Dark Miracle - Chapter 3: Surviving Requires Struggle

Alex had been a detective for years, so getting Lukas out of prison would be quite easy for him. He had caught countless criminals; this time it would be the opposite—he would be releasing one.

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But there was a problem:

If he helped Lukas, he would lose his career and spend years in prison.

So… would he really do it?

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“Some become a burden to your sorrow,

Some become a companion to carry it.”

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After a day or two, Lukas received a phone call.

It was Alex.

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Alex: “Hey, brother, it’s me, Alex.”

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Lukas immediately became excited and started asking questions:

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Lukas: “Did you make the plan? How will it work? When—?”

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But Alex didn’t accept it.

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Alex: “I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”

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Lukas felt his heart drop.

He hung up the phone on him.

There was no one left to stand beside him;

He had been a lone candle in the dark,

and now that candle had been blown out.

Everything was dark.

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Exhausted, Lukas lay down on his bed.

He needed rest.

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Sometimes I want to cry without reason.

I don’t know why.

I wonder…

Are the things I’ve lived really this heavy,

or are there heavier things waiting for me?

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He whispered to himself.

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Frank saw him again.

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Frank: “What now? Why the face?”

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Lukas: “Nothing. Go away.”

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Frank didn’t insist. He turned away, but before walking off, he said:

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Frank: “If something’s wrong, tell me. I’ll help.”

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Lukas couldn’t hold himself:

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Lukas: “Why would you help all of a sudden? Huh? What do you want from me?”

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Frank replied quietly:

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Frank: “Because I know how it feels.”

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Then he walked to his bed, took a photo from his bag, and began to cry.

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Lukas had never seen him like this.

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Even though they hated each other,

those words struck him hard.

He was barely keeping himself together,

yet he was pitying someone else.

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Meanwhile…

What about Emma?

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Days had passed, but Emma still couldn’t accept her son’s death.

One day, her phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number:

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“Mom, I’m here. Come to me. — Your son, Jake.”

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Was this another cruel trick?

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Seeing it, Emma both smiled and broke apart inside.

Because if she found Jake, they would imprison him immediately.

But a mother would risk everything for her child.

She would even hide him from the police if necessary.

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But would she tell Lukas?

Even though Jake wasn’t his real son,

Lukas had been more of a father than anyone else.

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Emma went to the location Jake sent.

The moment she saw him, she ran and hugged him

as if they had been separated for years.

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Emma: “Why did you get involved in all this, son? I knew there was something wrong. I never believed you would try to end your life. I tried to warn your father too… I don’t know if he figured it out.”

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Jake: “I’ll explain everything, Mom. But first, we need to leave.”

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When they left the abandoned building, a black car was waiting.

The driver was Alex.

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Jake, looking anxious:

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Jake: “Get in, Mom. Quickly.”

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Emma didn’t understand what was happening.

She didn’t know who Alex was.

Alex had refused to help Lukas escape,

yet now he was here with Jake…

What was he planning?

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Meanwhile, in prison…

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Lukas had started writing his thoughts on toilet paper scraps.

His hands still clutched the old pen hidden in his torn shirt.

He poured his soul into those pieces of paper.

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A piece from Lukas’ writing:

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“This man, that man… that worthless man.

No income, no life.

One day, another man comes

and destroys the life he never even had.”

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Writing became therapy.

Thankfully, Frank didn’t interfere.

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Jake, Emma, and Alex stayed silent in the car.

Emma was barely holding herself together;

the air was too heavy to speak.

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They drove deep into a lonely forest

to a wooden cabin.

Alex parked.

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Alex: “I’ll go get food and come back.”

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Emma turned to Jake immediately:

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Emma: “Jake! Tell me everything. Who is this man? Why did you do that to your father? Explain everything!”

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Jake: “Mom, calm down—”

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Emma: “No. Tell me everything. Now!”

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Jake raised his voice:

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Jake: “You tell me first.”

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Emma froze.

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Emma: “What are you talking about?”

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Jake:

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“I found out I was adopted…

seven hours before I shot him.”

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Emma’s face turned pale.

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Emma: “How? Who told you that?”

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Jake: “Doesn’t matter. But I’m glad Lukas was my father. Even if he wasn’t my real one, he was still my only one.”

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Emma yelled:

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Emma: “If you love him so much, then why did you shoot him!?”

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Jake’s voice cracked:

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Jake: “Because my real father showed up with a DNA test and said,

‘Either you shoot him… or I’ll kill your mother.’”

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He broke down crying.

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Emma held his hands:

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Emma: “It’s alright. I’m here. Tell me everything, slowly.”

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Jake spoke through tears:

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Jake: “You weren’t there that night… you don’t know.

One of the cops…

was my real father.

He set everything up.

He was the one who got Dad arrested.

It was all planned.”

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He wiped his face with shaking hands.

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Jake: “A few days earlier… Lukas had seen him in his dreams too.

He wrote him a letter and was led to a location in the same way.”

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Both Lukas and Jake had been led

by the same man.

The same trap.

The same nightmare.

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