The Soft Wisper

As Michael looked into the night sky, he caught himself thinking about the previous keeper. There were quite a few stories about him, and what happened to him. No one really knew for sure, but it was something that made the Stoneyville Lighthouse a landmark of interest. Michael had heard many stories about the old man. Some say he disappeared, some that he retired. But, the most intriguing one by far, was that he heard voices, and went insane trying to figure out where they were coming from. On quiet nights like tonight, Michael would often hear soft whispers and creaks.

The lighthouse was over 100 years old, so random noises and creaks should be common. Stoneyville, itself, has a rich history for sea life. Once a large hub for ships, now empty, except for the occasional boat here and there from across the sea. The only reason they still need a lighthouse is for the random one that shows up unexpected at night.

As Michael sat there contemplating which story could potentially be true, a stair creaked from behind his chair. He looked over hoping it was the dinner he ordered an hour ago, but nothing was there. Michael sighed. "Just another random creak," he told himself.

Annoyed at his growing hunger, he stood up and walked to the staircase. Looking down the stairs he could see that the lanterns went out. He grabbed a torch and made his decent to the bottom of the lighthouse.

He took the stairs carefully, one step at a time, so not to fall. Only the light from his torch was visible, as this particular lighthouse had no windows for the moon to shine in. He made it about 10 stairs down to the first lantern, when he heard a voice.

"Help me. Please?" The voice pleaded softly. Almost like a whisper. Michael could not even tell if it was real.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" He asked, his voice shaking.

No answer came. Michael chuckled, "Just my imagination running away from me. I need a new job."

The glass on the casing for the lantern was busted, probably some years ago, but it made for easy lighting. He lit the candle, and looked at it confused. There was no breeze in the stairwell of the lighthouse, only when the door at the bottom was opened.

"How could this have gone out?" He sighed again "Oh well, best get on with it."

Another 10 steps and he reached the next lantern. Lighting this one was trickier than the last, the door to the candle was near the bricks in the wall. Some time ago, the metal had been bent, making the lantern hang at an odd angle. He needed both hands to open it. Once again he looked at it perplexed that it had gone out. Michael only normally had to light this candle when it needed to be changed out.

"Help me. Someone help me please, " a voice whispered louder than the last.

Michael jumped, almost putting out the newly lit candle. "No. There is no way I heard that. I refuse to loose my mind in this place. It had to have been my imagination." But curiosity got the best of him as he called out, "Hello? Is anyone there?"

No answer.

"I'm just letting tall-tales get the best of me."

Michael continued on his way. 10 more steps down the stairwell he came upon the third lantern. This light was also out, so he began trying to light the candle. This one was much easier than the last, as the door to the case was right in front, and just need a pinch of the clasp to open. Metal hit metal and the glass shuttered as it swung open. Michael lit the candle and closed the door. He waited a minute to see if he heard anything. Nothing. Not even his own breathing. Not even his own heartbeat.

Michael continued his decent. 5 stairs down he heard a woman crying. "Hello? Are you ok?" He asked, his voice shaking.

The woman cried out, "Help me. Please help me!"

Michael hurried down the stairs, his heart racing. He passed the fourth and fifth lanterns and got to the bottom floor. He threw open the heavy wooden door.

Nothing. No one was there. No light except from the lighthouse, as the moon had gone behind the clouds. No sound except the waves crashing into the retaining wall and rocks. No animals creeping or any inclination that there had been. No footsteps in the sand leading up to the door. Nothing. There was nothing else to be seen or heard for miles.

Michael shook his head. "That is it! I am loosing my damn mind being here all alone every night and most days. I do not know if I can take anymore of this!" He kicked the sand, and sighed again. His stomach growled again, clearly upset that his food was still not here.

Thinking that maybe sitting by the waves would calm his nerves, Michael went and sat on the giant rocks at the bottom of the lighthouse. Looking out over the water, Michael listened to the waves crash, sea foam hitting his shoes. Sea salt hung in the air and the breeze was cool. His short brown hair took in the wind and followed the breeze.

Still no food, and still nothing else around him.

Michael stayed that way for awhile. Loosing track of time, and calming his heart. He felt free by the water, calm and at peace. If he really thought about it, he loved his job. He basically got to do whatever he wanted to as long as the lighthouse was taken care of, and as long as no boats crashed. And it made a great first date spot. He chuckled to himself, finally calm.

The waves crashed again. "HELP ME!" A woman screamed from the water.

Michael jumped in and started swimming toward her. The water was deep and cold. Seaweed wrapped around his legs making it hard to swim. The water felt thick, and he tired quickly.

Michael called for the woman, but got no answer. He kept swimming in what he thought was her direction. He called again. No answer. The water felt thicker the farther away from shore he got. The woman had disappeared.

"I did not make it in time, she must have went under," He thought to himself.

Just then something grabbed his leg. He reached down to find blonde hair in his fingers. "That must be her!"

He reached down again. This time pulling up her up by her arm. He was able to maneuver her around and in front of him, and pulled her up to face him. He moved her hair out of her face and got his first real look at her.

He screamed. The face in front of him was a skeleton.

The skeleton laughed, "Such a nice young man to come and rescue me. You and the old man have a lot in common. Both have a need to rescue . Both are reckless and just jumped into action. Neither brought something to save yourselves. And now just like the old man before you, you too shall die a reckless and meaningless death."

Again the skeleton laughed. Its eyes glowed green. Its mouth opened wide. Michael screamed.

With Michael's mouth open wide, the skeleton sucked out his soul, laughing the entire time.

The skeleton then sank back into the water to wait for it's next keeper of the lighthouse.