Keiko Canonita Ong

“Between Shadows and Dreams” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Darkness shrouds the forest. A stifling silence seeps through the winding trees and shadows dance in the sliver of moonlight that makes its way through the large canopy of leaves and branches. The clouds part into two, revealing the golden light of the moon. It’s more beautiful than the sun, because amongst the darkness, the golden ball shines like an enchanting fairy. Zheng Yun looks around him, his eyebrows joining together in a frown. Was it just his illusion? He closes his eyes and takes small, short breaths, keeping them as quiet as p...

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“Walk the Plank!” by Keiko Canonita Ong

“So Blackbeard, what did you do when you were alive?” cackled one of the dead souls in R.I.P Tavern. It was just like any other day in the underworld. Dead souls floated to the counter to have their beers filled and everyone told stories, either stories that were real or not. And everybody loved asking one another about their lives on earth. Dead souls could die of boredom too, you see. Blackbeard grunted and turned his face to the interrogator, but the dead soul did not even flinch. Blackbeard wanted to sigh but he couldn’t. Ghosts don’...

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“The Perfect Job” by Keiko Canonita Ong

“You’re fired, Kat,” my boss told me. …Not again... “Uhh, Sir, I’ll do better. I’ll make sure to kill the target next time, I promise that – “ “Promise?” The guild master scoffs. “I’m sure you promised the same thing to your previous bosses, right?” I gulp nervously. He’s right, so I don’t really have anything to say. “Look here, Katerina. I run an assassination guild, not a charity house. When I tell you to kill the target, shouldn’t you kill them?” I nod rather slowly. Objectively, he’s right. Subjectively, that’s a different s...

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“He Came Like the Wind” by Keiko Canonita Ong

He came like the wind. I was crying when he came. Come to think of it, I had always been a crybaby. ‘The world hates me,’ I thought, and perhaps they did. “Go away, beggar!” I remember them say. “Filthy kid!” The nobles used to glare at me. And I did not understand at the time. All I knew was… survive. I was always hungry, so stealing had become a norm. On greater days I would find scraps of food in the trash or on the street. On worse days, however, there was absolutely nothing. It was on one of those days that he came. I was cry...

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“I Am Jane Smith” by Keiko Canonita Ong

“Jane,” Robert calls me. I’m not the real Jane. Not that he knows. I turn around and smile brightly. I’m tempted to smile without showing my teeth, but I know Jane doesn’t do that. So I grin widely and reach out to Robert. Just like what Jane used to do. Robert puts his arms around me and plants a kiss on my cheek. Ahh, Jane, do you see this? Your husband is kissing another woman, and yet he thinks that he is kissing you. Are you crying in your grave, Jane? Oh no… Jane was never buried. No one knows she’s dead anyway. Poor Jane. “Let...

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“3 Diaries, 1 Story” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #105

Bran Hayes’ Journal 31st July. Night. I must write, for sleep refuses to come to me at this hour. Today I did it. I actually agreed to Catty’s marriage with the demon, Conall. I wonder if I did the right thing. I can see that the two are very much in love, and finally I acquiesced to Catty’s pleas. I wonder if reading has shaped my mind in some way. For I am reminded that Jack shall have Jill, nought shall go ill. Well! In this case Catty is Jill. But is Conall her Jack? What if I am doing a sin by letting my sister marry such a creature...

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“Aunt Clara” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #103

“What’s this?” I pick up a piece of paper from the dusty floor. No, this is not a paper. It’s a photograph! I squint my eyes as I look at the faded picture, and I recognize the face of Aunt Clara. She looks younger than the last time I saw her, and she’s holding hands with a man. A man? This is a first. Aunt Clara was always single. She did not like or love anyone – at least that’s what I know. Hmm, perhaps this man is family… I squint my eyes again, the dust in the room is making my eyes water, but I can make out the features of the man...

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“The Mysterious Figure” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #102

The house that stood at the edge of the town was gloomy. The walls were covered with moss and creeping vines. The roof was missing some tiles and in the front porch, dead, fallen leaves lay scattered everywhere. Whenever anyone passed by the house, the wind would blow ever so gently, sending chills down the spine. The windows were always kept tightly shut, and when the moon danced in the sky, not a single lamp was lit inside the house. Who lived there? Mr. Garth did. It was said that Mr. Garth’s parents had lived there, and his grandparent...

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“A New Day” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #99

I inhale the fresh scent of grass and soddy earth, gazing at the painting in front of me. No, it’s not a real painting but – it looks just like so. Puffy clouds that swirl in the distance, encasing the sky and moving at the command of the gentle breeze. A slow, golden ball is appearing in the distance – at first it is a small dot, but gradually, it gets bigger. Like curtains in a theatre, the clouds part to make way for the main character of today’s spectacular show – the golden ball of light that glows in the day. The sky gradually gets...

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“Knock Knock” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #97

Knock knock. Ah, it’s night time. I must be hearing things. Knock knock, knock knock. Why is the sound more desperate than before? I climb down from the bed and rub my tired eyes. Light pours in through the glass panes, shining and twinkling like stars. I tread gently to the window, the soft carpet soothing my feet. When my hands come in contact with the door handle, I flinch. The metal is cold and unwelcoming. Squinting my eyes, I unlock my window and open it wide. I am immediately assaulted by strong, gushing wind that almost pushes me...

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“The Magic Window” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #97

“Hurry, Airleas!” I cry, heart pounding in my chest. My palms are sweating like there is no tomorrow, but Airleas is panting really hard, and it doesn’t look like she’s going to calm down soon. Her chest is heaving, and clear, porcelain drops of liquid are clinging to her forehead shamelessly. We can’t stop now – we have to hurry! I grab her hand and drag her forward, my body aching. Just a little bit more… “Brighid, just go without me,” Airleas whispers, her voice as soft as silk. But how can I leave her? Leave her with… those people? T...

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“The Visitor in Stathmore Town” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #96

The sound of footsteps reverberated in the air. Whispers echoed in the area as the villagers gossiped around. Who is he? What is that? Why did he come to our town? The stranger pays no heed to their stares. He continues walking, his golden eyes staring straight ahead as if he cannot see everyone else. He has a large scar cutting across his right eyebrow and down his cheek. A little bit of stubble is on his chin, making his old face look even older. The wind teases him, gently sweeping his blue hair out of place. The people gaze at the item...

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“Ms. Eirian and the Stranger” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #96

A long, long time ago, when gods and goddesses, demons and fairies, wizards and dragons, still roamed the land, there lived a human woman in a rural village. As it is with villages, everyone knew everyone – and everyone knew this virtuous lady. This woman was the village school teacher, a position which garnered respect from the folks – even the village chief treated her like his own mother. Nobody knew where she had come from, but that did not matter. She was kind and did not seek trouble. In fact, when the village children saw her face, ...

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“Yelena's Dilemma” by Keiko Canonita Ong

Submitted to Contest #95

“You have to choose, Yelena!” Ron yelled at me. “Either you kill me, or your mother dies!” My husband cried, tears flowing down his face. “Make your decision. Now.” His words crushed me. I don’t know when this started. I think… I don’t want to know. Why did things turn out like this? Mother used to be fine. She would always smile gently at me as she walked through our garden. Our family was not filthy rich, but Father made sure to plant flowers for Mother in the little space we called a garden. Life in the Aureum Kingdom – a paradise...

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