The Library in the Lighthouse

As Paul's boat crashed into the dock the waves continued to pummel the capsule as the rain fell from the sky hitting his skin like a thousand needles. The wind howled like a werewolf as the lightning cracked the sky like an egg. The blinding camera like flash lit up the sky like a million fireworks as he jumped down from the decapitated craft. Paul knew that he was stranded as he stood on the shore watching his boat sink into the black abyss. The storm started to subside, giving off an eerily stillness to the environment around him. All he could think about was how he was going to get back home. That same morning a mysterious package had arrived at his house including a map, a little black book containing a letter with instructions, and keys to the boat. The little black book attached to the map said this on the first two pages...

"I am the innkeeper of the old Rock Fortress Lighthouse off of Razor's Edge. I have stumbled upon a great mystery that only the bravest of adventures would be willing to face. It is also with great dismay that as I am writing this letter my time on this earth is running short... I have led a good life and want to share some of my earnings with someone brave enough to make the journey. Twenty thousand dollars. You must act quickly though, by midnight on the second of March the Lighthouse will vanish and all within it will wither away. Good luck on your journey. Signed, Mr. Edmonds"

Twenty thousand dollars is life changing money. After a year like twenty twenty Paul had lost his job, he lost everything. Their family had to sell their house and move into an apartment. They filed for bankruptcy and sold both of their cars. They had good paying jobs but a world wide pandemic took a lot from them. Paul knew that no matter what, as long as he had his wife and his children, he would be happy. But he wanted the chance to give them more.

Paul still wondered what the "mystery" was that the innkeeper spoke of in his letter. Was it the fact that on the second of March at midnight the Lighthouse would wither away into nothing? Paul was unsure and skeptical to say the least. How could a two hundred and ten foot Lighthouse just disappear into thin air? As he gazed into the distance he could see the light spinning around as it beamed its bright white light into the horizon. Tired from the three hundred and seventy two mile, two day journey by boat, all Paul wanted to do was rest. As he checked his pocket watch he knew that resting wasn't in the cards. It is now eleven fifteen with only forty five minutes left to spare.

All Paul could muster up was a sluggish jog. He wanted to run so badly but his body just wouldn't let him do it. The pain that he felt in his legs and back was something he had never experienced. As Paul inched closer to the Lighthouse the wind slammed into him like a ton of bricks pushing him back almost like it was trying to suck out his stamina and drain his spirit. Paul wasn't going to give up. He'd come this far! It'd be stupid for him to throw in the towel now. Paul battled the wind using his back pack like a shield as the wind continued to push him back like an army of enemies ready for war. As Paul's foot hit the brick walkway leading up to the Lighthouse the wind stopped, almost like someone flipped a switch and turned it off. As Paul walked the brick path an old wooden sign stuck into the ground with a post read, "Rock Fortress Lighthouse... built in 1801".

Paul looked upon the Lighthouse, amazed with the pure craftsman ship that he was currently witnessing. The stone pattern of the rocks laid to build this marvel was striking. Stones of all different shapes and sizes plastered together at a towering two hundred and ten feet. All that surrounded the Lighthouse were sharp jagged rocks laid in such an ominous way that it could have been confused with a giant thorn bush. The door itself was carved out of fresh oak when the behemoth was built then painted the color of blood red.

Paul placed his hand on the brass handle of the door and tried pushing it open. It felt locked, but surely it couldn't be locked. Could it? He gave it another push, this time planting his feet firmly on the ground. The door slowly opened up giving out a loud noise that sounded like a thousand nails on a chalked board mixed with a screaming banshee. The sound was only amplified by the empty interior as the sound bounced around, echoing off the walls. Paul took out his pocket watch again, it was eleven forty five with only fifteen minutes to spare now. As Paul made his way into the empty interior he grabbed his flash light from his lucky back pack and clicked it on. As the bright beam from the flash light filled the room the door behind him slammed shut. The wind, that's what closed the door, right? That's what Paul asked himself as he made his way to the brick staircase. As Paul climbed the stairs to the top of the light house he could here the voice of what sounded like an elderly man humming a tune to himself.

Paul knew that he had to pick up the pace. With only ten minutes left to spare Paul reached the top. At the top of the Lighthouse there was no light. No light at all. An old man sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by literature. Millions of books filled the never ending shelves as the rows went on for miles. How could this be? Was this the mystery spoken of in the little black book? Paul was amazed as he stood in awe at the marvel of it all.

"You made it. I was wondering if you'd ever find your way. You got five minutes. Go ahead, over there, pick a door. You like my library? Yeah, it's alright I guess. I've enjoyed it. Now it's time to go I reckon. Not everything lasts forever." Mr. Edmonds walked closer to Paul. "Including me son. I'm over two hundred years old. Boy, you're a real talker there aren't ya? Don't worry, it's a lot to take in at first. Millions of books, rows of shelves that go on for hundreds, hell, maybe even thousands of miles. I bet you're wonderin' how an old man like me's been able to live for so long?"

Yes! Paul wanted to know! He was dying to know! This was it, the mystery he'd been wanting to know about for days, ever since he opened that little black book. Mr. Edmonds placed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small hourglass. He set it on the ground in front of him. "When the last drop of sand hits the bottom of that hour glass everything in here will turn to, sand... I'm guessin'. All these books in here, ya know I've read every single one a these books? That hour glass was given to me back in eighteen one when I helped my daddy build this Lighthouse. I've had it ever since. It makes things last longer, it'll get you anything your heart desires. I was about thirteen years old and had a thirst for knowledge so this is what it gave me. I've lived here for all those years, it's a nice and quiet place for me to read my books." Paul reached into his pocket and grabbed the keys to the door. The two of them walked up to the door to unlock it.

Paul stuck the key into the door and slowly opened it. In the room on a small table laid twenty thousand dollars. "That money was the last thing I asked for. Go ahead. Grab it." Paul picked up the stack of money. "Why me?" Paul finally asked. "Why anyone?" Just as Mr. Edmonds spoke those last two words a bright light filled the room. The Lighthouse vanished. Paul opened his eyes, realizing he was back at home, in his den asleep on the couch. "That was one crazy dream!" He said to himself. As Paul walked into the kitchen his wife was in tears. A box sat on the counter that contained twenty thousand dollars. A little black book sat on top of the money. Paul grabbed the book and opened it. Inside of it was a library card with the words, "Hope this helps. Singed, Mr. E."