Watcher in the Dark

Prologue: The Arrival

Ethan Bishop had driven past countless gated communities in his time. Some stood as symbols of wealth and privilege, with their well-manicured lawns and perfect little houses hiding behind stone walls, as if the people within them were somehow separated from the rest of the world. But **Nautical Heights**-this place was different. It wasn't just the imposing iron gates or the towering brick walls that made it unsettling. There was something else, something about its location on the remote, windswept coast, perched on the edge of a rocky cliff, that made it feel like a world all its own.

As Ethan drove up the winding road toward the entrance, the sun was already setting behind the horizon, casting long shadows over the narrow, deserted path. His car's headlights illuminated the way ahead, but the looming trees lining the road seemed to swallow the light as quickly as it appeared. Each twist and turn felt like a descent into something darker, something isolated.

The job had come at just the right time. After the fallout from his last job as a cop-a story he didn't like to revisit-he needed something quiet, something far away from the city. When he saw the posting for a night security guard at Nautical Heights, it seemed like a no-brainer. Easy money, an empty community to watch over, and plenty of time to be alone with his thoughts.

He pulled up to the gate and stopped. The entry to Nautical Heights was as imposing as the community itself, two massive iron gates set into thick stone pillars. They were adorned with intricate carvings of nautical symbols-anchors, ships, and waves-but beneath their decorative appeal was an undeniable sense of coldness, like the gates were meant to keep more than just people out.

Ethan pressed the intercom button, his finger hovering for just a second before he committed to the press. A crackle sounded through the speaker, and then a voice.

"Evening. You must be Ethan Bishop."

The voice was gruff, weary. Whoever was on the other end sounded like they'd been expecting him but were none too pleased about it.

"Yeah, that's me," Ethan replied, leaning toward the intercom. "I'm here for the night shift."

There was a pause. Static filled the silence for a moment, and Ethan felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as the night air crept through the open window of his car. Finally, the gates began to move, creaking as they swung inward, revealing a dark road beyond that led further into the heart of the community.

"Come on in," the voice said. "Gregory's waiting for you at the guard house."

The gates closed behind Ethan with a resounding thud as he continued down the road, the sound sending an unexpected jolt through his chest. He hadn't realized how tense he was until that moment, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He took a deep breath and shook it off.

"It's just a job," he muttered to himself. "Nothing to worry about."

The road through Nautical Heights was narrow and winding, flanked on both sides by tall hedges and the occasional glimpse of a towering house beyond the trees. The houses were grand, sprawling estates with modern architecture, but there was an emptiness to them. No lights in the windows, no movement behind the curtains. If anyone lived here, they didn't seem to care about the arrival of the new guard.

Finally, up ahead, Ethan saw the glow of a single light outside a small building-the guard house.

He pulled into the gravel lot and parked his car. The guard house wasn't much to look at, just a small, square building with a single window facing the road and a door off to the side. A man was standing outside, his back turned, staring down the road as if waiting for something. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a thick jacket despite the relatively mild temperature.