Chapter One from "The Gift", the first book in The Chronicles of Malachai Series.

While the final preparations are being made for the release of the second book in the Chronicles of Malachai series called, "The Purpose", I've decided to share a bit of the background about Malachai and what his Gift is by sharing Chapter One from "The Gift" which is book one of the series. Throughout the first book Malachai encounters many different spirits and quickly learns within the first few chapters to be careful which ones he should trust as many don't take kindly to his interference within their realm. 

"The Purpose", continues the next phase of this spiritual war that Malachai becomes a part of and attempts to portray a glimpse as to how intense this war can be. For those who are following these posts and are as anxious for "The Purpose" to come out as I am, I will be releasing Chapter One from "The Purpose" as a preview, within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again for your continued support and for those who have not read "The Gift", I hope you get a sense as to what more the series is all about by reading this first Chapter from "The Gift". As well, if you are looking for a place to purchase the full book, I have some quick link tabs on the side of this blog for your convenience. 

Chapter One from "The Gift", by Daniel Sweetnam

      "Why won't you trust me, Malachai? I am the only one who truly understands you and I've always cared. When others judged and criticized you, it was me who offered to help and protect you. I have always believed in what you can become and I'm the only one who can give you the freedom you seek. Yet, you still doubt and fight me. Why?" spoke the shadowy figure.

      I looked around the room I was standing in, the walls were made of wood, faded and old; the air felt dark and thick like a heavy black fog; and the people all around me were filled with incredible pain and sorrow.

      "Freedom? What Freedom! Nobody in this place looks free to me. How can I trust you when you still haven't told me the truth of who you really are and why you want me? What exactly do you want in return?" I answered.

      The shadowy figure leaned across the wooden table between us, giving me the first real glimpse of his pale, white face and spoke, "Because I need you Malachi. I need your unique abilities, your gift. But without me, you will have no one else to teach and guide you. Without me, you will be alone."

      Immediately after he spoke, his figure dissipated into a black misty cloud; and he was gone. I found myself lying in my bed; alone and frightened. Was it just another horrible nightmare or was I really there? All I knew for sure is I wanted them to stop.

As a child, I could feel peoples hurt and sorrow which created a deep desire in me to help them and bring them hope. I also saw other figures and spirits around them speaking to them, but I didn’t understand what they were. When I tried to tell people what I saw or felt they didn't believe me and said it was just my imagination, after all, I was only a child. I felt very lonely and I wished, even prayed for someone that would listen, understand and spend time with me; and my wish came true.

When I was nine, the presences and spirits I saw around people began taking notice of me. They would come to spend time, listen and encouraged me, just when I needed them. When I was sad, frustrated or lonely, they would offer words of comfort, peace and hope. They would tell me stories about other people, places and a glorious city with amazing beings that lived there; filling my heart with an incredible hope.

It didn't take long to realize not all of my new friends were the same though; some seemed very wise and old, others were more human. These more human spirits would tell me personal stories about the people in my life and sometimes even strangers. They shared people's secrets, their private hurts, past and pain, not to scare me or hurt them; but so I could help and bring them hope. At times they would even ask me to deliver these people a message of comfort, just like they brought me.

"It will help those you care about find the peace and hope they need, Malachai. Please tell them what we say. They don't have the same ability you do. We try to talk to them, but they don't believe and won't listen to us." These spirit friends said.

However, I quickly learned that telling others what these friends were saying, was not a good idea. People were more concerned with how I knew things about them, especially their secrets, than being comforted by the words of hope. No matter how good my intentions were they would just get annoyed or angry with me. I wasn't helping anyone find hope or peace; I was just making them more upset.

"I don't want to deliver anymore messages to people, I'm hurting them and what they say back is hurting me. Please can't you tell them or get someone else?" I told these spirit friends.

"Please don't give up Malachai. The truth is hard for people to receive, but it doesn't mean they don't hear your words. Those who receive and hear will find the hope and peace they desire. But if you give up, who will be left to tell them the truth. We need you Malachai." They answered.

There was one of the more human spirits that I grew very close to; she was always interested in hearing about my life and was willing to listen. She told me she was my Grandma and shared many stories with me about my mother's childhood.

"Your mom was a lot like you Malachai, she could feel others hurt and tried to help everyone around her feel better. But because I was sick and she couldn't help me, it often made her feel very lonely and hurt inside too. I love your mom very much; please tell her what I say and how much she did help me, so she can remember the happier times and find hope once more." my Grandma said.

When I told my mom what Grandma said, she acted very surprised, almost with disbelief and then answered, "How can she tell you? She died when I was young."

Even my Great Grandfather started to visit me and began sharing personal stories from the past that would mean something only to my mom. He would give me messages to tell her that I couldn't possibly have known about to help her believe; and it worked.

"I don't understand how these people who have died are speaking to you Malachai, but I know they can, because at times I have felt them too." My mom told me.

      I started to think that maybe I wasn't so strange after all. If my mom could sense and feel people’s hearts, maybe others could too and perhaps I wasn't so different.

I was seeing these spirits everywhere, at school, in malls, even at church, often when people were praying. They would appear beside the person and speak words of hope and encouragement. On a few occasions I did ask the person afterwards what the spirit told them, but they always reacted confused, as if I was just making it up.

"Can't you make them see you?" I asked one spirit.

"We told you before Malachai, most people only believe in what they can control, see with their eyes and touch with their hands. Those who do choose to believe in what they cannot see or control, are few and often children like you. But your gift to see truth is different from others Malachai. You will see more than most because of your special set of eyes and must see the world around you differently." He answered.

I interrupted him and asked, "Why do I need to see things so differently? Why do I have to be different?"

Patiently he put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "One day you will understand Malachai, but for now I pray you never forget what we are teaching you and I hope you can simply trust that we are here and love you."

Somehow I could feel his spirit and knew that all he said was truth; but I still longed for someone else to see them too. However, I had only experienced one part of this gift, there was much more still to be revealed.

I began seeing new kinds of these spirits and the feeling I got from them, even the look on their faces made my skin crawl. These beings were very different from my other friends.

"Who are you?" I asked one. But he didn't answer. He seemed too busy whispering into some stranger's ear and didn't care to be bothered by me.

"Why won't you answer me? Can't you hear me?" I asked.

He turned his head to look at me and gave an irritated glare from his hollow, blackened eyes; then without saying a word, he turned back to the stranger and continued speaking to him. I certainly didn't get the feeling of hope and peace from this being, which made me question who or what he really was.

"Malachai we worry about you, be careful, not every being is like us. Some will try to mislead you and make you forget us. They don't truly care about you, just what you can do for them." One of the peaceful spirits spoke.

"I don't like how they look at me. They make me feel scared. I just wish someone else could see what I see too. You say I'm special, but what I see makes me feel crazy." I answered.

"Please don't give up Malachai; keep trusting what we have told you and remember what you see is not just for you. One day you will understand why, but until then, please trust us and be careful what you believe about yourself and others." He replied.

What I was seeing began to scare me deeply. These new beings were everywhere, at school, the mall, church, even in my dreams; and the more I saw them, the more they seemed to notice me.

They appeared half human and half something else; they were shadowy, beastly creatures. They always stood in the shadows, keeping their faces mostly covered, except their eyes; which bothered me the most. They had a dim, faint glow to them; yet almost hollow, black and empty inside. There was no feeling of peace in them, just a strong sense of power, control and anger; not at me though, but someone else.

Somehow they knew everything about me; what I saw, my other spirit friends and how lonely I felt. They wanted to help me and even offered their friendship and protection.

"Let us help you Malachai. We know the real truth about people; if you'll trust us we can tell you more stories and secrets than any of your other friends can. We can teach you how to stop others from judging and hurting you too." One spoke to me.

"But I don't want to hurt people; I'm supposed to help them with my gift." I replied.

"How can you help them if you don't know the whole truth as to why they do things? If you really knew how cruel, hateful and selfish they are, would you still believe they deserved your help or even wanted it? We know you see what's inside of people Malachai; you know how much they lie. Your gift is meant for something greater and you need to learn how to use it properly. Let us show you." He answered.

"What is the truth then? I know there's another side to people, but my other friends say I'm supposed to help them anyways. If people don't deserve hope because they're so cruel, then should they just be punished?" I asked the creature.

"Your other friends are keeping part of the truth from you Malachai. People can be good, but they can also be selfish, hurtful and cruel. They all desire their own way and pleasures. Those who do good things and help others deserve hope; and those who do not, deserve to be punished. We can teach you how to use your gift to give people what they really deserve." the creature replied.

The thought of people getting what they deserved made me feel better somehow inside. My peaceful friends only showed me the good side of people and taught me to offer them hope. But those people often rejected that hope and treated others, including me, cruelly. However, these creatures believed hope was for those who deserved it, not for those who abused it; which made sense. Perhaps these creatures were telling me more of the truth and understood more about people too.

"They're just looking for the same love, acceptance and hope we've offered you. All people have the potential for doing what is right; however, their hurt and anger stops them from believing and they lose hope. We need you to remind them of the good within them and what to hope for once again." The peaceful spirit said.

"But they don't deserve it! Look how they treat each other and how they treat me. I chose to listen to you and receive your help. But I've seen how when you try to help them, they push you aside and don't want to listen. I want you; they don't, why shouldn't they be punished for that?" I answered.

"Because God loves all of us Malachai even those who don't deserve it. When you needed hope, He sent us and you chose to listen. Imagine how you would have felt if we never came. But they will not listen to us, which is why we need you to deliver our message; at least until they listen once again. Have faith and trust us Malachai, in time you will understand. For now we are with you and we don't want to lose you." He said.

His answers didn't satisfy me though; I needed to know what the whole truth was. As my desire to help people became less, my desire for justice, power and control grew. It seemed the creatures always showed up at the right time, often in my dreams, to teach me more.

"Why should people be allowed to get away with their lies, cruelty and hypocrisy; and why should I have to offer them hope when all they are doing is taking mine?" I asked one creature.

"You're right Malachai, that's why we were given our special abilities; to bring justice. Let us show you how we can influence people and encourage them to do what they should be doing, or what we need them to do. We'll even teach you how to stop others from hurting you or anyone you care about. We simply bring justice to those that deserve it and with your unique abilities, you could too." the creature replied.

Surprised by his offer, I asked, "How can I do this?"

Without hesitation he answered, "We understand everything about humans and how you think and act. We have existed for many years and even know God, Himself. We were there when mankind was created. We have watched and even helped your race grow. We can teach you everything we know about people. That is, if you are willing to trust and learn from us."

I was becoming closer to these creatures and could see them everywhere. However, I noticed there were different kinds of these spirits too, not all of them were friendly and welcoming.

These unfriendly spirits were often inside of people and when I saw them, I watched as the person's face would transform, growing darker and shadowed, then a second face or figure would appear over the first. Their skin would become rippled and aged as if they had been dead for years. Then their eyes would turn pale and become an empty, blackness. Their stare seemed to penetrate straight through to my very soul and all I could feel was a sense of irritation and anger from them.

I decided it was best to stay far away from these spirits. I didn't like the sense they gave off or how they seemed to control the people they were inside of. I felt safe around the other creatures and my peaceful friends; so for now at least, I didn't need to know who these angry ones were and I certainly didn't want them to know me.