Shinedown Miracles Novels & Stories

I closed my eyes and the memories of that night played back in my mind like I was in a cinema but the difference was that I was watching my life on a screen. It was on a Tuesday morning and I had just finished scrubbing Gerald's bathroom floor when he walked in with his mistress. He tapped her ass and she giggled in response. I looked away and quickly made steps to walk out when he called me. “Mira”. My heartbeat was loud enough for the whole world to hear. I was scared for my life. His voice was terrifying for me,it was my biggest nightmare.

His voice was faint, a mere whisper amidst the cacophony. Elysia, tears streaming down her face, shouted back, "Yes, it's me! We're all here! You have to push through, Malachi!" Aeliana, her form emanating a radiant glow, declared, "The Maelstrom is a formidable force, but your bond, your combined will, can overcome it." With renewed determination, the guardians focused their energies on the hand reaching out from the mirror. Their combined efforts began to resonate, creating a force that tugged at Malachi with an irresistible pull.

“You think you’re the only one?” “You wound me, Delia,” Gray chuckles. She slaps his arm playfully, letting him know it's time to get serious. He straightens up, as all signs of amusement snap from his face in a split second and holds still while she goes to work on the chain in his hands. She places both of her hands a few inches above the metal and whispers some incantation until a low blue glow can be seen from underneath her palms. When the glow fades she moves her warm copper brown hands and sighs.

She held his eyes even as her orgasm built and intensified, wanting to see all of him in this moment, knowing that Shane was open and vulnerable in a way that he may never be again. When they came together, their bodies convulsing and shaking, Mirrie sobbing his name, Mac realized that he'd just touched a tiny piece of heaven. She was every single good, pure thing in his life, and he knew now that if she wasn't in his arms, in his heart, then he'd lose more than love. He'd lose his faith that any good, pure thing could ever come into his life. He'd never believe in anything, not ever again. ****

Her skin is peeling off and she is screaming in pure agony. Her screams echo throughout my body, reaching out to my heart and making me bleed. I run forward again, my body colliding with the wall of darkness. Pain courses through my body, but I don’t stop. I continue hitting the wall, again and again and again. Nothing happens and her screaming never ceases. Shifting back to my human form, I place my hand on the wall of darkness and shout her name. “ MIRACLE! ” Slowly, she fades out of my vision and it’s like I can feel her in my bones even if I can’t see her.

For the very first time since he had become part of me, it was actually us. Our strength. Our need. Our body. Our curse. The last one settled with excruciating force and drove the breath from my lungs. I had felt pieces of it. Fragments. Never the full extent of what he had been containing on his own. Even shared now, it was agonizing. A new respect for him carved itself into me. My eyes opened, searching for the anchor that had been keeping it all under control for so long. Arria. There she was. The miracle.

It was time for us to start fresh somewhere else. When we landed in Fiorenza, the sun was perfect, and the air smelled like freedom. My daughter, bubbling with excitement, pulled me towards our new home. A bunch of purple irises were blooming in front of our little white house. A month after the miracle of Mom waking up, we got a new neighbor. He was a dreamy Itanian guy. He would look after our irises, give my daughter fancy chocolates, and when he smiled, his eyes sparkled like the Mediterranean sun. It was alluring, but a bit dangerous.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my parents turn away, shoulders shaking as they tried to hide their tears. We stood there in a silent standoff for a long time. In the end, I gave in. Maybe it wasn't for him, and maybe it wasn't for hope, either. Maybe… It was because I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to this world. I humbled myself before my parents' tears. I agreed to continue with the treatments, to go through radiation, and to prepare for surgery. However, radiation wore me down completely. Day after day, I just lay there on the bed, unable to move. My once beautiful black hair was shaved off, and from that moment, I refused to look in a mirror again.

“But I can’t hear you… not always—why can’t I—why now?” The woman tilted her head, eyes sharp and knowing. Shadows rippled across the glass, curling like ink in water. “He’s close. The boy. The one you don’t yet trust. His shadow calls to yours. My spell—my spirit—it awakens through him.” Sierra swallowed, stunned, a name slipping unbidden through her lips. “Malick…” The mirror stilled, the warmth fading along with her mother’s image. But the shadows inside her head, though no longer screaming, whispered gently at the edges of consciousness, curling around her thoughts like smoke. They were patient, watchful, waiting for her to regain balance.

“You were used to being in the spotlight, I guess. And then suddenly, I came, attention shifted to me and you started drifting with your friends.” “You don’t have to sound like that,” I interrupted, my voice sharper than intended. “They’re your friends now.” Her lips curled into a sad smile. “Maybe. But you’re still you, Olivia. And you’re… perfect.” I flinched a bit . “Is that a compliment or an insult?” She chuckled softly. “A compliment. Because you told the truth. That makes you different. That makes you… better than most people..” I didn’t know what to say to that. I just nodded with my throat tight.