LONELINESS

~ Iain Kelly

The wind howled round the lighthouse.

Jackson looked up at the bright beam as it circled round, shielding his eyes from the driving rain.

Satisfied that all was in order he went back inside. He took off his soaked oilskin jacket and walked up the staircase to his bed.

The relief wouldn’t be able to get through the storm tonight with the waves battering the cliffs.

The forecast on the radio predicted it would last well into the next week. That was good. That gave him some more time.

He went over the story in his head again, lying on the bed, wrapping the sheets around him to keep warm.

He had no idea how Billy had slipped. Jackson had heard the scream and a sickening thud. He had looked over the edge of the cliff and was sure he had seen a body being tossed in the waves. Jackson had scrambled down the rocks, but there was no sign of Billy.

That would work if he stuck to his story. There was no one to contradict it. So long as Billy’s body did stay anchored to the seabed. Then no one would see the bullet wound in his forehead.

lighthouse
Copyright Susan Spaulding

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Susan Spaulding. For more details visit HERE.

To read more of the stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

My new novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is now available in Paperback and on Amazon Kindle.
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Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

36 thoughts on “LONELINESS”

  10. Ooh, such a lovely mystery this! I’m fascinated by this dynamic, the isolation felt by the men, shut away in that little tower of stone with the elements thrashing around them – so many possibilities of why, where and how, so many tensions simmering away. Reminds me of a true lighthouse mystery from the start of the 20th century. Have you heard of this? https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Lynn, so many possibilities about what may have happened and why in my story, I’m not sure I’ve decided yet! I saw a trailer for a film coming next year that looks very much based on the Eilean Mor mystery with Peter Mullen and Gerard Butler, it looks very good – and creepy and sinister!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I’m not surprised they’ve made a film about the mystery. I’m sure in reality the disappearance were mundanely tragic – terrible weather, the men panicking and not following safety protocols – but the fact we’ll never know what actually happened to them leaves the story ripe for interpretation. I just watched the trailer you mentioned – looks exciting. And I love Peter Mullan – anything with him in has to have a touch of class about it

        Liked by 1 person

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