Timothy_Odhiambo

Perhaps he had gone up the tree of love a boy and come down a young man, maybe he had learned not of its mysteries.

Chris is torn between his love for Laura and his obsession with Amelia, a woman he has never expressed his feelings to. When a close relative, Ann, tells him a lie that Amelia is betrothed to another man, Chris is driven to commit a terrible act. In a moment of madness, he kills Amelia, only to realize as he lays her lifeless body on the ground that it was their engagement day.  But will Chris  face the consequences of his actions and come to terms with the devastating truth of what he has done?

This story explores themes of love, obsession, and the destructive power of lies. It is a tragic tale of a man who loses everything because of a misguided heart.

STORM OVER A PARADISE:THE DARK LOOM

On the day of reckoning, when the winter's chill gnawed at the marrow of the townsfolk, they huddled by the hearth, as if seeking solace from the biting cold. They arrived - not abreast, but in a solemn procession as if each step was a silent prayer.

Garrissa was the first to arrive, her face crumpled with wrinkles that told stories of years of struggle. Ann followed, her eyes reflecting the fire's flicker, a lighthouse in the sea of darkness. Lastly, there was Chris. His shoulders sagged under an invisible weight, he sought refuge in a shadowy corner. From this strategic vantage point, he could bear witness to the unfolding drama without drawing a harsh spotlight on himself.

"Chris," Ann's voice was barely a whisper as she approached him cautiously. "She's in the other room."

His body stiffened at her words. Rising from his seat, he felt the wind whip around his frail form. A haunting melody began to play in his mind - a tune filled with the laughter of hyenas and the hissing of rattlesnakes. It was the song of his enemy.

Laura saw him rise and walked over to him. "Stay," she pleaded softly, her voice barely audible over the howling wind.

But Chris was not deterred. He gave Laura a scornful look and walked away without a word, leaving her rooted to the spot with her heart hammering in her chest as she watched his retreating back.

Laura followed him at a distance as he ventured into the final nights. He paused at a point to scrutinize his surroundings before embarking on his journey.

He pushed open the door and strode across the room. He reached her side and leaned in close to her ear. "You're mine, Amelia," he whispered.

She turned to face him and in an instant, the melody of his rival swelled again, reaching a fever pitch that seemed to transcend the earthly realm, perhaps for he could not believe his eyes, yes it was Ann, he came to think over and over but her face faded away and now that of his demon came and it angered him.

Yet, His lips found solace on her forehead, a futile attempt to silence the symphony. Yet Ann's words laced with treachery only served to amplify the discordant notes. The falsehoods tore him apart - for just as a lion is not born with fangs, so does deceit kill mortals.

Perhaps it is nature's cruel design that all creatures must kill to persist. He peered into her cerulean eyes and saw a smile that belied her betrayal. His hand delved into his pocket and emerged with a dagger wrapped in oilcloth. With one swift motion, he plunged it into her back.

Her scream echoed through the room. As he laid her lifeless form on the cold earth, her fingers weakly grasped his collar and with her final breath she whispered - "It was our engagement."

He held her limp body closer and murmured - "I know my love. I know." He pressed his lips to hers now cold and lifeless whispering - "Happy anniversary, but I cannot bear to see you with another."

All this while Laura had been observing from the doorway. A surge of elation filled her heart as she watched Chris unsheathe his dagger and deliver the fatal blow.

Perhaps the crimson haze clouding his mind began to dissipate for he made to leave but something tethered him. He turned and ambled over to a table in the corner where a glass of wine stood.

Laura watched in horror as Chris drank from the wine glass. The room seemed to spin around her and she felt a cold dread creeping up her spine. She wanted to scream, to warn him but no sound came out. The rotten oak floor beneath gave way leaving her suspended in mid-air like a lifeless fish tossed about by the whims of ocean currents."

The End Begins.