Woman who returned cursed painting rebought it and now wants it professionally cleansed
We all love bagging a bargain down at the charity shop, don't we?
I know I do.
But for one woman, her purchase led to some unexpected consequences in her life.
Zoe Elliott-Brown came across a portrait of a young girl in a red dress whilst browsing in the Hastings Advice Representation Centre (HARC) shop in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.
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Taken with the £20 painting, she went to buy it and was warned by the cashier that it could be cursed.
Apparently, it'd been returned to the shop time and time again, with buyers accusing it of having mysterious powers.
Despite the warnings, Zoe, 36, made the purchase as her mum, Jayne, had become 'transfixed' by the painting.
Zoe said: "I've never seen my mum want something so much. She was fascinated by it – but not in like a positive way."
Since the painting was brought home, it has wreaked havoc in their house.
The family dog Cilla began 'growling' at the portrait when it was carried into the living room as she refused to go near it.
Jayne, 68, then began suffering from health issues such as hot flushes and shakes.
She even had to resort to wearing jumpers to keep warm, despite it being the height of summer.
Despite this, Zoe claims her mother was 'weirdly protective' of the painting.
She explained: "She was continually staring at it. She was running her figures over its cheekbones, she polished it even though it didn't need polishing.
"Any mention of getting rid of it... she got really snappy. It's like some family heirloom she's become protective over. My mum was point blank refusing to get rid of the picture."
Zoe's attempts to cleanse the painting's powers by placing it in a box of sage proved fruitless.
A few weeks later, Zoe was watching a lightning storm with her partner, Ben.
As they came out into a clearing three miles from their home, they saw a 'big black figure' in front of them.
Zoe recalled: "We began running back the way we had come. [Ben] was screaming that it was right behind him.
"I didn't clock that it could be anything to do with the picture but then I've never ever been chased by a dark figure in a lightning storm.
"It was the most terrifying experience of both our lives."
Deciding that this was the final straw, Zoe returned the painting to the charity shop.
But weeks later, she would find herself being drawn back to the painting.
With the painting back in her possession, Zoe is now looking for a professional to rid the painting of its curse.
She explained: "[I wanted] to get it to someone who actually knows about this stuff and can do something positive with it," she added.
"I thought knowing my luck some idiot will go and get it and try and burn it and I don't really want to be left with the remainder of whatever the hell has been going on.
"Technically I was the last owner. [I want it] dealt with properly."
Ben Thompson