fine quality, Archie feared damaging them. As lovely as the set was, it didn't seem very practical when brushes often had to be replaced.

They were nearly arranged in a silver case, and engraved on it were: Psyche: Craft of Richard Jameson "Psyche?" Archie asked, baffled. The man nodded, his stare greedy in a way that made Archie's skin crawl.

"An ancient Greek belief: that your soul takes the form of a butterfly. It is your mind, your feelings, your personality!"

Archie was puzzled.

"Why is the brush set named Psyche then?"

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The strange man's grin slipped from his face for the first time. Archie was taken aback and rather preferred his smile. He rolled his eyes and slapped Archie on the back, startling him. Archie stared at him in shock.

"Does it look like I know, boy?! You want it or not, I can just sell that to a more willing customer!"

"No sir!" Archie started, gripping the set.

"I'll take it!"

The man once again grinned, more menacingly than before, reaching out with his hand.

Archie searched for his wallet awkwardly, fumbling through his pockets in search of it.

"How much is it?" He asked, opening up his wallet.

"For you, I can do $40, my boy." He spoke, looking expectantly at Archie.

Archie internally sighed in relief. He could save money, he was certain the brushes would cost more than his paintings, given how stunning they were!

"Here you go, sir." Archie handed over the money to the man who greedily grasped it, shoving it in his pocket.

He smiled like the clouds covering the light of the moon plunging one into darkness.

"May the brushes paint you well." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20th October, 1972 "I don't know, Mum." Archie sighed over the phone. "It just seems arrogant to paint yourself, don't you think?" He fiddled with the cord of the phone, biting his lip anxiously.

The past few days had been tiring and unsettling after the encounter with the peculiar shop owner.

He had yet to use those brushes and every day there was something mundane to do. Work drained him and he'd yet to figure out a birthday gift for his mother.

"That's what you want for your birthday? Are you sure? Don't you want a nice dress or a pendant?

I've been saving up so I could-" Archie stopped and sighed.

"Alright, Mum." He spoke softly. "If that's what you'd like. I will start now so I can finish before I visit home.”

After a few more minutes of talking to his mother, Archie headed for his small studio.

He brought his new brush set along with a canvas, easel and sets of bright acrylic colour paints along with other items and a mirror. Setting a cup of water nearby, he stretched his fingers and placed the mirror to the side of his canvas on a stool. After a moment, Archie looked at his reflection and with a pencil in hand he started sketching out a silhouette. After a few minutes,

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a rough sketch was displayed on the canvas. Satisfied, Archie finally opened up his set of brushes.

He mixed blue, grey and white paint onto the palette, taking the largest brush to paint the background. He continued onto his skin tone, stroking rose and pale pinks over his lips and cheeks, shading the contours of his neck and collar bones.

The brush moved with ease to replicate his messy brown hair, finishing it off with shades of teal and green for his eyes. The smallest brush was perfect to delicately highlight his eyelashes, freckles and beauty marks. Brush still in hand, he stretched and yawned. Archie was proud of how it was coming together, just a few more details and he was almost finished. A portrait of a youth, serenely smiling with half-lidded eyes. He decided to get up and rest his eyes for a bit before finalizing any last details.

But he could not get up.

Suddenly, his arm with the brush in hand shot out towards the canvas. Archie watched in horror as his hand-painted over the portrait, changing and contorting it. He was paralyzed, he could not move his arms of his own will, nor his feet to run. Archie felt dizzy and half-mad with fear.

What’s happening? Why can’t I move? He thought helplessly.

It was suffocating, he felt as if he was being pushed out of his own body as if it was rejecting him.

His chest burned as his lungs and heart banged against it, threatening to break through his ribcage.

His throat was tight and his blood ice with fear coursing through his veins. Sobs threatened to spill out his tongue but he could not make a word.

Out of the corner of his eye, the mirror displayed him, completely calm as if simply painting as Archie normally would. He gained and lost consciousness as he found it hard to catch his breath. As Archie felt his consciousness slipping again, he heard noises against floorboards coming closer and closer. He could not see who it was but felt that it was a familiar presence, an encounter he could not remember but never forget.

As the mysterious figure came in front of his eyes, Archie lost all sight and his breath. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7th February, 1973 "What a lovely painting you have there!" A woman exclaimed, pointing at the portrait against the wall.

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"Yes, it's quite the charm! All my customers love it," the man smirked. "However, it's my finest piece of decor and it's a bit of a hefty price."

"Oh, I'll take it for any price!” She exclaimed as she looked at the portrait in fascination.

The shop owner observed her reaction. A beautiful portrait of a young man, his eyes lifeless and his mouth a gaping hole. And in the middle of his mouth, a beautiful and bright colourful butterfly.

"I knew the artist himself who had painted it." He said, his voice full of pride.

"Really?" The woman asked curiously.

"Oh yes! He was a talented one."

"That portrait sure proves it!"

"Indeed! A work of art. A masterpiece. It's almost like the artist put his soul into it."

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Hogsmeade Finest Froth Butterbeer Latte

By: Anita Bhojani and Ainyn Sofia Ingredients: 1 Tsp Espresso Powder (or one espresso shot) 2 tablespoons Caramel sauce or to taste 2 teaspoons Toffee Nut Syrup, or to taste 1/2 cup Milk Method of preparation: Step 1:Prepare espresso.

Step 2:Drizzle caramel sauce into your chosen mug Step 3:Pour in the espresso Step 4:Stir in the caramel syrup and toffee nut syrup in the espresso Step 5 Use a milk steamer to heat and froth the milk and add to the mug.

Tada! Your butterbeer latte is done!

If you cannot find toffee nut syrup, toast 1/2 cup of pecans and then add to a saucepan with 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of water over medium heat.

Bring to a simmer, then reduce to medium-low and reduce liquid by half.

Store in a cool spot in your kitchen.

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WizFilm Reviews

by Mashael Faisal 1- Erased: Boku dake ga Sinai machi Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Erased is a fantasy/sci-fi/crime anime that is adapted from its Japanese manga series of the same title, the anime follows Satoru Fujinuma, a 29year-old struggling manga artist who discovers that he has the supernatural ability to be sent back in time to prevent incidents that lead to the deaths of people, repeating time until he successfully prevents it, but when an incident involving his mother's death occurs he finds himself stuck in a constant loop of panic and distress, the anime explores some sensitive themes like child abduction and murder, all characters introduced play a huge part in the story, the whole series will have you at the edge of your seat as you binge through it in one go.

2- The Promised Neverland Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Promised Neverland is a dark fantasy/science fiction anime, adapted from the Japanese manga series of the same title, the anime explores a series of dark topics that can be quite gruesome for some people, it follows three 11-year-old children, Emma, Norman and Ray who plan to escape the orphanage that they have known for their whole life, not knowing that there is more to the said orphanage than the "mother" is allowing them to know and see. This anime has both the story and visuals to keep you entertained and mesmerized till the very end.

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The Enigma Files

By Anita Bhojani, Shaima Ahmed, Karen Santamaria, Alisha Fatima and Ainyn Sofia 1) The Tale of the SS Ourang Medan Ghost Ship by Karen Santamaria This seemingly eerie event is said to have taken place in 1940. The S.S. Ourang Medan, a Dutch vessel, was passing through the Strait of Malacca when it ran afoul of a mysterious tragedy. Nearby ships reported receiving a horrifying distress call. “All officers including the captain are dead, lying in the chartroom and on the bridge, probably the whole crew dead,” it stated. Then there was an unintelligible frenzy of Morse code. The radio operator had the final word: “I die.” Rescuers who boarded the vessel, found the stricken ship just as described. The crew was indeed dead, their bodies strewn across the decks.

Not only that but they were found “teeth bared, with their upturned faces to the sun, staring, as if in fear…” Even the ship’s dog was dead, frozen in this ghastly state, mid-growl at an assailant or horror unknown. There was no time to investigate the deaths or recover the bodies because shortly after the rescue crew arrived on board, smoke was seen rising from the cargo hold of the Ourang Medan. The Ourang Medan exploded, leaving nothing but a story for the newspapers. Despite the intrigue, it’s a mystery that’s gone unsolved to this day!

2) The Zodiac Killer by Shaima Ahmed Most people are usually quiet about their crimes, but "Zodiac", as he dubbed himself, was anything but. From 1968-1969, he terrorized San Francisco with his murder spree, taunting the police with his coded letters to the local paper. He had at least five killings directly connected to him, although he claims to have killed 37 people. His terror began when Betty Lou Jensen, 16, and David Arthur Faraday, 17, were found lying outside of their bullet-peppered car.

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Jensen was found dead at the scene with five gunshot wounds to her back, while Faraday died of a bullet to the head en route to the hospital. Half a year later, a couple who parked their car four miles away from that crime scene was also gunned down, one injured and one killed. The survivor, Michael Mageau, was able to describe the killer. He described a heavyset white man around 5'8". It would be the Zodiac Killer himself that would give the police the remaining evidence.

At 12:48 a.m. that same night, police received a strange call: "I wish to report a double murder. If you go one mile east in Columbus Parkway to a public park, you will find the kids in a brown car. They have been shot with a nine-millimeter Luger.

I also killed those kids last year. Good-bye."

A month later, newspapers received the first letter from the Zodiac Killer. He demanded them publish the letter on the front page or he'd go on a killing rampage. The letter described the murders, all written with mysterious cyphers that seemed to form a code. This was a common theme with the other letters he would send, all signed with a crossed-circle symbol. One such letter was decoded by a high-school teacher and his wife. It read: "I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN IT IS MORE FUN THAN KILLING WILD GAME IN THE FORREST BECAUSE MAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL OF ALL TO KILL SOMETHING GIVES ME THE MOST THRILLING EXPERIENCE IT IS EVEN BETTER THAN GETTING YOUR ROCKS OFF WITH A GIRL THE BEST PART OF IT IS THAE WHEN I DIE I WILL BE REBORN IN PARADICE AND THEI HAVE KILLED WILL BECOME MY SLAVES I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY NAME BECAUSE YOU WILL TRY TO SLOI DOWN OR ATOP MY COLLECTION OF SLAVES FOR MY AFTERLIFE EBEORIETEMETHHPITI." The Zodiac Killer would go on killing and leaving frustrating evidence for the police– coded letters, anonymous phone calls, the crossed-circle written on victims' cars, sending over blood-stained shirts, accounts from survivors– but the police never found him.

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3) Marilyn Monroe by Anita Bhojani 61 years have passed since the Hollywood starlet was found dead in her bed on August 5th in the year of 1962.

The official cause of her death was listed as a drug overdose.

It was well known that the actress suffered from severe depression but were her drugs truly the cause of her death? Many certainly don't agree with this statement.

Many theories exist surrounding this situation as her death was devastating to her fans and a curious case to others. These theories range from an accidental overdose to suicide, to murder.

One of the reasons for such ominous theories is the telephone call that occurred right before she passed on. Monroe has called Peter Lawford, the British actor who also happened to be the husband of John F Kennedy's sister, Patricia Kennedy Lawford.

She ended their conversation strangely. "Say goodbye to Pat," she told Lawford in a slurred voice. "Say goodbye to the president and say goodbye to yourself because you're a nice guy."

Monroe's housekeeper, Eunice Murray, noticed a light on at 3:30 a.m. and decided to call Monroe's psychologist Dr. Ralph Greenson and her doctor, Dr. Hyman Engelberg.

Once they arrived, at around 3:40 a.m., they found her body lying face down and nude on the bed. Minutes later, the actress was pronounced dead with the coroner's report listing the cause of her death as "acute barbiturate poisoning, ingestion of overdose," and "probable suicide."

This answer is not satisfying to many, as they believe she may have been murdered.

The reason for this is that there were rumours that she had an affair with the president since May of 1962, due to her presenting an engaging "Happy Birthday" performance just for him. 20,000 people in Madison Square watched it happen and speculation has been circulating ever since.

A popular yet very sinister idea is that due to this 'affair' she may have known too much private and political information and to protect John F Kennedy who was a 28 out.' member of the most influential political party, she was, in simple terms, 'taken

Marilyn Monroe was given a prescription for 25 pills, but the investigation found that she had taken around 47 pills. This difference has led to speculation and theories about her death.

It's a detail that adds to the mystery surrounding it. If Monroe had indeed committed suicide, there should have been traces of the digested pills left in her stomach; there weren't any. It has been thought that Monroe died of an injected overdose of drugs but the coroner's report said that there were no puncture marks found on Marilyn Monroe's body.

Did the report cover up something that should have been known to the public? Likely, we will never know for certain. What do you think happened that August evening?

4) Jack The Ripper by Alisha Fatima In 1888, in the streets of Whitechapel, London, a malicious force known as Jack the Ripper terrorized the people of that area. He targeted women, especially those who were prostitutes in the slum areas. The city was gripped by fear as a series of cruel and puzzling murders unfolded, leaving the killer's identity a secret. This is the chilling story of a murderer who left a trail of unimaginable horrors in his lifetime, forever engraving his name into history.

Jack the Ripper was also known as the Whitechapel Murderer or Leather Apron.

The victims had their throats cut and their bodies mutilated. People assumed he might've been a surgeon or someone who knows a lot about anatomy as many of the victims have had their organs removed. There were letters found claiming to be written by the killer, However, this is still unsure as it might've been a way to make the 'story' more interesting. One of these letters came with a piece of kidney supposedly belonging to one of the victims hence the name Jack the Ripper The police looked into 11 murders in Whitechapel and Spitalfields between 1888 and 1891, but couldn't prove they were all connected to Jack's murders. Five of the victims, known as the "canonical five," were however believed to be done by Jack. this is because after the body's autopsies deep slash wounds to the throat, abdominal and genital-area mutilation, organ removal, and facial mutilations were found on these 5 bodies, which were believed to be the distinctive features of the Ripper's way of murdering his victims.

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A large team of policemen conducted house-to-house inquiries throughout Whitechapel. Suspicious materials were collected and examined. Suspects were identified, traced, and either examined more closely or eliminated from the inquiry. The main suspects were mostly Butchers, slaughterers, surgeons, and physicians suspected because of the manner of the mutilations. More than 2,000 people were interviewed, from which 80 people were known to have been detained. Following the murders the Commissioner of the City Police, James Fraser, offered a reward of £500 for the arrest of the Ripper. Queen Victoria, believed the pattern of the murders showed that the culprit was a butcher or cattle drover on one of the cattle boats. Since Whitechapel was close to the London Docks it was a possibility that the murderer did belong to the cattle drovers. The cattle boats were examined but the dates of the murders did not coincide with a single boat's movements and the transfer of a crewman between boats was also ruled out.

Up till now, no one has been able to identify Jack The Ripper.

5) Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH 370 / MAS 370) by Ainyn Sofia 9 years ago…

“Good Night, Malaysian Three Seven Zero.”

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370) was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared from radar on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China.

The crew of the Boeing 777-200ER, last communicated with air traffic control (ATC) around 38 minutes after takeoff when the flight was over the South China Sea. The aircraft was lost from ATC's secondary surveillance radar screens minutes later but was tracked by the Malaysian military's primary radar system for another hour, deviating westward from its planned flight path, crossing the Malay Peninsula and the Andaman Sea. It left a radar range 200 nautical miles northwest of Penang Island in northwestern Peninsular Malaysia.

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With all passengers and crew aboard presumed dead. The search for the missing aeroplane became the most expensive search in the history of aviation. The lack of official information in the days immediately after the disappearance prompted fierce criticism from the Chinese public, particularly from relatives of the passengers, as most people on board Flight 370 were of Chinese origin. Several pieces of debris washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean during 2015 and 2016; many of these were confirmed to have originated from Flight 370.

After a three-year failure to locate the aircraft, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre heading the operation suspended its activities in January 2017. A second search launched in January 2018 by private contractor Ocean Infinity also ended without success after six months.

At various stages of the investigation, possible hijacking scenarios were considered, including crew involvement, and suspicion of the aeroplane's cargo manifest; many disappearance theories regarding the flight have also been reported by the media. The Malaysian Ministry of Transport's final report from July 2018 was inconclusive but highlighted Malaysian ATC's failures to attempt to communicate with the aircraft shortly after its disappearance. In the absence of a definitive cause of the disappearance, air transport industry safety recommendations and regulations citing Flight 370 have been implemented to prevent a repetition of the circumstances associated with the loss. These include increased battery life on underwater locator beacons, lengthening of recording times on flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders, and new standards for aircraft position reporting over open ocean.

This case is still a mystery to this day, pray for MH370…

6) The boy in the box (January 13, 1953 – February 1957) by Daniyah Mirza A 4-year-old boy whose extensively beaten body was found on the side of the road on Susquehanna Road, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1957. When he was found it appeared that he had gotten a recent haircut and his nails were perfectly trimmed. His body had endured a heavy amount of physical abuse before his death along with being heavily malnourished. The police concluded that the most likely cause of death was blunt force trauma.

The body was in the woods along Susquehanna Road, the body was first discovered by a young man who at the time had set up rabbit traps which were illegal in that particular state so he did not report the body to the police in fear of being charged. The next person to find this body was a college student who coincidentally saw a rabbit running into the underbrush area that he knew was a rabbit trap so he went to investigate once he did he found the boy, but he was reluctant to 31 report it to the police to avoid contact with them but

upon hearing the news of another missing child whose name was Mary Jane Barker he decided to tell the police. Examining the body the police noticed that the body had chunks of hair clung to the blanket that had wrapped the body.

In 1957, the case was opened and the child’s fingerprints were added to the database to see if they matched. No useful information was gathered since the police had gotten no tips.

The case was able to gather the media’s attention, The Philadelphia Inquirer printed 400,000 flyers to raise awareness in hopes of being able to get any information about the child. In 1998, his body was exhumed to collect DNA, which was taken from his tooth, in 2016 and 2019 his body was exhumed again to collect more DNA to get a digital facial reconstruction done.

In November of 2022, the Philadelphia police department came out with a report stating that the child was identified through the use of genetic genealogy, a cousin of the victim had recently uploaded their DNA into the database so the child was then able to be identified as Joseph Augustus Zarelli, with the help of the cousin the police asked to take the DNA of their mother who was a first cousin of the victim they agreed and so a court order was released for the retrievement of the birth certificate of Joseph which contained his parent's names which then helped further the investigation.

Various speculations and attempts to solve the case, such as the involvement of a foster home and the claim made by a woman named Martha, have added layers of complexity to the investigation. The psychic's involvement and the subsequent exploration of the foster home did not yield conclusive evidence, and Martha's account could not be corroborated.

Despite advancements in forensic technology and investigative techniques, the mystery of Joseph Augustus Zarelli's murder persists. The fact that his identity has been established is a crucial development, allowing for a more humanized perspective on the tragedy. Still, the search for his killer continues, leaving this case as an ongoing, mystery. It underscores the challenges and complexities that can arise in investigations, especially those involving historical cases with limited available evidence and potential misinformation.

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Sorting Cinema

By Muhammad Shahbaz, Anita Bhojani, Shaima Ahmed and Mashael Faisal Reviews 1- Five Nights at Freddy's The long-awaited release of Five Nights at Freddy's has finally arrived and fans could not be more excited (or disappointed). The trailer had many people disheartened by the lack of gore and the PG-13 rating but it certainly was not nearly as deplorable as some fans thought it would be. While the storyline was somewhat different, it gave a very interesting spin. I for one, much as I loved playing the game, would get bored if I had to watch the security guard simply watch the cams and try to conserve electricity. Having our main character explore the pizzeria allowed for a much more interesting sight. To avoid further spoiling it for those who have not watched it, I will simply say that the movie takes a different approach and for the FNAF fans who have waited for a long time, this movie is truly a gift and worth watching.

2- Exorcist: Believer The movie begins strongly, using silence and misdirection to create an unsettling atmosphere. However, it gradually loses its initial power as the story disperses, focusing less on the main characters, Victor and his daughter Angela. Victor's tragic past, losing his wife in an earthquake, is gradually revealed, affecting his overprotectiveness of Angela. The narrative misleads viewers with initial hints of a Catholic exorcism storyline, yet ultimately adopts a broader approach, incorporating various spiritual perspectives. Characters like the concerned neighbor Paula and the hesitant Father Maddox join the battle against the possessed girl. Victor, urged by a Haitian demon-battler, reconsiders his abandoned beliefs. The movie maintains a considerable number of jumpscares and while the movie falters in maintaining its early intrigue, it attempts to explore a diverse range of spiritual dimensions, departing from the conventional exorcism film narrative. In conclusion, the movie received mixed critique from the viewers, some highlighting the lack of a horror 33 element while others argue that the diversion of the story at the end was lackluster.

Recommendations: 1- Mrs Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" follows Jacob Portman, who discovers a hidden orphanage for children with extraordinary abilities after his grandfather was killed. They live in a time loop to protect them from dangerous creatures known as Hollowgasts led by Mr Baron. Jacob, realizing his connection to them, joins their quest to save their guardian, Miss Peregrine, from a looming threat. The story combines fantasy, mystery, horror and coming-of-age elements, featuring vintage photographs that enrich the narrative.

2- Little Women (2019) Little Women is one of the classic tales of literature with multiple retellings. The newest retelling, however, is truly one of the most accurate retelling of the famous book. "Little Women" follows the lives of four sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – as they navigate adolescence to adulthood in 19th-century Massachusetts. The story explores themes of love, ambition, and family bonds, highlighting their individual journeys and close-knit relationships. It is enlightening to see how the sisters interact with one another even when they each have striking personalities that differ from them.

3- Shaun of the Dead Shaun of the Dead is a classic thriller apocalyptic comedy from the early 2000s, well 2004 to be exact. The storyline follows Shaun, an electronic salesman with no ambitions and his homebody of a roommate Ed, finding out that the world around them has changed overnight due to a zombie apocalypse. This thriller comedy is just what you need to watch on a weekend with family or even alone, this movie is not much based on the horrors of a zombie apocalypse but rather on living despite it.

4- Warm Bodies I have loved this movie since childhood and it surprises me just how underrated it is.

Chances are, you've seen it at one point or another but it certainly is worth a rewatch!

Following the (undead) life of 'R' who can't seem to remember his name, we watch him meet a human girl, Julie. The story offers you a weirdly sweet spin on a post-apocalyptic world with a dash of comedy and romance. It is an absolute must-watch for anyone interested in a funny version of some zombies.

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The Voice in your head

By Shaima Ahmed The universe is a vast mysterious portal to the unknown. Scientists believe they discovered at least 4% of the universe but who's to say that’s true? The same can be said about the ocean.

Some people may not like what they discover and some may be fascinated and become curious.

Though as they say “Curiosity killed the cat.”

As the Earth moves around the Sun, so does life with all its victories and tragedies. There are many instances when someone desires for the world to stop for just a moment, whether it is to capture an instance or to wonder about their next step. Sometimes, people desire for the world to stop relishing in the feeling of satisfaction of ruining one’s life by killing them or by killing their hope. People will cry out that it’s the devil's work. They could never imagine someone being capable of doing it. But they’re wrong.

Anybody is capable of ending someone’s life. All they need is a push to make a decision that will change the lives of many. People will kill for money, knowledge, love, or life. These are the things humans believe are most powerful and they must acquire for their happiness. But they are mistaken.

The breeze was cold and sent chills down the young man’s spine even though it was only the middle of November. He ran through the barely lit street bumping into the few passersby who were walking to work or from work. The moon shined through the clouds as the man gasped for air. He ran as if someone was chasing him, barely even stopping for a break. The people he stumbled into wondered what could have caused the President’s son to be in such a state.

Marcus Colt, son of Theodore Colt, the President of Unilever. Many people say that the Colt family has it all. Money, influence, power, and connections. But we all know that everything they have always comes at a price. And more than usual, the cost is always full of blood, sweat, and tears not of theirs but of others. So it makes one think, why is Marcus Colt running in the most dangerous part of town?

As Marcus runs further into the night, the street slowly becomes bare of other people. He slowed down as the street became darker and void of any life with only a single street lamp and the moon’s soft glow battling with the unforgiving fog that laid upon the city for weeks.

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Marcus finally came to a stop, leaned on the street lamp and desperately clung for air. His once expensive striking Brioni blue suit was full of sweat and dirt with wrinkles all around. His appearance which he once prioritized at all matters, no longer mattered to him.

Marcus glanced over his shoulder to check his surroundings. He had never stepped foot in this part of town. He shook in fear as he assessed his situation, trying to find his way back into the light but to no avail. He couldn’t go back even if he did manage to make his way out because his entire world had crumbled with the news he had received.

As Marcus looked around, he noticed a dark alleyway. It drew him in, as though it was the very place he was longing for when he, himself, did not realize it. He stepped forward and hesitated.

What am I doing? He thought to himself. It’s crazy! Why should I even go in that direction, I could get mugged or worse killed! Father certainly wouldn’t be pleased if I came on the news with the headlines blaring that I was robbed in a secluded alleyway. I would be the laughingstock of the century! But………..what is in there that my entire body is ready to run in?

Marcus had many questions and he knew that all his questions would be answered if he entered the pathway. And so he did. He took a step forward and another step and another step and slowly he entered the dark and ominous alley.

He looked around him, taking in the empty ground where normally would have been where trash cans were, filled to the brim with pieces of newspapers lying around and rats settling in.

And yet, there was nothing. No torn-up posters or dull graffiti on the brick red walls and no trash bins or clutter anywhere. The pathway was bare of any human touch. It made Marcus nervous.

Even with the alarm bells ringing in his head, he walked further into the alleyway. The fog, persistent as ever, blocked his view from looking far. He was practically walking blind, taking hesitant steps to feel the road ahead of him. Marcus felt like it had been hours when his feet bumped into a wall. He reached his hands out to feel the wall’s rough texture. He felt around him in hopes of an open path but found none. The alley led to a dead end.

“Why did I even bother-” Marcus started as he stepped and turned around to walk back the way he came when he walked into a wall again. Startled, he touched the wall in confusion and exclaimed: “What in the bloody hell is going on here?!”

He turned around and saw the previous dead end he had come across open up to a pathway.

Marcus was always a science-over-magic man and so was understandably terrified. He did not know what had just happened but he knew he wanted to leave this place immediately.

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He waited in anticipation, taking deep shaky breaths. The fog relented its tyranny and gathered on the ground playing the part of a serene ocean. Marcus did not know what to do. Should he walk forward? Or should he stay where he was? In both cases, he was aware that he was in danger. After a few minutes of debating with himself about what course of action should he choose, he raised his leg disturbed the ocean cloud, and moved ahead.

Marcus jogged onwards with no clue of what was ahead, adrenaline running through his veins and pushing him further on. He could only hear the noise his Oxford black shoes created when they slammed on the concrete floor announcing his presence. He only ran straight but felt like he was lost, far too deep in the broken labyrinth. He jogged for what seemed like hours when he stopped. He put his hands on his knees and kneeled. He could go on no longer.

Before he could form a thought, a voice spoke: “Marcus Colt. What a pleasant surprise.”

Marcus turned around in alarm. He was not sure where the voice came from and looked around him.

“W-who's there? How do you know my name? Where are you?”

“There is no need to know my name or where I am or how I know your name. All you need to know is that I can help you.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t need help, especially from someone who won’t tell me their name or where they are. Is this your doing? Are you behind that wall that came out of nowhere?”

“So many questions. Yet you don’t want to know the answers. The lesser you know the better, is that how the saying goes?”

“Answer me!” Marcus exclaimed.

“Tch tch tch, quite the temper for someone who is in a picky situation. Are you sure you do not need help?”

Marcus became silent. The voice was neither a man nor a women. It was something else entirely but sounded human-like. Monsters weren’t real. That was a fact. He knew it was dangerous but was out of options. He hesitated and then spoke into the unknown37 void:

“Wait. You’re right. I do need help.”

“And what is it you need help with, Marcus Colt?”

“A woman- a woman who I am seeing is pregnant. The baby is mine. She said she wanted to be a mother and raise it. I begged her. Told her I was not ready to be a father. She doesn’t care and says she will embrace the child in her home. My father will kill me if he finds out.”

“I see. Very upsetting indeed. But it still does not tell me what you need help with.”

“I-.” This was it. If he continued, Marcus would be forever indebted to whoever this was. “I want you to make her forget me. Whatever means necessary. I’m not ready to be a father.

I’m too young. Make her forget me!”

There was a prolonged silence before the voice spoke: “Hmm. I see. You wish to be forgotten from her life as if……. You never met her?”

“Yes! Yes exactly, I don’t want any relationship with the baby. I don’t care what happens to it. I told her long before, she told me she understood but I can’t. I can’t let it get on the news. Everything I worked for will be for nothing. I can’t do anything right and I’m just so tired and-. God, I wish I was invisible.”

“You wish to be invisible?”

“Yes, yes I wish to be invisible to anyone who knows me. I will pay any price you ask of me! I just wish they forgot I even existed!” Marcus yelled. Silence fell over. He looked around him, silently begging for the voice to come back. He did not know why he ranted to a stranger, only that the strange voice had a comforting tone to him. The kind of tone that made you believe anything was possible and how much Marcus hoped anything was possible at that moment.

“Are you sure you will pay any price for this wish?” The voice questioned, intrigued.

“I will! Whatever you want! It’s yours!”

The voice then replied in a happier, joyful tone. As if it was content with what Marcus had said.

“Your wish shall be granted.”

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“Breaking news! For tonight’s news, we have alarming news at hand. A body was discovered in an alley in Hampstead. Police have stated that the body was discovered by a homeless man who resided in that alley.”

“The homeless man who goes by Alan says that he was taking shelter for the night early due to the fog when he bumped into something heavy. He found out quickly it was a body and ran to the nearest police station to alert them.”

“The body was identified by his physique as a young man in his early 20s wearing a Brioni blue suit and Oxford shoes. What is perhaps more alarming for all the investigators is the fact that the man had no signs of substance use, or bruises of any kind to suggest suicide or homicide but also the fact that the man had been disfigured to the point of no recognition. We will not be showing any pictures of the body to not cause discomfort.”

“The police are hard at work to identify the man by his DNA but so far have been unsuccessful. From a leaked source, it has been said that the man had no name, date of birth, or any personal details. There are no captured images of him on the nearby CCTV cameras and workers from the brands Brioni or Oxford footwear branches claim they have never seen this man or have the information that he had bought from them.”

“Police have said that they will update when something comes up but one thing to note is that this is not the first time a victim like this has not shown up. There have been countless victims who have been disfigured and not recognizable. It is frightening to know that whoever did this is still out there at large and continuing his sick games even after 5 years when we believed we were safe.”

“Indeed it is, Jane. We can only hope that the police are successful this time and capture the monster. Until then, BBC News will be updating you on the situation as it comes by. Now let us talk with Patrick on the development of…………………..”

Humans are truly fascinating creatures but also the most naive. They will always believe that whoever has more power is the most powerful. It is amusing to watch them running in circles when they are at their most desperate of times and no power will be able to save them. You see, as I said before. Knowledge, love, money, or life are not powerful. The true power is memories.

Dear Marcus Colt wished for the ones who knew him to forget he existed, and I made that come true. I made everybody who knew him forget by taking him away. Humans will say I am a monster but am I? He, himself, stated that he was ready for the price he would pay even when

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being given a chance to back out. I am no monster. Just something that can easily control your memories and read your thoughts.

I am in control of every thought, and memory you possess, create, and forget.

The belief of your supposed past lives and all the diseases involved with memory are all my lovely creations. You, humans, are not in control of anything. We simply let you believe you are for our entertainment. How many times have you walked into a room and forgotten a task you were supposed to do? How many times have you experienced Deja Vu? How many times have you felt like you are remembering a memory wrong? How many wrong variations do you think are right and how many right variations do you think are wrong?

How many times have you read a sentence of a book and retained nothing?

Where are the impulsive or intrusive thoughts coming from? Are you in control of your memories or are we?

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Eerie Encounters Sleep Paralysis by Ainyn Sofia I know it seems like a common story that when someone has sleep paralysis they can’t control themselves. Sleep paralysis is actually when I know that I'm in bed. It happened to me a few weeks ago and this thing keeps repeating in a few days.

I usually sleep at 1 am every single day and that's normal for me. I turn off my phone and at this moment I realize there is something in front of me and he stares at me. I just ignored it and I started to sleep. But then, things get worse when I feel I wanna go to the toilet a few hours later.

“Where do you wanna go?” Asked him.

I was so shocked. I can’t even wake up from my bed. Those things overlap with his red eyes. He is so different from the ‘thing’ that I saw before I slept.

I can’t talk even though I try.

“AAA.. I’m. AAA,” That’s how I react. It feels horrible when I continue my sleep and the next day my bed is wet with my pee.

Leave him alone Adam! - By Amael Amin Several years ago, when I was nought but a young girl, a puzzling incident unfolded involving my aunt and her two sons (hopefully) whose true nature remains a mystery to this day.

The clock had struck 9:30 pm, and my aunt, exhausted from a day of tireless housework, was preparing for a well-deserved rest. Her husband had guests over, so she bore the responsibility of cooking and ensuring the house was immaculate before their arrival. My aunt, being a stickler for discipline, had already tucked her two sons, Adam, aged 16, and Qais, aged 9, into their beds promptly at 8:30 pm.

As the night wore on, my aunt drifted into a deep slumber, only to be abruptly awakened around midnight by the sound of a child's distressed whimpering. It was Qais. In a flash, my

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aunt sprang from her bed and hurried to Qais' room, her motherly instincts on high alert. "What happened, my love?" she inquired.

Qais, rubbing his sleepy eyes, whined, "Adam won't let me sleep." Anxious, she asked, "Where did he go?" Qais, pointing towards his ajar bedroom door, slumped back onto his pillow.

In exasperation, my aunt left the room, her mutterings expressing her annoyance with Adam. She was deciding on what punishment she was going to administer to him when she saw the silhouette of his figure by the kitchen window. Her anger flared.

"Adam!" she exclaimed angrily. "What are you doing up at this hour, and why are you disturbing your brother?" Adam's response was unnerving, his voice tinged with an unusual glee, "I won't leave him alone, won't leave him alone!" Perplexed, she pressed, "Adam, what has gotten into you? This behaviour is unacceptable!"

But all Adam could respond with were gleeful, almost eerie, repetitions, "Heehee, I won't leave him alone, no I won't!"

With a mischievous laugh, he darted past her and vanished into his room.

Determined, my aunt followed him and turned on the bedroom light, only to find Adam's bed immaculately made, exactly as she had left it that morning. She heard the tap running in the en-suite bathroom and assumed Adam was inside. Yawning, she decided to address the issue after a good night's rest.

The next morning, her anger still simmering, my aunt sat at the kitchen table, eager to confront her son as soon as he woke up. She had missed her Fajr prayer and placed the blame squarely on Adam. She turned on her phone, noticing a text notification from her sister-in-law but decided to leave it for later. Whatever it was, it would have to wait.

When Adam finally emerged from his room, he looked dishevelled, his eyes bearing dark shadows. He immediately noticed the rage in his mother's eyes and flinched.

"Mom, I can explain," he implored.

"I am extremely disappointed in you, Adam," she retorted.

"Just hear me out!" Adam pleaded, but my aunt remained stern, declaring that nothing could justify his actions.

"Mom, I tried to tell them, but they wouldn't listen! I swear I was going to come home before 10!"

Confused, my aunt inquired, "Huh?" Adam confessed to going out without her permission but added, "Auntie Sayda insisted 42 I stay with them, and I couldn't refuse."

My aunt checked her texts, and to her astonishment, her sister-inlaw had indeed sent a message confirming that Adam had spent the night with them. "When did you get back?" she asked.

"Just before Fajr," he replied hurriedly. "I prayed before I slept!"

Dumbfounded, my aunt rose from the table and went to interrogate Qais, who confirmed that what she had witnessed the previous night had indeed occurred.

My aunt paced around the house, attempting to fathom the inexplicable events of the night. At that moment, Adam approached her.

"Mom," he began.

"What is it now?" she responded with a tinge of frustration.

He locked eyes with her and, most casually, stated, "The tap in my bathroom is leaking."

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Thank you for reading “The Marauder’s Curse”