Guiding light

Tyler - Be careful with the wind and use the navigation system! It might be a bit old but still works like a new one! Don't be greedy, I prefer you to let a catch go than to get hurt! - my old man said and I couldn't help but smile at his worries. I was almost born on that boat! My father noticed my smile and hit me gently on my head. - Don't laugh at your father's warnings you ungrateful rascal! - my mom suddenly walked out and threw against dad's head his baseball cap. - Stop hitting my son! - she came to my defense and father sighed. - At least we know who you inherited this reckless behavior! I wish I could go with you. - I pat his shoulder to reassure him that everything is going to be okay. Usually we sailed out together, but father broke his leg a weeks ago and he was still recuperating. - What are you doing up?! The doctor told you to stay put and rest for the love of God! - my mom kept nagging him and he rolled his eyes before, dad turned to mom with a charming smile. - Marie! I know my love, I just made sure that he is going to be fine! - Mom walked to him and locked her arm with his so dad could rest leaning against her a bit. Her blonde eyebrows furrowed but her warm brown eyes showed worry. - Well, I've never let him fall onto his head! Unless you dropped him, Tyler is more than capable of taking care of himself! By the way, is your phone charged? - he asked suddenly and I couldn't hold my laughter back anymore. - Did you not just say that I'm capable? - she furrowed her eyebrows more but I quickly lifted my mobile phone up before her new wave or arguments. - Fully charged! I'll be okay! - She sighed and smiled. - Take care dear! - See you later son! - father bid goodbye and leaning on his short but fiery wife, they walked back to our house. We lived near the port of a smaller fisher city. The weather here was usually colder than at the south of the continent. Our little country was an island famous for its fishes and pearls, therefore most of the population lived from either one of them, yet we always supported and helped each other with our fellow fishermen. - Be careful with the Howling Islands! - I heard my father's voice and turned around. - I won't go near! - I said and watched for a moment how my parents waved me goodbye. Father was a tall, black haired man, with warm brown eyes, while mom looked fragile and tiny next to him giving out a little Pan Peter and Tinkerbell vibes. Actually in the city of Floks people called my mom Tinkerbell. I got on the boat and checked everything before untying the ropes and turned the motors on. The sun was barely getting up and I enjoyed the cold salty breeze caressing my face in the weak sunshine. I loved our little city and its citizens, but ever since I was a young boy, I've always dreamed about sailing across the ocean to meet new cultures, and have adventures just like the adventurers in my history books. Being my parents only son put a burden on me, they never said it out loud, but my future was basically written from the day I was born. I drove the boat until I couldn't see the shore, nor the island anymore and there I stopped. I turned off the engine, lowered the anchor and waited until it was stuck in the deep, stopping the boat completely. Then I cast the net, checked the winch and waited for the catch. In the meantime I scrolled down the news on my phone and watched a few podcasts. Suddenly a very interesting channel popped up on my screen. - Mystical disappearances around the Howling Islands. - I clicked on the video and a guy around my age called Jake, explained an occurrence that happened around ten years ago. I've grabbed a soft drink from the tiny fridge we had on the boat and sat on my chair on the deck by the winch. - This is going to be interesting. - I mumbled and turned up the volume of the video. - Welcome back to my channel folks! My name is Jake and I research the mysteries and dark secrets of our beloved country! In today's video I'll talk about the tragedy that happened near the coasts of the Howling islands. For those who had been living under a rock until today, I'm showing the map. The Howling islands are at the south of the country of Husavik. The most unique characteristics of this island is the fact that it's made of three different small islands. At low tide, the underwater natural island spurs that connect the three smaller islands rise to the surface, creating a smaller bay between the three islands. At high tide, these islets can be up to 10 metres deep. The island's population has steadily declined in recent years due to its inaccessibility and the accident, which I will come to shortly, also has put a lot of pressure on the island, which is now slowly dying out. The most interesting feature is the light tower at the junction of the three islands, which over the decades has helped sailors to moor safely or avoid the island during storms. Here's what you need to know! Ten years ago, a luxury tourist ship bound for Husavik was caught in a storm near Howling Island, and despite the light in the tower, the ship was blown up on one of the mountainous cliffs surrounding the island and sank. More than fifty people died in the sinking alone, and dozens more drowned or were attacked by shoals of sharks that frequent the island. So far nothing special, just a terrible accident, right? Here's the kicker! The few survivors said the captain had lost complete control of the boat. Most of the crew and passengers had voluntarily walked into the water and impaled themselves on rocks before the impact. The few survivors said they heard a powerful and irresistible female voice before the impact. - Suddenly the winch started to squeak and the line came off the spool at breakneck speed. I jumped up throwing my phone on the desk next to the chair and grabbed the break. I've sighed and with all my strengths I've started to roll back the line hoping that it won't snap. When it was close enough to the ship, I've turned the mechanical rolling on and waited till the winch lifted the net out of the water. A smaller shark got tangled up the net and tried to escape. I've pulled the net onto the boat and into the icy container we had built into the middle of the deck. I released the contains of the net inside and saw the shark still trying to catch a few fishes. I went to the bottom of the ship and grabbed my father's knife, back on the deck I've jumped between the fishes and with a quick movement I've stabbed the shark. It stopped moving and I sighed. - That's what you get for being a glutton! - I've climbed back to the deck and gave thanks to the rubber boots and to the yellow, waterproof, canted pants that my mother forced me to wear, so at least my jeans underneath didn't get wet. The pants with my black T-shirt made me look like a fireman. The only thing missing was the helmet. I've thrown the net back and watched as the clouds gathered. They were innocent looking, white fluffy clouds. I sat back to my chair and kept watching the videos of this Jake guy, but the accident that happened at the Howling island kept bugging my mind. I went back to the comment section and started to read the speculations of the people under the video while I kept fishing. In a few hours, the container was nicely filled, so it was time for me to return. Although, the endless ocean called me and I wanted to sail just a little further. I still had time to return... Just a little further.