The Lighthouse Keeper

By the time Xavier Mercer first saw the lighthouse, the rain had turned the sea and sky into a single stretch of gray.

It stood at the end of a narrow peninsula, separated from the village by a long road that curved over the cliffs. The tower was taller than he had expected, its white stone darkened by rain, its lantern room barely visible through the fog. Every few seconds, the beam swept across the water. Xavier leaned closer to the bus window as the lighthouse disappeared behind a ridge.

"That's where you're headed?"

The driver's voice pulled his attention away from the glass. Xavier looked toward the front of the bus. The driver had been silent for most of the journey, both hands tight around the steering wheel despite the empty road ahead.

"Yeah," Xavier said. "I'm the new lighthouse keeper."

The driver glanced at him in the mirror. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he looked back at the road.

"Thought they'd stopped hiring outsiders."

Xavier gave a quiet laugh. "Apparently not."

The advertisement had appeared at exactly the right time.

LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER REQUIRED.

Private residence included. Utilities covered. No prior experience necessary. Exceptional salary.

The responsibilities had seemed almost suspiciously simple: keep the lantern operational from sunset until sunrise, record weather conditions, perform basic maintenance, and report any equipment failures immediately. The salary was nearly twice what Xavier had made at his last job. So, he had applied before he could talk himself out of it.

Three days later, a man named Daniel Voss had called him. The interview had lasted less than ten minutes.

Are you comfortable with isolation? Yes.

Are you capable of following written instructions? Yes.

Do you have a history of sleepwalking, seizures, or prolonged periods of unconsciousness? No.

Can you begin immediately?

Xavier had hesitated at that one. Then he remembered the unpaid bills scattered across his kitchen counter and the final argument with his landlord.

"Yes," he had said.

Now, less than two days later, he was riding into a village he had never heard of to take charge of a lighthouse he knew nothing about. The bus slowed as the first buildings appeared through the rain. Graywick was smaller than Xavier had imagined. A cluster of stone houses rested between the cliffs and the hills, their roofs dark with rain. Narrow streets twisted between them, leading down toward a harbor filled with fishing boats.

Beyond the rooftops, the lighthouse beam passed across the clouds. Xavier watched it sweep over the village. The driver pulled beside a small shelter near the center of town.

"This is your stop."

Xavier grabbed his backpack and reached for the larger suitcase beneath his seat. The driver opened the door but kept his foot on the brake.

"Mr. Mercer."

The driver was staring at him now. The expression on his face reminded Xavier of someone watching a stranger step too close to the edge of a roof.

"Yeah?"

The driver glanced toward the lighthouse, hesitating like he couldn't figure out what to say. Then he mumbled, "Enjoy your new job."

He faced forward again.

"Thank you."

Xavier stepped off the bus, pulling his suitcase behind him. The door folded shut, and the bus drove away before he had fully reached the shelter.

Rainwater soaked through the shoulders of his jacket. He stood alone in the center of Graywick. There were no taxis waiting. In fact, most of the little town was quiet, with only a handful of villagers moving quickly through the rain.

A woman carrying a basket noticed his suitcase. Her eyes traveled from the luggage to his face, then toward the distant lighthouse. Her pace seemed to quicken as she hurried down the street without a word to him.

Xavier frowned. "Friendly place."

He pulled his phone from his pocket. The email from Daniel had instructed him to meet at the Graywick Inn. Xavier found it across the square, identified by a faded wooden sign swinging above the door. Warm air met him as he stepped inside, a welcome relief from the chilly air outside. The inn was quiet.

A fire burned in the stone fireplace, filling the room with the smell of smoke and wet wool. Several people sat at tables with bowls of soup and mugs of dark beer. Conversations faded as Xavier dragged his suitcase inside. Every face turned toward him. Xavier stopped beside the door. He gave a small wave to the man closest to him before saying, "Hi, I'm looking for Daniel Voss. Do you know where I can find him?"

No one answered. Then a man behind the counter put down the glass he was drying. He was older, perhaps in his sixties, with thick gray hair and broad shoulders. His eyes settled on Xavier's luggage.

"You're the new keeper." It wasn't a question.

Xavier walked toward the counter and held out his hand. "Xavier Mercer."

The man studied him. "Gareth McAllen."

Then he accepted Xavier's handshake. Gareth's grip was firm, but his palm was cold.

"I'm supposed to meet Daniel Voss here."

"He'll come."

Gareth didn't offer any more information, so Xavier nodded before glancing around the room.

"Friendly little town you've got here."

"They just don't take kindly to strangers. I wouldn't take it to heart."

The villagers had returned to their meals, but the inn remained unnaturally quiet. Xavier could feel their attention even when they weren't looking directly at him.

"Can I get a coffee while I wait?"

Gareth poured a cup and set it on the counter. Xavier wrapped his hands around it, grateful for the warmth.

"Does everyone know about the job?"

"Everyone knows about the lighthouse."

"Right." Xavier looked around. "Just seems like everyone has something against me."

"Not you necessarily. It's just... lighthouse keepers don't last long here."

Gareth grabbed another glass and began to dry it. Xavier took a drink. The coffee was bitter enough to make his jaw tighten.

"What do you mean? Do they, like... get bored of it?"

Outside, the lighthouse beam passed across the windows. For a brief moment, the glass turned white. One of the men near the fireplace glanced toward it, and Xavier followed his gaze. Gareth didn't speak for a while, and for a moment Xavier didn't think he would.

"There's some superstitions about the lighthouse. It's been said that there's a monster who lives there and is only kept there by lighthouse magic."

Xavier choked on his coffee.

"Lighthouse magic? That's ridiculous."

"Maybe so, but strange things happen there."

"Strange how?"

"People go missing. It happens every time the light goes out. Lighthouse keepers never seem to believe us. They end up missing or turning up dead. Can't take the stress, I suppose."

Xavier looked through the rain-streaked window.

"There's no such thing as magic or monsters. I'm sure there's an explanation for it."

Just then, the front door opened.

A tall, narrow man entered wearing a long black coat. He carried no umbrella, yet there was barely any rain on his shoulders.

"Mr. Mercer."

Xavier stood.

The man removed one glove and offered his hand.

"Daniel Voss."

Daniel appeared older than he had sounded on the phone. His face was pale and sharply lined, his hair nearly white. He looked more like an undertaker than the administrator of a lighthouse.

"Sorry I'm late," Daniel said, taking off his coat as he slid onto a stool. "There were preparations to make."

"For me?"

"For the transition."

Daniel looked toward Gareth.

"Usual for me, Gareth."

"Coming right up."

Daniel reached into his coat until his fingers found a thick envelope. He slid it across the counter to Xavier. Xavier opened it. Inside were several forms, a ring of keys, and a folded packet of instructions. Xavier picked up the keys. There were at least twelve.

"I thought it was just a lighthouse."

"It is."

"What are all these for?"

"Interior doors. Exterior doors. Maintenance chambers. Generator access. The lower levels."

Xavier looked up. "The lower levels?"

"Storage and machinery. Though the only reason you'd go down there is as a last resort."

"I'm assuming I'll know if it's a last resort?"

"Trust me. You'll know."

Something about the way Daniel said it made Xavier think there was more, but with the way Daniel was staring at him, he decided not to press. Instead, he signed the forms where Daniel indicated. The final page concerned emergency procedures. Xavier scanned it.

"Failure to activate the lantern before sunset may result in immediate termination."

"Yes," Daniel said.

"That seems a little extreme."

"The lantern is the sole reason you are being employed."

"I understand that. I just mean immediate termination seems harsh if there's a technical problem."

"If there is a technical problem, you will contact us before the lantern fails."

Xavier gave a nervous laugh. "No pressure, then."

Daniel did not smile. He removed another object from his coat. It resembled an old pager, with a small screen and a single red button.

"This communicates directly with the village alarm system."

Xavier turned it over in his hand.

"What does the button do?"

"If the lantern cannot be restored within three minutes, press it."

"And then?"

"We'll take the necessary precautions."

Xavier laughed before realizing Daniel was serious. "Precautions? Because the lighthouse goes dark?"

"Yes."

The room had become completely silent again. Xavier looked around. This time, no one pretended not to be listening.

"Is this because of the superstition?"

Gareth gripped the edge of the counter after passing Daniel his food. Daniel went on as if he hadn't heard Xavier—or maybe he had simply chosen to ignore him.

"The lighthouse powers equipment necessary to the protection of Graywick."

"What equipment?"

"You will be shown what you need to maintain."

"That isn't really an answer."

"It is the only answer required for your position."

Xavier considered handing the keys back. The man was strange. The entire village was strange, and the advertisement had sounded too good to be true because it clearly was. Then he remembered the salary. He remembered his landlord standing in the doorway while Xavier packed. He remembered the message from his older brother offering to lend him money again. With a sigh, Xavier slipped the alarm device into his pocket.

"Fine."

Daniel nodded once.

"Your luggage can be loaded into my vehicle."