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About Me & Dedications
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2025-05-12 19:14:03COPYRIGHTS
Copyright © 2025 by Malissa Wood
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means to include electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or scholarly works.
This is a work of fiction, loosely inspired by real events. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental.
ISBN: 9798283695181
Cover Design: Malissa Wood
Published by: Simply Magical Creations, LLC
Printed in the United States of America
About the Author
Malissa Wood is a South Carolina-based author who writes emotionally charged fiction grounded in truth, trauma, and survival.
Drawing from her own life experiences, she weaves powerful stories that blend mystery, heartbreak, and resilience.
When she’s not writing, she runs her small business, Simply Magical Creations, LLC and finds peace in creating order where there once was chaos. She is married and has one child.
Her hobbies include kayaking, crafting and of course, writing novels.
House of Quiet Screams is her debut novel, loosely based on true events and written to give voice to the silence many carry.
Dedications
For every woman who was told to stay silent.
For those still living in quiet screams—you are not alone.
For Daylen Bradley Harbin,
My first true miracle—
You made me a mother, and in doing so, gave my life deeper meaning.
Your light, your spirit, and your love inspire me to be stronger, braver, and better every single day.
Everything I do is for you.
For Jillian Kulakowski,
My childhood best friend—
Thank you for the laughter, the loyalty, and the memories that shaped who I am.
From scraped knees to grown-up dreams, you’ve always been a part of my story.
This is for you, with all my heart.
For Christopher Wood,
My love, my anchor, my safe place—
Thank you for standing beside me through the chaos and the calm.
Your quiet strength and unwavering support mean more than words could ever say.
This journey wouldn’t be possible without you.
For Kristine Zimmerman,
The first woman I ever loved—Thank you for your endless strength, your gentle wisdom, and the unconditional love that has carried me through life.
You taught me what it means to be resilient, strong and independent. I carry your lessons with me every day. This is as much yours as it is mine.
Acknowledgments
This book would not exist without the strength it took to face what once felt unfaceable.
To my family—both chosen and blood—thank you for your support and belief in me.
To those who read this story and see pieces of themselves, thank you for your courage.
To every survivor: this was written for you.
Opening Quote
“Even when no one hears you scream, your truth still matters. So, scream your truth.”
— Malissa Wood
“She didn’t forget the pain—she grew around it. Like roots breaking through concrete, she made something beautiful from what tried to bury her.”
-Unknown
Latest chapter
House of Quiet Screams Chapters Eighteen & Nineteen
Chapter Eighteen: The JournalIt was raining outside. Not heavy. Just enough to blur the windows and make the house feel like it was holding its breath. Lissa sat cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom, the old box open in front of her. Inside, the journal.She hadn’t touched it in years—not since the night she caught Colt reading it years ago. But today, something told her it was time. She opened the cover slowly. The pages were wrinkled at the corners. Some ink had faded. But the words were still there. Raw and jagged and small, like the girl who’d written them. Lissa began to read slowly as her hands shook.“He comes into my room when the moon is on the window.”“I don’t move, because if I do, he talks softly and says it’s a game.”“I hate games now.”Her handwriting changed as the pages went on. Bigger. Angrier. More urgent.“Why doesn’t anyone hear me?”“I think maybe I’m invisible.”“I want someone to know, but not if it means I disappear.”Lissa closed her eyes and took a br
House of Quiet Screams Chapter Sixteen & Seventeen
Chapter Sixteen: Emily's SecretThe knock on Emily’s door wasn’t loud, but it was firm.Lissa stood on the porch, fists clenched at her sides. She hadn’t planned this. Not really. But something in her had snapped after Riley left, something that had been waiting to come loose. Emily answered quickly, her face breaking into a surprised smile. “Hey! I didn’t expect…”“I need to talk to you,” Lissa said, her voice low. “Can I come in?” Emily blinked, then stepped aside. “Of course.”Inside, the house smelled like vanilla candles and fresh laundry. Cozy. Safe. Nothing like the house Lissa had grown up in just across the fence. They sat in the living room, an untouched mug of tea cooling on the coffee table.“What’s going on?” Emily asked, concern lined her voice. Lissa didn’t waste time. “Do you remember anything strange from when we were kids?” she asked. “Back when Toby stayed over at our house?”Emily went still. Her face didn’t change much, but her hands twitched in her lap. “I…why ar
House of Quiet Screams Chapters Fifteen
Lissa hadn’t expected company. She was halfway through folding laundry when the knock came two quick raps, then one softer. She opened the door to find her sister standing on the porch, coffee in one hand and phone in the other like always. “Hey,” Riley said, forcing a smile. Lissa blinked. “Everything okay?” “Yeah,” Riley said. “I just… wanted to check on you. And I was in town.” Lissa stepped aside to let her in. The visit felt awkward right away. Not cold. Just…careful. They sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee that neither of them really tasted. “I saw your post about Lucas’s birthday,” Riley said. “He’s getting so big, I wish I could have made it but work, ya know.” She said with a small smile Lissa nodded. “He’s five now.” “That’s wild. Well Happy Birthday Nephew.” Riley said as she lifted to cheer and brought the glass to her mouth as she realized Lissa was not smiling. Not one bit. Silence stretched between them, familiar yet itchy. Then Riley blurted out loudly,
House of Quiet Screams Chapter Thirteen & Fourteen
Chapter Thirteen: Happy Birthday Today was Lucas’s fifth birthday. She could hardly believe how fast time had flown by. One minute he was wrapped in hospital blankets with a tiny fist gripping her finger and now he was tearing through the living room in a blur of frosting and dinosaur balloons. “Momma! Look at my T-Rex! He ROOOAAARS!” Lissa smiled, snapping a picture with shaking hands. “He sure does, baby.” The living room looked… happy. Streamers hung above the windows. A small cake sat on the counter, its green icing just beginning to melt at the edges. Marley had helped with decorations, and Emily dropped off cupcakes from the bakery. It was good. It was normal. And that terrified her. Because five. He was five now. The same age she was when her own world stopped being safe. The number had haunted her all week. Every time she looked at him, at his tiny hands, his trusting eyes. She saw the version of herself she’d locked away. The one who sat frozen in the dark. The one no o
House of Quiet Screams Chapters Eleven & Twelve
Chapter Eleven: Remodeling That Old HouseThe house groaned in protest as Lissa ripped another piece of wallpaper off the wall.She hadn’t planned on renovating—not really. But something about the faded floral print that lined the hallway made her skin itch. It smelled like dust and denial.So she yanked it down.One strip. Then another.Lucas sat nearby, stacking blocks and narrating an elaborate dinosaur rescue mission. Marley had offered to help, but Lissa had said no. She needed to do this part herself.The sander buzzed in her hand as she smoothed over an old dent in the trim. She didn’t remember how it got there. Maybe a fight. Maybe a fall. Maybe one of those nights her mother didn’t speak afterward.Lissa stared at the dent a moment longer, then ran the sander over it until it disappeared.Room by room, she was peeling back the layers. Not just of paint—but of memory.The attic? She’d already cleaned it out. The basement? Still locked for now. One step at a time.The kitchen
House of Quiet Screams Chapter Nine & Ten
The clink of dishes, the hum of the fridge, the silence between them. Lissa stood at the kitchen sink, washing the same plate for the third time. She wasn’t really washing it was muscle memory. Something to do with her hands while her brain spiraled. Behind her, Colt rummaged in the junk drawer, muttering to himself. Then she heard it. A name. Soft. Unclear. But not unfamiliar. “What did you just say?” she asked, without turning. He didn’t answer right away. “Colt?” He cleared his throat. “Nothing. I'm just looking for the damn batteries.” “No. You said something.” He closed the drawer. “I said I need to call Terry back. From work.” Lissa’s shoulders stiffened. “Terry.” “Yeah. He—he’s been helping me with the shed project.” Funny. He’d never mentioned a Terry. Lissa knew every single person Colt worked with because he always brought his work stories home. She turned slowly. “You don’t have a Terry at work.” Colt blinked. “I do. You’ve just never met him.” “You said T.
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