I'm surrounded by a dark fog and try to reach out in front of me, but my hands seem to be transparent.
What is going on? I look around. Where am I? This definitely can't be real... Okay, so I'm dreaming. But about what?
A sudden rustling in the darkness and two cloaked figures meet in the shadows.
"Is it done?" asks the first shadow.
"I have done as you have asked. He is no more," replies the second.
"Excellent. And your reward," the first whispers handing over what looks like a heavy treasure chest.
Huh. I wonder how he can lift the thing. The dirtbag looks like a skinny little weasel.
The dark fog swirls around me. I'm in the Captain's Cabin of an old ship... I have a funny feeling I'm sailing on a sloop. The treasure chest is secured to the wall and the weasel in the cloak is whistling.
A sudden disturbance on deck startles Weasel and he dashes for the door, which is kicked in by what I'm guessing is a pirate.
The intruder runs Weasel through with his short sword, and liberates the treasure from the wall. Once he is finished he runs back on the main deck and I follow. By this time the entire first crew have been run through and are left for dead.
"We've found it!" Shouts the pirate, only it's in a language I've never heard and I'm not even sure how I know what he is saying.
I must be high on something... only I never touched drugs, so there must be another explanation for this... I just can't think of what.
The dark fog swirls around me again.
This time the pirates are attacking a Brig. They burn the whole thing. The smell of burnt flesh makes me sick, I can feel the heat of the flames, and if this isn't already a nightmare, the sound of the dying crew will give me night terrors for years to come.
Suddenly two US frigates surround the pirate's schooner. The American's fight the pirates in a crazy double time speed. There are only ten pirates left.
One of the Lieutenants ties up the prisoners and the Commander gives the order to search the ship. A couple of Petty Officers come out of the cabin carrying the treasure.
"What should we do with it?" asks a guy who's all on board are burned to death.
"We can't take the treasure with us," announces the Commander. "I believe it is cursed."
"What do we do with it Skipper?" asked the LTJG.
"We will leave it on one of the small islands," announces the Commander. "But in order for us to keep it safe, we will build a lighthouse around it and have it manned. There will be a man standing sentry duty that will last for 10years and passed on to someone else, until we figure out how to send it the the States safely."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
For some reason, I am aware of the passage of time. I can see the decades go by, each sentry protecting the treasure from thieves and pirates. Faces pass before me.
Finally the year is 1950 and a young PO2 is called as the next "Lighthouse Sentry." A few years pass and I see him meeting Elaine on his shore leave he gets once a year. 5 years pass and he is promoted to CPO. Samuel proposes to Elaine.
"The thing is," starts Samuel, "I am guarding a treasure. It's allegedly cursed. But I'm stationed at the lighthouse for another 5 more years."
"I don't care where I am, Sam. As long as I am with you," she responds and kisses Samuel. At the same time my lips tingle with the feel of her lips.
I watch them with my heart pumping faster. What is going on. Of course I knew she married him, and then she died. But why can I feel it when she is kissing him?
Maybe the guys are right and I just need to find a girl...
"I love you," Samuel and I whisper in unison.
Fog swirls around again, and I'm in a little cottage facing Samuel in his Navy uniform and Elaine in a white dress.
A small red phone (that is more an old CB radio than anything else I can describe) flashes a red light and makes a loud siren noise.
A crackling voice comes through, "Chief Petty Officer David, this is Commander Johnson. Come in."
Samuel picks up almost immediately. "Commander Johnson, what can I do for you?"
"I have just received word that you just got married. Congratulations, by the way," CDR Johnson says by way of greeting.
"Thank you sir," Samuel responds, clearly puzzled.
"I am ordering a schooner ship to pick you up within the hour. You need to bring the treasure to US soil now. You are still in charge of the lighthouse for the next 5 years, but the treasure must be turned over immediately."
Nothing but shock registers on Samuels face. Not that I blame the guy. He just got married, give him at least 24 hours leave to spend time with his wife!
Samuel sputters, "But sir, the treasure has been her for at least 100 years, can't it wait a week? And I'm not sure an old retire schooner is the safest way to bring the treasure to the States," he argues.
"We need you to take the schooner because it is the fastest ship we have at the moment, and there is a hurricane coming. We need it back before the storm hits! We can't send anything bigger because that area is too shallow and would surely sink our ships," barks the Commander.
"But Sir," he tries again. " I just got married. Can't it wait a week?"
He is begging now, and I totally feel for the guy. I'd be groveling too.
"Don't you want your new bride to be safe, David? You know death follows that chest like maggots on dead flesh. Now, move out!" barked CDR Johnson.
The visual made me feel a little green, especially since I know what happens next...
"Aye, aye Sir."
A pounding on my door startles me awake.
"Rise and shine, sunshine!" shouts Jordan. "It's your turn to cook breakfast!"
"Sure thing," I respond.
Visions of pirates, fire, death, and treasure swirl around in my head.
What the hell was that all about?
YOU ARE READING
The Lighthouse Siren
Misterio / SuspensoWhen 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...
