Guiding light

The Good stranger

Perdita - Earlier that morning.

- Here is your portion of food fot this week. Monster. - the man threw the bag of food through the door and left. I've hurried and gathered everything together saving a few eggs that didn't break by the impact. They gave me a few fishes this time, ten eggs, from which four broke already, a sack of flour, some oil, a few vegetables and spices. I've got a loaf of bread as well and a few rock hard buns. After putting everything away and cleaning up the broken eggs, I've went to my bed to get some sleep. I woke up to the sound of a thunder and immediately jumped out of the bed hurrying to the tower. I've lit the century old oil lamp behind the magnifying glass and started to search the rambling waves. I can't let anyone else die because of my fault! I spot a small fisherman's boat and directed the light at it, guiding the captain to the shore. I kept watching as a young man got out and laid on the sand. I've directed the light to the pathway towards the city, and hoped he'll get some help, although I didn't expect much from those people.

Ten years ago...

I've been living happily in the tower with the man who became my father. His name was Emilio and was the outcast of the city. These people were always afraid of everything slightly different from them and always took the opportunity to hurt those who were out of their spectrum. Emilio had a missing eye, but he was a really shy and kind person who got job as the light tower keeper. He was the one who decided to take me in after my real family left me at the door of the light tower. Emilio took me in and raised me as his own for five years. He taught me to swim, fish, read and cook as well at am early age. We didn't speak much, but I was really happy with my little life, until that day. Emilio left to the city to get some food for us and I was staying in readying a fairy tale book he brought to me for my sixth found-day since none of us knew my birthday, I had a found-day. In the book the princess was closed into a huge tower and waited for the prince to come and save her. I loved the idea that I'm princess as well, so I've headed up to the tower there was a storm already, but it wasn't too dangerous and since I was very young I was afraid of the noises. So to calm my mind I've pretended to be the princess and started to imitate how the birds sang, hoping that my prince might find me. Soon I was a boat approaching and I've sang louder happily that the prince was on his way, but I've stopped as soon as I saw that the boat started sinking. Emilio shouted and pushed me away, litting the light and directing to the boat. He looked at me with a terrified look and asked in the thunder.

- What have you done Penny? - I was shocked.

- I was singing like the Princess. I thought that's the Prince's boat. - I mumbled and cried but Emilio didn't care at that moment. He grabbed me in his arms and ran down the stairs with me. He hid me in the closet, gave me a stuffed seal be bought to me when I was a toddler and said.

- Stay here and don't make a single noise! I'll be back soon. - I've obeyed, but Emilio never came back. Instead, a crowd of angry and bad people stormed into our home and started tearing everything apart.

- Where is that sea witch?! SEARCH EVERYWHERE! - they shouted and I've cowered my mouth in fear, I didn't make a sound but due to being scared I started to hiccup. They found me and dragged me out of the closet. I saw Emilio being held down and full of wounds, blood dripping down his face.

- Please... Don't hurt her, she didn't do anything, it was my fault. - Emilio said and I saw them hitting him again. I've started to scream and the windows broke out, people of the city covered their ears and the one standing next to me hit me so badly that I fall and broke my nose. I didn't dare to cry but pulled myself up and said.

- IT WAS MY FAULT! PLEASE DON'T HURT EMILIO! - I pleaded but they looked at both of us with disgust. A man rolled his eyes and said.

- Filthy monsters shouldn't live among us. - he grabbed a pistol and shot Emilio in front of me. I screamed uncontrollably and wanted them do disappear. I shouted as loud as my lungs allowed me until the people standing the nearest started to shout in pain. Their ears and eyes bleed and I felt like this wasn't enough. They took Emilio away from me! When I stopped to breath a man started to strangle me and the one who shot Emilio stopped him.

- WAIT! We need that monster, unless you want to take care of the light tower! - he covered my mouth but stopped strangling me. I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck and everything became black. When I've opened my eyes, I had the collar om my neck and the man was sitting at our table.

- So you are awake. Try to talk. - he said and pointed the gun at me.

- Go to... - I've said but I felt a shocking pain in my neck and through my entire spine. He laughed and got up walking to me. He lifted me by the collar and I struggled for air.

- We let you live, guard the tower and don't ever dream of escaping. More than fifty people died because of you, Emilio had to die because of you! If you dare to utter another word in your life, we will kill you. - he throw me to the floor, into the half dried puddle of blood and said.

- From today, your name is Perdita, like the boat that sunk because of you. We'll come to check if you behave and bring enough food for you to survive. Don't consider this as a mercy for not even a single minute. This is your punishment, you have to save people instead of killing them! - he spit on me and shut the door closed. I've cried without a sound and fall asleep in the puddle of blood.

My memories made me shiver as I heard the door of the light tower open. No way! Those fuckers are not coming here in a weather like this. I sneaked down and heard from the stairs an unknown man's voice.

- Hey! Is somebody here?! -after a few minutes he asked permission to use my bathroom and I've heard the water running. I went down to the kitchen and wanted to leave some food out for him when he stepped out of the bathroom. It was a boy around my age, maybe a little older, with a little long, dark blonde hair and brown eyes. His skin looked like the sailors a little kissed by the sun. He was really tall and handsome, for my biggest surprise our eyes met.

- Hi! I won't hurt you! I just need a shelter till the storm stops. I've used your bathroom, I hope it's okay. My name Tyler Hook! May I know yours? - his voice sounded so kind and warm, and he looked really good in only a towel. I got myself staring at him and thanks to a huge lighting I've came back to my senses running back to the top of the tower. He was probably on the ship I've guided to the shore before. I continued my duty with him trying to chat with me. Before I could've really comprehend what happened, he took the collar off of my neck. The collar that had been put on me ten years ago... His handsome face distorted with anger and I saw him picking up the collar to throw it away. At that moment he looked like the Prince I've dreamed of as a kid. But I had to stop him, because if the mayor finds out the collar is gone, he'll probably beat me to death as he tried several times before. But somehow, my wounds always healed without leaving a scar which only enraged him more.

- Won't you tell me your name? - he asked with that warm glance of his and I was still afraid of speaking. What if I'm dreaming and If I open my mouth to speak I'll wake up? To avoid the risk and enjoy some more time with my Prince, I've pulled the newspaper of the accident that changed my life, and pointed at the name of that cursed ship.

- Perdita. - he said it out loud and I've felt my face blush a bit. He smiled at me and shook my hand repeating his name that I've already knew.

- Tyler.