Short Stories

The Haunted house Once upon a chilling autumn evening, five daring friends gathered around a dimly lit table in their favorite café. Their faces illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight, they hatched a plan that would forever change their lives. Lucas, the adventurous leader of the group, proposed the challenge. "I dare you all to spend the night in the old, abandoned Hauntington Manor," he declared with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We'll document everything, and it'll be epic!" His friends exchanged wary glances but ultimately succumbed to the allure of adventure. Sarah, the brave one, agreed first. "Fine, but we're bringing every piece of ghost-hunting equipment we can find." The group spent weeks preparing: purchasing night-vision cameras, EMF meters, and researching haunted locations. The night arrived, shrouded in fog and mystery. They parked their van by the ominous Hauntington Manor, an ancient mansion rumored to be c...

The last train The station platform was bathed in an eerie, dim light as the last train of the night pulled away. Sarah watched it vanish into the distance, cursing her bad luck. Her heart pounded with frustration, the sound echoing in her ears like a relentless drumbeat. She had missed it by mere seconds, her fingers grazing the cold metal of the closing door. With a sigh, she resigned herself to waiting for the next train, which was due in an agonizingly long hour. She found an empty bench, her thoughts a whirlwind of annoyance and impatience. That's when she noticed a man seated at the far end of the platform, his presence strangely captivating. He was dressed in a long, dark coat that seemed out of place on this warm summer night. Shadows danced across his face, obscuring his features, but his voice was clear and enchanting as he spoke, "Missed your train, didn't you?" Sarah looked at him, intrigued yet cautious. She could feel her heart racing, not ju...

WHEN LOVE FALTERS Sarah and David were once inseparable, their love a bright and unwavering flame that illuminated their lives. They met in college, where sparks flew and their hearts entwined. The future held endless possibilities, filled with dreams they shared late into the night. But as years slipped by, the challenges of adulthood began to test their relationship. Sarah's demanding career, with its endless deadlines and late nights at the office, pulled her away from the home they had built together. David, too, was caught in the whirlwind of his job, long hours and business trips becoming the norm.  The flame that once burned so brightly began to flicker. Their passionate embraces dwindled, replaced by hurried pecks on the cheek as they rushed out the door. Conversations shifted from aspirations and desires to grocery lists and utility bills. They no longer knew each other's dreams, only their daily routines. One fateful evening, exhaustion and frustration rea...

  Love and Witches In a world where kingdoms had long been divided by war and mistrust, there existed two powerful realms: the Kingdom of Eldoria and the Kingdom of Arcadia. These lands had been locked in a bitter feud for generations, and the scars of conflict ran deep. In the heart of Eldoria, there lived a young prince named Adrian. He was a man of noble heart and boundless compassion, known for his unwavering love for his people. Adrian's desire for peace burned brighter than the fiercest of battles, and his kingdom revered him for it. In a hidden corner of the Arcadian kingdom, a coven of witches held secrets that could change the course of history. These mystical women possessed magic older than time itself, and their hearts ached for an end to the ceaseless war. Among them was the enchanting Selene, a powerful witch with a heart yearning for a better world. One fateful day, under the benevolent radiance of a full moon, Adrian's path crossed with Selene's ...

The Price of Love and War In a remote, war-torn village cradled within rugged mountains, a young woman named Elena radiated a quiet, enduring beauty. Her life, however, bore the heavy scars of persistent conflict in her homeland. One fateful day, a soldier named Alexei strode into the village. He was a man of captivating charm and quiet strength, renowned for his unwavering courage in battle. Fate wove their destinies together when Alexei sought refuge in Elena's modest cottage. As the relentless tempest of war raged outside, a tender love began to unfurl between them. In each other's embrace, they found a refuge from the world's turmoil, dreaming of a life where war was but a distant memory. Yet, the war, born of political discord and territorial ambitions, had bound the village in its cruel grip for far too long. Homes lay in ruins, fields yielded nothing but sorrow, and the warmth of community had dwindled into a pale ember. Amidst the chaos, Elena and Alexei...

DREAMS BEYOND A SMALL TOWN Short stories by Okello CHAPTER ONE   Once upon a time in the heart of Kenya, in a small town called Tumaini, there lived a girl named Jemima. She had dreams as big as the vast African sky, dreams that whispered in her heart, urging her to make something of herself in the bustling city of Nairobi. Jemima had a childhood filled with darkness. Her parents, hardened by their own struggles, were toxic and cruel. Their words cut deep into her soul, leaving behind scars that would last a lifetime. Loneliness had become her constant companion, a shadow that followed her every step. One fateful day, when Jemima was barely fifteen years old, she received a letter from a boy named Michael. It was the first letter she had ever received, a glimmer of hope in her otherwise bleak existence. But her parents discovered the letter, unleashing their fury upon her fragile frame. She endured a merciless beating as punishment for daring to believe in something beyond their su...

DREAMS BEYOND A SMALL TOWN CHAPTER TWO  One year had passed since Jemima's art exhibition, and life had taken an unexpected turn. Despite her initial success, her small business began to struggle. The demand for her crafts dwindled, and sales plummeted. The weight of mounting bills and financial instability bore down on her, threatening to suffocate her dreams. Desperate to make ends meet, Jemima worked day and night, pouring her heart and soul into her art. But no matter how hard she tried, the spark that had once ignited her creations seemed to have faded away. Doubt crept into her mind, and a heavy sense of defeat settled upon her weary shoulders. One gloomy day, as rain poured down upon the city, Jemima received a visit from a cold-faced businessman named Mr. Johnson. He was the landlord of her small apartment, and the weight of unpaid rent burdened their conversation. Mr. Johnson, unyielding and relentless, informed Jemima that she had one week to vacate the premises. Heartbro...

 In the intricate tapestry of Jemima's life, fate had one final twist in store for her. It was a day when hope had deserted her, and she found herself adrift on the unforgiving streets of Nairobi. Utterly defeated, she wandered through the maze of concrete and despair, her spirit broken and her dreams shattered. As she trudged along, her eyes cast downward, a man's voice pierced through the noise of the city. "Jemima?" he called out, his voice laced with uncertainty. Jemima looked up, her weary gaze meeting the eyes of a stranger. But something about him stirred a flicker of recognition within her. It was him, the man who had attended her art exhibition, his face etched in her memory. A surge of hope surged through her veins, and a glimmer of possibility ignited in her heart. Perhaps this man could offer her a lifeline, a chance to rise from the ashes once again. Approaching cautiously, the man introduced himself as Marcus, a wealthy businessman who had been captivate...

Lost Boy's Love and Fortune Chapter 1: The City's Beckoning Promise In the heart of a bustling metropolis, where dreams were born and shattered with equal fervor, lived a lost boy named Oliver. The city's towering skyscrapers stood as testaments to human ambition and the pursuit of greatness. Oliver, with his tousled hair and weary eyes, navigated the concrete jungle, his footsteps echoing the beat of his restless heart. The city sprawled across the pages, revealing its vibrant streets, buzzing markets, and glittering nightlife. It promised endless possibilities, where love and money intermingled in a delicate dance. Oliver yearned for both, believing that they held the key to his ultimate fulfillment. With each turn of the page, the city's allure beckoned him, its promises echoing in his mind like a siren's call. Chapter 2: The Quest Begins Oliver's journey began with an insatiable hunger for love and a burning desire for wealth. He believed that th...

AMINA'S TRIUMPH  In the heart of Kisumu, Kenya, lived a young girl named Amina. Her childhood had been marked by trauma and pain, as she grew up in a home plagued by toxic parents. Her father was a heavy drinker, and her mother, overwhelmed by her own struggles, often took out her frustrations on Amina. From a tender age, Amina sought solace in the simple joys of life. She found comfort in the arms of nature, spending hours by the shores of Lake Victoria, watching the gentle waves caress the sandy beach. It was there that she discovered her love for the staple food of Kisumu - ugali and fish. The taste of freshly grilled tilapia and the soft, warm ugali brought her a sense of temporary escape from the harsh reality of her home. As Amina grew older, she became determined to rise above her circumstances. She studied hard and excelled in her academics, drawing strength from the dream of a better future. In the evenings, she would sneak out of her home to attend community theater works...