Whatever Doesn't Kill Me Makes Me Stronger Novels & Stories

Everything I'd been holding back came pouring out. "Do you have any idea how this makes me feel?" I moved toward him, my hands clenching into fists. "They hurt you –" "So what?" I hit him on the chest. Not hard. Just a frustrated thump. "So what, Dante? People have been hurting me my whole life! I'm used to it!" "I'm not made of glass!" I hit him again and again. Each word punctuated with another weak punch against his solid chest. "I'm not some fragile thing that breaks at the first sign of cruelty! I don't need you to murder or torture everyone who says something mean to me!"

"I turn all strength into dust." But this time, as the pain surged— I didn’t break. I didn’t bend. I pushed back.

She just can't deny those facts because she can't lie to herself, she did find him captivating that moment. But all those thoughts were sent down the drain when Calliope told her the truth about that man. It feels like everything was coming back to her. All emotions that she buried long time ago was dug up again and they were out chasing her. She took a deep breath, she's a strong woman and she just can't fall like that. She's firm with her decision to take that man down. It doesn't matter if the team's with her or not, she'll definitely kill him more ways than one.

The elder let out a long sigh, clearly helpless. "Byron is completely ruined. He's out of his mind every day—drinking, fighting, nothing else. "He always gets drunk and rambles on about being some kind of factory manager, even claiming the Gamma's like his brother. "After he and Lisa marked each other, she still betrayed him. Byron's been drowning in the pain of heartbreak ever since. "These past few years, Lisa got pregnant three times. But every time she was about to give birth, Byron beat her until she lost the baby. One time, he even gave a stillborn to a witch to use as a catalyst for forging a magic weapon."

Fight! I washed my face with shaky fingers. "You're wrong," I said quietly. "I am not nothing. "I am not weak." The figure growled, and the shadows surrounding it snapped like whips. "Do not lie to yourself." "I'm not." My voice became more steady as the rage grew. "I've struggled to survive every day of my life. I am still standing. I was determined to persevere even when others abandoned me. I could be shattered, but I am not weak."

My tormentors. Each of them took a piece of me. Broke me down until I was sure there was nothing left. But that’s not true, there was always something left. I never knew what it was, but it kept me alive. I should have died so many times, but I’m still here. No matter how many times I’ve been beaten, I somehow get back up. Maybe my strength isn’t that I survive the darkness, but that I accept it.

Thinking of him and that day makes me angry, and I lunge at him. He quickly dodges my attack, and that makes me angrier. “Think Elena, look at your opponent, find his weakness and use it against him.” Martin coaches on the side. “Blood Moon warriors have no weakness.” The guy I am paired with says with a smirk on his face and that just pisses me off.

“Stop fighting it.” “What’s there to fight?” “Just give in. He probably likes you genuinely.” “He probably just wants to get in my pants and make me his office slut.” “I know what this is all about. You’re afraid you’ll get hurt again but if you don’t face your fears how will you move on? I thought The Great Raven fears nothing and fears nobody.” “Of course I fear nothing and nobody. I’m fierce, bold, brave and confident. Stop making me believe in things that aren’t true.”

My face is getting bloodier and bloodier. I cough and gasp, kicks and punches hitting me from every side. Something sharp slices my arm, and though the cut feels deep I barely register the pain. My head is still spinning from the impact of falling on the ground. I'm not going to be able to fight them off. I'll get a cut or a bruise or a broken bone or something in as defense, but nothing that will do any real damage. I'm not strong enough. I have to get up. I have to get away.

I have my family, and the people I care about and who cares about me. “You also did say ignorance will get you killed.” He says. I did tell that to him before. I was envious of his unproblematic mundane life. And I did almost get killed a lot lately. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? But it was nothing compared to the traumas I had before that. It hardened me like steel. And there was a time it fucked me up real good, destroying my will to live, and debilitate my capacity to trust. I wished I never remembered all those things. That’s why my mind probably chose to forget everything.