12,137 words (50–65 minutes)
Genre(s): Supernatural Fiction, Moral Allegory
First published: The Island Nights' Entertainments, 1891

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When a poor Hawaiian sailor named Keawe stumbles upon a mysterious bottle said to grant any wish, he discovers it comes with a terrifying catch: if he dies in possession of it, his soul is doomed to hell. Thus begins a haunting moral fable of temptation, sacrifice, and love. As Keawe’s fortunes rise, so does his dread—and only a daring act of love can hope to save him from eternal damnation. The Bottle Imp is a luminous blend of myth and moral peril that asks: what would you risk for happiness?