The Iron Lighthouse

Nope, That's Not A Train

The first thing I did when I saw Grandpa was start crying. I was a bit ashamed of myself for not running up to him and checking to see if he was okay, but something in my mind just told me not to.

Luckily Caleb brought him over to me and laid him on the ground. "He's alive, but his leg got really smashed up," Caleb told me. "And he's unconscious...sorry, but I didn't learn about what to do about this in boy scouts."

"G-Grandpa?" I mumbled, hoping that somehow he could hear me. Caleb just shook his head sadly.

"Ellie," I heard Davy say. He must have woken up. "Just-just let him go. He's going to die. We don't have any dry clothes for him and even if we did he'd still freeze because the cold water has soaked into his skin."

"N-No, h-he'll be fine," I mumbled.

"Ellie there's nothing we can do until the storm is over," Rebecca told me.

"She's right. We'll figure it out when the storm is over," Caleb said, crouching down next to me.

"D-Do you want your sweater back? Y-You're all wet," I whispered.

"No, you can have it....did you guys hear that?" 

"Hear what?" I questioned.1

"I hear it," Rebecca said. "Listen...it sounds like a...train."

Right after she said that I heard it. I had never actually seen or heard a train, but I knew somewhat what it would sound like. And it definitely sounded like one now.

Then I heard thudding noises and turned to see Bailey coming up the steps.

"Hey uh Caleb, so is there a train nearby or...well...I think I heard once that if you hear a train it means there is probably a tornado," Bailey said as she walked up to Caleb.

"It's getting louder," Rebecca pointed out. "Would it safer to go downstairs if there is a tornado?"

"It probably would be, but how are we going to get him downstairs?" Caleb asked, pointing to Grandpa.

"Well I guess you and Bailey could carry him. I have to help get Davy downstairs, I don't think he can handle it on his own and Ellie I think will barely be able to get there herself," Rebecca told him.

"There is no way in hell I'm carrying an old man down like a million flights of stairs!" Bailey yelled. 

"Well I can't do it myself. It was difficult just walking ten feet holding him, I almost dropped him several times," Caleb replied.

"I'm still not doing it," Bailey pouted. I could hear the tornado getting louder.

"Guys we don't have much time," I announced. "We either all go now or we may be blown over with this lighthouse."

Bailey huffed. "Fine Caleb, I'll help you carry this shitty old man."

"Watch who your calling shitty, slut," I heard Rebecca say next to me before I could fire back with something much more atrocious, that may or may not have been accompanied by a punch or two.

"Excuse me, bitch?" Bailey screamed back. I don't know why Caleb even likes her, with that temper of hers.

"Do you all want to live or not!?" I screamed back. Everyone got the message, and we started our descent. 

I went first, putting a hand on Rebecca's shoulder since I didn't quite trust myself not to fall. My knees felt weak, and also if I fell everyone would get a glimpse of my underwear as I tumbled down the stairs. I wish the sweater went a little bit longer than it did. 

Alongside me, Rebecca walked slowly, supporting Davy by holding on to his hand that was over his shoulder, her arm around his waist to steady him. After them Caleb and Bailey carried Grandpa.

Slowly, inch by inch, step by step, we made our way down to the bottom of the lighthouse. When we reached it, we all sat on the floor silently. 

The tornado outside was raging, and it sounded like a train about to crash into us, going fast enough that you could hear the wind that was whipping against it.

"I think it's at the bottom of the hill," I heard Rebecca say beside me. I nodded. The noise was starting to drill into my soul, and I was scared.

"Re-Reb-Rebecca?" I heard someone mutter. Davy was awake.

"I'm here, it'll be okay," I heard her respond to him in a soothing voice, one that I've never heard her use.

I stared at them, deciding it was probably just because she was concerned. Then my thoughts were torn away from me as I felt Caleb's arm wrap around me.

"It's gonna be okay," Caleb told me. "Even if we die, we can just take it as a sign that heaven wants us up there faster than we thought it did."

"You and Bailey are going to hell, that's for sure," I heard Rebecca mutter a few feet away, too quiet for him to hear.

"Caleb," I whispered, trying to keep my voice low. "What are you doing? Bailey's your girlfriend, not me. You should be comforting her."

From the looks of it, Bailey really did need comforting. She had her phone out and was waving it around, in the motion that a crazed person who was attempting to find some service would. 

"She's trying to get on her Instagram so she can let everyone know she's about to die," Caleb replied.

"But she's your girlfriend, so this is wrong."

Caleb shrugged. "I just chose her because I thought she was a good person. I mean, she was popular, seemed pretty, and wasn't all that bad when we first started dating so I thought it was great. But now I know who she really is, and it's not great. So really I've been thinking about breaking up with her for a little while now."

"Well you're still together! Even if you don't want to be!" I started to yell at him, but then lowered my voice. I didn't want Bailey to hear.

Caleb bent in close to me, his mouth tickling my ear. "You know, I would break up with her for you. You're so much more than she is. She may be pretty, but you're beautiful. She has an awful personality, and you can be a bit mean but...your reasons for it are good. You also don't pile crap onto your face, and have enough confidence to go out without it. You are so much better than Bailey, and I would rather date you anyday than her. If you want, I'll break up with her for you. I think I'm going to do it anyways, now that I know that you exist and there is someone better out there."

"Stop," I mumbled. If I let him keep on flattering me, then I would fall for him more than I already have. And if I fall for him, then he'll break my heart. I closed my eyes as a tear fell down my cheek. After all, Caleb has broken many hearts. Bailey was the first girl he had actually dated, and not just had a one night stand with.