Her Light

XXIV

It's dark by the time they reach the lighthouse. Well past any normal resting time, Camila declined sleeping in Lauren's bed with her—mostly because she can't sleep, her stomach is sick with thoughts of what lay ahead. In the cold, crisp midnight air, Camila stands leaning onto the ledge of the ship, feeling the icy wind rush against her face and through her hair.

Her hands grasp tightly at the wooden cleft in the ship, eyes nearly watering from the harsh chill in the air. Stars glitter and gleam above, and the moonlight is beautiful bouncing off the churning waves below. Normani sails silently, probably too focused and tired to strike up any conversation with Camila. Until—

"Aye," Normani's voice startles Camila from the mesmerizing turquoise water beneath her, snapping her gaze up. "Home sweet home."

But Camila already sees it. The pulsating light strobes over them, blinding Camila momentarily before it encircles itself. Camila might vomit right here, right now. Annoying, painfully bright in the midst of the night, a disgusting alarm to the end of Camila's adventure—the lighthouse ruins everything this peaceful night had to offer.

Normani sails them as close to the cliff as she possibly can, throwing over the anchor. "Mila, do you think any waves will push us too close to the cliff? Or is this a good length away? Because I want to be able to put the boardwalk out so we can exit."

This is Camila's house, she knows best. "This is fine. Spring waves aren't as bad, usually. If it was dead winter, though; I would scoot back."

"Aye, aye, captain." Normani jokes, flicking two fingers over to her off her forehead. Running to the opposite side of the ship, she calls over at Ally and Dinah on the sailboat. "Dipshits, we're here! Anchor near the beach, it's easier for you."

In the mist and the shadow of the night, the lighthouse looks sinister. It looms evilly; its beacon like a menacing eye in the night. Overlooking all, ruining all. Camila stands prey to it.

"Hey," Normani is by her side, bumping her arm to get her attention. "I'm going to help Ally and Dinah. Wake Lauren, will you?"

Camila blinks quickly, nodding over to her friend. "Yeah, of course."

Normani slides this long board of wood out of a pocket in the side of the ship, and places it down between the boat and the cliff side. When the wind catches up, the ship dips with the waves and the board becomes unstable. Sighing, Normani pulls the board back and slides it away. She mutters something to herself.

Fleeing whatever was happening there, Camila finds herself outside Lauren's cabin door. She knocks gently before pushing the unlocked door open. Expecting a sleeping Lauren to be in the bed, she's surprised when Lauren is awake and facing the ceiling with her hands out beside her.

"We're here, aren't we?"

"Yeah," Camila says, hugging herself with her back holding the door open. "Uh, Mani told me to come wake you."

Lauren laughs humorlessly and tiredly. It's almost bitter. "I didn't sleep at all. Not with you out there. Plus, I knew we were really close to Sitka and your lighthouse and I just... couldn't rest."

She pushes herself from the bed, clad in her clothes she wore yesterday. Sliding on a random shirt left hung over the side of a chair, Lauren stumbles out into the night. Camila lets the door shut behind her. Walking beside her, she notices how her nose is red and her eyes are puffy. The bags under her eyes are deep and she doesn't look happy.

Neither is Camila. But her fingers meet her wrist, and slide down into Lauren's hand carefully. The woman beside her saddens.

"Good morning, love birds." Normani greets them chirpily (like she's a bird herself). "Turns out the board isn't safe for here, so we'll have to take the rope ladder down. You all good to do that, Laur? Ally has the sailboat right beside the boat to get us to the beach."