After suffering from major hangovers, they guys finally roused at the crack of 1 in the afternoon. I hadn't bothered waking them. I just took the helm and sailed, after the blaring sun hit me in the face at just about 6 am.
It was quiet and peaceful. No chatter, no traffic, no background clutter. But even against the calm of the sea, the insatiable drive to reach my destination pushed me forward. I can't stop. The call in my head echoes over and over... "Come find me." Sprinkled with the maddening touch of desire.
I won't be satisfied until I...
"Hey man, how long you been up?" Jordan drawls.
"A while," is my only reply.
"Dude, you look more hungover than Austin..."
"Huh?" I don't understand. I had a total of 2 beers yesterday and zero this morning.
"Jordan's right. You feelin' okay, dude?" asked Austin.
I rub my hand over my face and feel the scratch of the itchy beard just coming in, then push my hand through my short hair. I am exhausted, but what can I say? I haven't slept well in days.
"I'm fine. I just need some water," I insist.
Austin walks over to the cooler and grabs a water. "Are you sure you don't need some Aspirin to go with it? Maybe a sandwich? You look like death!" he stated.
"No, really, I'm good. Just need the wind in my face and clean water to drink," I try to smile, but I think it comes out as a grimace.
Austin saunters over, placing the water in my hand and gently ties to push me away. "Here, go sit, let me drive for a while," he says.
"Naw, I' good!" trying to play it off cool. I really didn't want them to know how badly I want to get to that lighthouse.
"Dave, it's my boat. You look like hell. Let me drive!" Austin insists and he pushes a little firmer.
Reluctantly I hand over the controls and go sit on a deck chair.
"So, what's all the rush anyway?" asks Jordan.
I twist the cap off my water and take a deep pull of the refreshing liquid, nice and slow to give me time to come up with a sane answer... One that didn't involve the truth!
"I'm just excited to get to go treasure hunting with you guys, of course!" was the best I could come up with.
"Aww, yeah! Do you think any one has found the treasure yet?" Austin whoops.
Not according to the article from 5 years ago. The treasure was supposed to be cursed. Maybe it was blood money or something like that," I try to laugh it off.
"You're not superstitious, now are you Dave?" jokes Jordan.
"I don't know man. With all my bad luck, can you blame me?" I ask.
"Yeah, okay. I'll give you that. You've had a hell of a year. You had the car accident back in February; Your apartment got broken into and you lost your entertainment center; And then the thing with Janet... I guess I won't blame you if start carrying around a horseshoe in your back pocket," Jordan concedes.
"I don't care if it's cursed money, drug money, or blood money! I can't wait to try to find it! Wouldn't it be awesome if we showed up at home, carrying a treasure that's been lost for 65 years, and with it's own legend to go with it?" Austin exclaims.
"Right man! Bragging rights for life! Then we have to figure out how to split it!" smirks Jordan. "I was thinkin' 25%/25%/50%! Obviously, I get the 50!" Jordan jokes.
YOU ARE READING
The Lighthouse Siren
Mystery / ThrillerWhen the lighthouse keeper, Samuel David brings his new bride to his lighthouse home, he is asked to do the impossible. His captain orders him to carry away a cursed treasure on their wedding night. He makes a promise to return, when the unthink...
