Aatma

The Lighthouse

The lighthouse

There's a lighthouse on the east coast of Goa that guides many ships to safety. Nobody knows who operates it. At day time it's abandoned, and at night it stands alone seldomly flashing its bright light to lost sailors or warning them about the dangers ahead. 

 The thick blanket of mist and sharp boulders of the notorious east coast is known to have wrecked many ships back in the old times. 

Legend has it that if you are to ever sail the east coast and find yourself lost, the lighthouse will guide you. This lighthouse was built in the 1800s and was in operation for many centuries. Nobody knows when and how but the lighthouse was abandoned and long forgotten until sailors noticed strange happenings near the coastline.

Long ago, a family of 8 came to live in a beautiful house perched on the cliff. They were the typical family you'd expect to see during the Renaissance period. The family consisted of Laura, the mother, Napoleon, her husband, Macey, Vanessa, Charles, Charlotte, John and William, their 6 lovely children.

"Saints! This house is-" Macey, the youngest, was cut short by her brother, John.

" Awful!" He pushed her as he walked in after Charlotte and William.

"I meant beautiful, John until you turn it into a mess," She quipped and danced in the parlor. 

" Aaaahhh!" John pulled her hair in anger before she screamed in pain.

"Mamma!" She cried to her mother, Laura.

" Now there stop annoying your little sister, John," Laura shook her head as she dusted the sofa before slouching on it.

"She started it, mammy," John complained and looked at Macey in disgust.

" Why don't you go help your father with the trunks, John," their mother sighed and looked at the house.

A lot of cleaning and repair work was yet to be done before they could make themselves comfortable and call it home.

After settling, the White family gathered at the dining room for supper. Everyone was hungry and dug right into the turkey when Laura set the table. Everyone except for Vanessa, the oldest. 

She was seated with a sullen face, holding a romance novel in hand.

"Dear, your supper is getting cold…" Their mother commented.

" I don't wish to eat it... I'd rather you left me back in Weldin," She cribed and pushed the bowl away.

"Vanessa! Where are your manners?" Napoleon, their father reprimanded her lovingly.

" I want to go back!" Vanessa cried and ran upstairs.

She had just found love in a young lad named Jeffrey back in Weldin where they lived. The move came to her as a big shock and she couldn't forgive her parents for separating her from her true love.

The next day while Vanessa was helping her mother pluck berries from the farm she felt someone call her name.

" Did you just say my name, mamma?" Vanessa asked in confusion.

" No dear," her mother replied.

Vanessa got back to plucking the berries when she heard her name being called out for a 2nd time.

Vanessa looked around and noticed something running in the woods. Curiosity got the better of her and she decided to explore it

" I'll be back," She informed her mother and cautiously entered the woods behind the farm.

Vannesa was taken by surprise when something grabbed her by covering her mouth.

She screamed but stopped the moment she saw Jeffrey. 

" Oh Saints! Jeffrey, is that you?" She cried in joy and embraced him. " It really is you?" She still couldn't believe it was her love.

" Yes, my love. I couldn't live without you," he explained and kissed her lips. " I had to come see you," he added as they stood in an embrace.

" How did you get here?" She asked in astonishment.

" I hitched a ride and pulled some strings," he smirked and kissed her again.

That day onwards they decided to meet once every week. Fearing that they would get caught Jeffrey had discovered a lighthouse just a few blocks away from her house. It became their love nest and every time Jefferey would come visit, he would wait at the lighthouse.

One day Macey noticed her older sister dressing up in front of the mirror.

“You look very happy today, where are you going?” She asked and offended her.

“I’m not answerable to you Macey, run along and play with your dolls,”  She retorted and left the room.

 Macey was curious and wouldn’t take no for an answer. That day she decided to follow her sister. She saw her heading towards the lighthouse and continued to follow her.

When she climbed upstairs, she saw her sister in the arms of Jeffery. She watched them for a while until he undressed Vanessa and began kissing her.

“Eww!” She screamed and came out of her hiding.

Jeffery and Vanessa froze seeing her and quickly dressed.

 “Macey!” her sister yelled in embarrassment.

“Why did you bring your sister along?” Jeffery fumed in anger.

“No I didn’t!” She yelled back at him before both broke into a heated argument.

Jeffrey slapped Vannesa, that’s when Macey complained that she would tell her father about what Jefferey and Vaness were doing in the lighthouse.

“No! Macey! Get back here!” Vanessa tried to grab Macey’s hand but Macey stepped back not realizing she was near the stair.

“Aaaaah!” Macey screamed as she slipped and rolled down the stairs before hitting base.

“Oh Saints! MACEY!” Vanessa screamed and rushed down the stairs to find her youngest sister bleeding and unconscious. 

“Is she alive?” Jefferey came from behind and enquired suspiciously while Vanessa weeped.

“I don’t know...we need to take her home!” She cried and picked her up but Jeffery stopped her.

“No...we can’t...what if she’s dead?” He said in fright. “ Your father will have me killed,” He added and pulled Macey from her arms.

“What are you doing?” Vanessa asked in desperation as he carried her towards the marshy area.

“Jeffery, are you out of your mind!” She yelled and tried to pull her sister back but Jeferry pushed her.

“You’ll thank me later, we can’t go to prison!” He remarked and let Macey drown in the marsh.

Vanessa cried and tried to reach her little sister but was pulled back by him. In the marsh, Macey could faintly hear her sister’s cries. She struggled to move and call out for help but in vain. That evening, Macey died in the marsh after several hours of bleeding. The family were informed that Macey had gone missing. As promised to Jeffery, Vanessa kept quiet and took the secret of Mace’s death to her grave.

After the family moved out from there, locals started reporting seeing a pale child standing on top of the light house. The mysterious child would appear out of nowhere and wave at the passing ships. Many believe she is the one operating the abandoned lighthouse.