Novels by Esther .I. Aruna

Joe and Viola had spent three long but fun filled days away from home. Joe had completely forgotten all abt the dark house on Rye Street, he hadn't given any thought at all to whatever he had experienced in that house. He was most pleased to be in the company of Viola; the love of his life.Joe had arrived in London with only the aim of doing his best at his job as an ophthalmologist at the hospital he was assigned to, he never dreamed nor imagined he would come to find love here, but here he was loving a gorgeous woman with the strange eyes!While on the other hand, Viola thought abt her family constantly, it was a feeling she couldn't put down even if she tried. V's mum Mrs Johnson had already called her a thousand times to check up on her, there was always a certain level of warmth and care in the old lady's voice... Olivia and Amelia had called her too a few times, they always chatted happily and giggled all through their conversations, they even demanded to know every detail abou

The Johnsons fell asleep in the living room, fear had made them unable to sleep in their rooms. Each one found a place in the room to sleep on. For sure it wouldn't be anything like the comfort and softness of their beds, but it was sure better than being alone in their rooms with thoughts of a ghost in the house. They woke up the next morning with pains all over their body. The kids were already up playing around in the large hall. The air felt different today, there was a good sense of feeling all around the house. It seemed like the fear was gone. The ones who woke up first, woke the others with a tap.Awwwww! They yawned with mouths wide open and bad breaths. "I'm soooo hungry!" Viola complained first. "Me too!" "Olivia, Viola, we have got to fix us some breakfast. We can't let this— ghost thing keep us from eating, let's go!" Amelia scolded the other women. "I guess you're right!” "Come on!"The three women stood and began to walk to the large hall; the others in the roo

They had arrived at the restaurant at exactly 6pm. It was a lovely sight to behold just from the outside. The blue painted restaurant blended beautifully into the dusk of the evening, Viola peeked into the building through the glass windows of the restaurant. Petit Pois was boldly written above the building with white coloured letters. Joe took her hand and guided her to the entrance of the restaurant with a broad smile, he opened the door for the lady and she went in first through the narrow door and Joe followed after. "Wow I love this place already!" she whispered into Joe's ear.Joe chuckled and they continued to stroll along the restaurant; observing the place.Joe instantly took note of the wooden floors; he seemed satisfied with the view as he nodded with every step. They finally found a cozy spot to sit at the far end corner of the large restaurant. "This is so cool Joe!" "Yeah it is!" "How did you find this place?... I guess it's one of those places you bring your other

It was time for school holidays, another term had come to an end. The kids finally get a break from school for the next few weeks. During this time they'd get the chance to stay at home till their hearts content and play all day long. But it was also a time when parents would have a lot more on their hands. Olivia took the kids to her mum's house to spend the holiday with her mum. It was the first time the children would leave*******It was a Sunday evening that day and the Johnsons have a tradition of having a special meal every Sunday— roast turkey, meatballs, spicy soups, drinks, slow classical music, elegance and a whole lot more for the evening.It was a day William enjoyed greatly.Today was also the day Joe decided to take Viola out on a romantic date. Viola thought to herself that she has never been happier in her life; Joe was definitely the man of her dreams— he always wanted to make her happy and she was absolutely pleased with her life now as it seemed like a fairytale; A

It had been a week since the Crimson Moon appeared in the sky. A week ago Grandpa died and the mansion had trapped the Johnsons indoors, the dark secret of the Johnson family had been exposed— Late Mrs Alberta's ghost wanted revenge on her husband whom she thought had killed her years ago, every fifty years since her death, she would come to haunt the mansion she was trapped in. This is why the house was never open to visitors; the secret had to be kept a secret from all who would come to acquire knowledge of the old house. They had to keep the Johnson legacy unblemished and every family member had been able to do so for many decades— although most of them had only believed the story of Alberta's ghost to be just a myth, some even laughed at the word ghost. Only the few persons who had seen Alberta's ghost in the dark house believed and some of them lost their sanity in the process. The ones who survived the attacks never wanted anything to do with the house.********It was July in

The Johnsons fell asleep in the living room, fear had made them unable to sleep in their rooms. Each one found a place in the room to sleep on. For sure it wouldn't be anything like the comfort and softness of their beds, but it was sure better than being alone in their rooms with thoughts of a ghost in the house. They woke up the next morning with pains all over their body. The kids were already up playing around in the large hall. The air felt different today, there was a good sense of feeling all around the house. It seemed like the fear was gone. The ones who woke up first, woke the others with a tap.Awwwww! They yawned with mouths wide open and bad breaths. "I'm soooo hungry!" Viola complained first. "Me too!" "Olivia, Viola, we have got to fix us some breakfast. We can't let this— ghost thing keep us from eating, let's go!" Amelia scolded the other women. "I guess you're right!” "Come on!"The three women stood and began to walk to the large hall; the others in the room

Ryan swerved the car wildly as he drove into the car park by the side of his house. They hurriedly got down the car and ran to the house with their heads protected from the rain using a black jacket Ryan had forgotten inside his car the last time he used it; only this time the jacket had served a purpose.It rained heavily on this day that was once sunny and bright, now it was dull, wet and cold.Lara and the detective dodged into the corridor of the townhouse and continued the run up the stairs. Finally they reached the door to Ryan's apartment, both of them rushed into the apartment at the same time as though they were still being pursued by the rain... which was obviously outside! They held and supported each other to regain their balance after they had collided into each others legs, I guess it seemed funny to Lara caused she had burst out laughing, she laughed so heartily that Ryan had no other choice but to join her too. After all; they say laughter is contagious.After a series

"Lara, where the hell are you?" Gianna's voice harshly questioned through the phone. "Why? What's happened?!" "You're late! That's what happened!" Gianna sounded angry. "Shit! I'm so sorry G.... I— ". "You forgot didn't you?" Gianna asked.Lara sighed with guilt; feeling like she had disappointed her friend, "I did... It's just— I'm really busy right now— " "Too busy that you forgot your god-daughter's birthday?" "I just have something to take care of— "Gianna interrupted her again, "By something you mean the Detective right?" she sighed. "Please forgive me G, I promise I'll come by as soon as I can". "That's fine Lara, just know that he'll lock you up in jail the moment he knows who you are, he's not worth it". Gianna added. "Come on G, you know I'm with him just for the mission, you know that!" "Well— if you say so". She agreed. "Say hi to Hailey for me, okay?" "Yeah!" Gianna ended the call.*********** "Eleanor!" Ryan

Lara's day and nights were filled with romance, laughter and Ryan's arms where she felt at peace and at home with. Whenever she was with him she would find herself in a whole different world; a world of trust, comfort and fun, she had long forgotten what fun was. After her parents died she turned into a sad and angry girl and all she cared about was making money. It's true she had made some friends that would stick with her forever, people who loved her, her only family. But Lara still felt an emptiness within her... They were kids when they learned the ways of the street, they went hungry for days, they stole and didn't have a good place to sleep, but they made it out alive. The inseparable five now had full accounts and they could never go hungry.Their idea of fun was talking and laughing over a few bottles of beer, it brought them together every time but once they went their separate ways they never felt fulfilled or truly happy.... That was the emptiness they couldn't deny wi

Dark skies beautifully lit with twinkling stars, the moon glued to the middle of the pitch black sky. Ryan had found comfort in the arms of Eleanor; a jewel thief who had come into his life with a mask— a mask hiding her true identity, bearing a name different from her true nature. Unknown to the detective; he had fallen deeply in love with a strange woman. A stunning and yet cunning creature, a woman who had been forced to learn the art of street life. She had faced the hardship of life and it turned her into a tough shell; a cruel being almost incapable of love, the streets had made her greedy— always wanting more money cause it had never seemed enough. Lara had vowed never to be poor in life again, she could have anything she ever wanted, and so it turned out to be. She was living the dream, but only at a price; an expensive one— one that could put her in jail and lock her up for good. She knew what was involved in, she knew life is a game and you either play it goo

"I think this is our time to act!" "Yeah, now that he's in a bad shape, he won't be on our tail anymore". Jack opted in with enthusiasm. "You guys don't know him like I do, Ryan Steven will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even when he's in a bad shape!" Lara added with a chuckle. "We've only got three months left for the bank heist to begin", Oliver spoke next. "These things take time, we'll need time to have a really good plan so that the mission can be successful!" Gianna said with a serious face. "Yes... and we've been making some progress so far!" Mia added. "I guess you're right!" Jack agreed. "I have to gain his complete trust so he'll give me some useful intel!" "But did we have to beat him up so badly?" Mia sounded like she pitied the detective. "Well he brought this upon himself, by putting his nose in our business! ... uhhh— I just hate him so much", Lara paused. "We were this close to failing the last mission because of that detective!" She demonstrated with t

How well do we know our friends? How well do we know the people around us? Do we just look at the surface and believe they are what we think they are? We can never fully trust anyone and that’s for the best reason— we can’t read minds!Your best friend could be your worst enemy and your lover could hurt you someday, even family members turn on each other. It’s a crazy world, trust no one! They laugh with you and pretend to be happy with you but deep down their hearts are as black as night. There are some persons who come into our lives not to harm us or to lead us astray, they just come into our lives to use us. It takes extra focus and wisdom to see beyond their act. Trust no one!********* After two days and nights at the hospital, Ryan was discharged by the doctors. Lara stayed with him at the hospital, she also took him home after he was discharged. She was really getting better at her acting job. They got down from the taxi in front of Ryan’s house on a Thursday morning. Rya

I continued to leap from roof to roof, building to building, wall to wall, it felt like I could see the whole world from a distance; it was fascinating to me and for a moment I could forget what I was, and when I knew I was far away from my hometown— from the police men, I rested on the tallest building I could find— like a bird on a tree. I stood there watching, waiting and listening. I could hear everything, every sound, every noise, every person, it was loud, too loud; deafening even. I covered my ears with my palms but that didn't seem to solve anything, maybe I had to find a quieter place, away from the city.But where could I go? I hadn't travelled much even though I was a 30 year old man. I never really felt the need for me to leave Baton Rouge, to leave Elias and Delia, to leave my craftsmanship. I even hoped I would start a family of mine in the city, we could live happily in my parents house... I didn't know where to run to, I decided within me to stay on the roof top for the

I decided to live like an outcast— out of sight, I didn’t speak to anyone except I really needed to. I went over to my house that night but I knew I couldn’t stay there anymore because the police and other nosy people who must want me dead by now would soon come knocking on my door— people always fear what they can’t understand and now I’m something they can’t understand, I’m a monster! I wasn’t scared that they would hurt me but rather I was scared that I... would hurt them, I’d tear them apart and drain them of their blood, I knew what I was capable of but I was no killer, I couldn’t forgive myself if I killed another innocent person. I packed up a few important things from my apartment, like a photo of me and my parents together, as well as a photo of Elias, Delia and I. I didn’t know what else to take along, I thought of food but deep down I knew I wouldn’t eat them; because whenever I was hungry food wasn’t anywhere near my thoughts in that moment. It was more like a thirst a

My eyes opened up wide staring at the ceiling, instantly I felt different. But how? I knew I died, I felt my heart give out, how is it even possible that I’m alive? I arose on the bed with a firm movement, I felt lighter like I had no single weight on me. I studied the room but no one was in there with me. I was alive, but at thesame time I wasn’t! There was no sound of my heart beating inside my chest. In a swift sudden motion I climbed down the bed where I once laid, it was definitely inhuman to me. I knew something was different about me. I took a step and the next thing I was standing behind the door in the room, I looked back at where I was standing before, it was a distance I would normally cover with twelve to sixteen steps, but I covered it within a flash! I felt like I had gone against the wind. I looked out the door through the little transparent space on the door and I saw Elias standing with a doctor, though they were far away from where I was I could hear their words cl

I was bleeding out on the ground that night, I can still remember it vividly. Elias rushed down to where I was lying. I thought I would be dead by now, but I guess Death is as fast as they say it is. I couldn’t move, I felt my body cool down a bit from the pain but my heart kept beating wildly like never before. My eyes were wide open, finally Elias was by my side, boy was I glad to see him! A strange thing began to occur inside me just when I thought it was over. The pain started to grow, only this time it was worse than the bite, there was a fire burning inside me, I began to feel the worst kind of pain I’ve ever felt in all my thirty years of living. It was an excruciating pain— like torture! I didn’t know how else to feel or what to do, I just screamed; it was an outburst of emotion that I never planned for, I couldn’t understand what was happening to me, I didn’t even want to understand what it is, I just wanted the pain gone; but it lingered on. I saw Elias and Delia danglin

If only there was a way humans could see the future, see what was to happen before it happened, our lives would be so much better! Unfortunately for us we’re all doomed! It was a hundred years ago in New Orleans... I remember because I was there. This isn’t something I read in any history book or something I heard on the news. This is a true tale of how I became a bloodsucker!********* I was tired of watching the movie, it bored me out and I had a lot on my mind, I couldn’t take it anymore. I was feeling choked up with my own thoughts I just had to go outside for some fresh air there was no other way to it. My best friend Elias and I had chosen a day to go watch one of the movies at the theatre, he brought his girlfriend along, she was our childhood friend and we all grew up together. I was perfectly ok with the two of them falling for each other, I was truly happy! If I had feelings for Delia it would’ve been a whole different story.But that wasn’t what bothered me. I kept think

© 2022 Esther Imoseme Aruna.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means whether by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright owner.DEDICATIONTo the Salami-Aruna Family.DISCLAIMERAll names and characters in this book are fictitious. They have no existence outside this book.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All thanks to the Almighty God for his constant love!ABOUT THE AUTHOREsther Imoseme Aruna is an upcoming writer. She has written a few other books such as Forced to Marry, The Great Escape, Prey and Predator, The Wrong Dark house, Kimo the Dancing Frog, An Affair to Remember and many more are yet to come! She currently resides in Nigeria with her family.Prologue: We can’t choose who we fall in love with. Life brings us together with our soulmates and when we do meet them, we’ll know!