Daily writing prompt

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

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The Lighthouse the air was thick with salt and the scent of damp wood as Daniel Morgan stepped into the Saint Augustine Lighthouse. The tour had ended hours ago but as a Paranormal Investigator he had secured permission to stay overnight, his camera EVP recorder and thermal scanner were ready he had heard heard the stories the pity sisters the Dark Shadows the ghostly Whispers but he wanted proof as the Clock Struck midnight an eerie Stillness filled the lighthouse the wooden stairs creeped under his boots as he ascended the dim red glow of his flashlight barely cutting through the darkness suddenly a soft giggle echoed from above Daniel froze his blood ran cold is someone there he called out his voice barely above a whisper no answer just the sound of small hurried footsteps scurrying higher up the tower he followed his heart pounding on the landing of the second floor his breath caught a small Shadow stood at the top of the next staircase it was the silhouette of a child barely visible inthe darkness hello Daniel whispered the shadow giggled again and darted up the stairs Daniel’s hands trembled as he raised his camera when he checked the screen his heart nearly stopped the shadow was still there but now it had no face just a black void where eyes and a mouth should be suddenly the temperature dropped a cold wind rushed past him rattling the old lanterns on the walls then came The Whispers faint yet clear come play with us Daniel’s instincts screamed at him to leave but his legs refused to move then out of the corner of his eye he saw another figure a woman in an old-fashioned dress standing by the window her face pale and expressionless her eyes met his and a chilling smile crept across her lips before he could react an invisible force yanked him backward he tumbled down the staircase his body slamming against the wooden steps pain exploded in his ribs but the worst part was the laughter high-pitched echoing all around him Daniel scrambled to his feet and bolted for the exit the heavy Lighthouse door which had been wide open earlier was now shut tight he pulled with all his strength The Whispers grew louder circling him the air was thick with an unseen presence pressing down on his chest then just as suddenly as it had begun everything stopped the door creaked open on its own without hesitation Daniel ran into the night gasping for breath the next morning he reviewed his footage the video was normal except for the very last frame standing at the top of the lighthouse stairs were two little girlstheir faces pale their eyes Hollow and behind find them the woman in the old dress grinning Daniel never returned to the Saint Augustine Lighthouse and he never slept without the Lights On Again.

Days passed but Daniel couldn’t shake the feeling that something had followed him home Shadows moved in the corners of his apartment Whispers echoed through the empty rooms at night his once peaceful home now felt like an extension of the lighthouse’ darkness one evening he sat at his desk reviewing the footage for the h hundredth time his fingers hovered over the keyboard when his screen flickered the video began playing on its own the two little girls stared at him from the lighthouse stairs but this time they moved their pale lips parted and in a chorus of eerie distorted voices they whispered why did did you leave us Daniel Daniel’s blood ran cold the scream went black then a knock at the door slow deliberate three knocks his breath hitched it was nearly 3:00 a.m. who would be visiting at this hour he stood his pulse hammering against his ribs with a shaky hand he reached for the doorknob and pulled it open the hallway was empty a sudden gust of icy wind blew past him sending shivers down his spine he slammed the door shut but then he heard it laughter right behind him Daniel spun around his heart leaping into his throat the room was empty but his reflection in the dark TV screen was not alone behind him stood the two little girls heads tilted grinning the screen crackled their voices whispered again come back to the lighthouse we’re waiting Daniel couldn’t breathe his body refused to move and then the power cut out Darkness swallowed the rung the last thing Daniel heard before everything went silent was the unmistakable sound of small bare feet running across his floor the lighthouse Spirits had found their way to him and this time they weren’t letting him go.

Daniel barely slept after that night every time he closed his eyes he heard Whispers giggles and the soft patter of small feet creeping closer Shadows stretched unnaturally across his walls and the air in his apartment felt heavy suffocating he knew one thing he had to go back to the lighthouse armed with his camera and recorder he returned to Saint Augustine Just Before Sunset the lighthouse loomed ahead its towering frame silhouetted against the Blood Red Sky the entrance was locked but Daniel had a key from his previous investigation with a deep breath he stepped inside the air was thick with the scent of seawater and something rotten…. the wooden floor groan beneath him as he made his way up the spiral staircase his flashlight flickering with each step then a child’s laughter Daniel’s breath hitched he raised his camera but the screen glitched static swallowing the image a shiver ran down his spine then he saw them at the top of the stairs stood the two little girls they were holding hands staring down at him their faces were unnaturally pale their eyes dark voids you came back one of them whispered Daniel swallowed hard his voice shook what do you want from me the other girl giggled to play suddenly the air grew ice cold a force yanked Daniel’s camera from his hands sending it crashing to the ground the lights flickered violently the walls groaned then a woman’s voice low Sinister he doesn’t belong here a powerful gust of wind slammed into Daniel sending him tumbling down the stairs pain exploded through his body as he hit the floor his vision blurring through the haze he saw a tall shadowy figure standing over him it was the woman in the old fashioned dress the one from his footage her lips curled into a wicked smile run Daniel didn’t hesitate he scrambled to his feet and bolted for the door his heartbeat thundering in his ears just as he reached the exit a deafening scream rang through the lighthouse a scream that wasn’t human the door burst open on its own and Daniel stumbled out into the cold night he didn’t stop running until he reached his car as he sped away he glanced in the rearview mirror the lighthouse was dark but inthe window at the very top two small figures stood watching him leave he had escaped aped but he knew the ghosts of Saint Augustine Lighthouse would never forget him.

Daniel left Street Augustine that night but the spirits didn’t leave him no matter where he went he felt their presence watching waiting his nightmares were worse The Whispers never stopped every time he looked into a mirror he saw them the two little girls standing behind him. Their hollow eyes staring into his soul one night desperate for answers he contacted an old friend drive Evelyn Carter a renowned paranormal expert after hearing his story Evelyn was silent for a moment then she spoke in a grave tone the lighthouse has claimed you Daniel the spirits don’t haunt places they haunt people a cold dread settled in his stomach what do I do he asked Evelyn hesitated there’s only one way to break their hold you must return to the lighthouse and face them the final return at midnight Daniel and Evelyn stood outside the Saint Augustine Lighthouse the air was thick with an unnatural Stillness as if the very night was holding its breath Evelyn lit a bundle of sage and murmured an incantation stay close she warned once we start there’s no turning back Daniel swallowed his fear and stepped inside the lighthouse was waiting for him the moment the door shut the temperature plummeted Shadows Twisted unnaturally and The Whispers returned this time louder then footsteps slow deliberate coming from above Daniel looked up and saw them the pity sisters they stood at the top of the staircase their blank faces twisted into Eerie Smiles but now their skin was rotting their dresses soaked as if they had just emerged from the ocean then the woman appeared the lady in the dark dress her voice slithered through the air he belongs to us now suddenly the entire Lighthouse trembled the walls groaned the stairs creaked and the lanterns flickered violently a force slammed into Daniel knocking the air from his lungs Evelyn shouted Daniel call their names acknowledge them through the pain Daniel forced the words out Eliza Mary the little girls froze their black eyes flickered with something human Evelyn raised her voice you drowned here but you don’t have to stay it’s time to let go.

The woman shrieked her form twisting writhing in agony the girls turned to her their small hands reaching out mama no more one of them whispered the woman’s face contorted in rage she lunged at Daniel but then stopped the girls were holding her back the lighthouse shook violently Evelyn grabbed Daniel’s hand run as they sprinted for the exit a blinding light erupted behind them a deafening whale filled the air then silence they stumbled outside gasping for breath the lighthouse Stood Still The Night calm once more Daniel turned expecting to see the girls in the window but for the first time the lighthouse was truly empty the spirits were gone epilog months later Daniel visited the lighthouse one last time it felt different peaceful as he stood at the base he whispered – Rest in peace.. a gentle breeze brushed against him almost like a thank you, the ghosts of Saint Augustine had finally found their way home.

The curse never ends for the first time in months Daniel finally felt free The Whispers were gone the Shadows no longer stretched toward him and yet something in his gut told him it wasn’t over Evelyn reassured him the spirits have moved on you broke the curse but deep down Daniel wasn’t so sure. 

A few weeks Later daniel woke up gasping for breath his body was drenched in sweat the dream had returned he was back in the lighthouse standing at the top of the stairs but something was different this time the air was thick with the scent of rotting seawater the walls were dripping as if the entire Lighthouse was sinking into the ocean then the laughter came but it wasn’t the pity sisters it was deeper more Sinister a new presence Daniel tried to move but he was paralyzed from the Shadows a figure emerged it was talland twisted its skin blackened like it had been burned in a fire its eyes glowed a sickly yellow and when it spoke Daniel’s blood ran cold you freed them but you forgot about me Daniel woke up screaming the Forgotten Spirit desperate for answers he called Evelyn she listened carefully her voice Grim Daniel I think you awakened something else in that Lighthouse something older something worse she hesitated before saying we need to go back that night they returned to the Saint Augustine Lighthouse but the moment they step inside they knew this was not the same haunting the lighthouse was different the air was heavy suffocating the walls pulsed as if the building itself was alive and in the silence a deep guttural breathing echoed through the tower something was waiting for them Daniel’s flashlight flickered and the Darkness around them grew thicker whatever this is Evelyn whispered it’s not a ghost it’s something worse then the door slammed shut behind them a low voice rumbled through the air shaking the very foundation of the lighthouse you cannot leave and then the lights went out to be continued.

The darkness below the lighthouse was Pitch Black the air was thick suffocating as if the very walls were closing in Daniel gripped his flashlight but it refused to turn on beside him Evelyn whispered it’s here a deep guttural growl rumbled from above shaking the entire Tower something was coming then footsteps slow heavy dragging Daniel swallowed hard who are you he called into the darkness for a moment there was silence then the voice came again a whisper impossibly close to his ear I was here before them before the lighthouse before the land itself a freezing wind rushed past them and suddenly the darkness shifted a figure loomed at the top of the stairs it wasn’t the pity sisters it wasn’t the woman in the dark dress it was something ancient its body was twisted its limbs too long its skin blackened like charred wood and its eyes glowing Hollow pits of yellow light Evelyn gasped it’s not a ghost, it’s something older, something forgotten….

The entity let out a deep rattling breath- “You freed them but now you are mine.” 

Suddenly, the stairs collapsed beneath them Daniel and Evelyn plunged Into darkness, crashing into what felt like wet stone walls the air was damp heavy with the scent of the ocean and Decay. They weren’t in the lighthouse anymore they were somewhere beneath it…Daniel groaned pushing himself up his fingers brushed against something soft he froze his flashlight flickered to life revealing a pile of bones . Evelyn gasped- OH My God !! these are bodies dozens of skeletal remains lay scattered across the cavern floor. Some were ancient crumbling to dust but others looked fresh. Then a whisper slithered through the air they tried to leave too Daniel turned his breath catching in his throat the creature was crawling toward them its limbs twisted unnaturally its body contorting as it slithered across the bones Evelyn grabbed Daniel’s arm run they bolted through the tunnel their footsteps echoing in the darkness, the walls pulsed as if they were alive the air grew colder then they saw it a rusted iron door half buried in the stone Evelyn yanked at the handle but it wouldn’t budge behind them the creature let out a monstrous inhuman Screech it was right behind them with a desperate yell Daniel threw his shoulder into the door the metal groaned then snapped open they tumbled through slamming it shut behind them for a moment there was silence then boom the creature slammed against the door shrieking in Rage Daniel and Evelyn backed away their breaths ragged they had escaped for now but as they turned their hearts sank they weren’t safe because ahead of them stretching into the darkness was a long winding tunnel and from deep within a chorus of Whispers echoed you cannot leave to be continued.

Even the endless tunnel the tunnel stretched into Blackness damp walls pulsing as if the lighthouse itself was alive Daniel’s breath came in short gasps his flashlight flickering in the suffocating darkness Evelyn clutched her bundle of sage her lips moving silently in prayer behind them the creature’s claws scraped against the iron door the heavy sound echoed through the tunnel making Daniel’s heart pound it’s not just haunting this place Evelyn whispered it’s bound to it feeding on anyone who comes too close Daniel’s voice trembled what is it Evelyn’s eyes flicked toward him her face pale in the dim light a warden something ancient trapped beneath the lighthouse long before the first stone was laid The Whispers returned slithering along the tunnel walls you cannot leave you cannot leave. Daniel’s flashlight flickered again then died completely Darkness swallowed them whole suddenly the air grew colder and a wet decayed breath brushed against Daniel’s neck he froze feeling something watching him from the Shadows Evelyn’s voice was barely a whisper don’t move it can only see what moves Daniel’s chest burned with the effort to stay still his mind screaming for him to run but the sound of slow dragging footsteps echoed from the tunnel ahead getting closer it was in front of them now a faint glow flickered through the tunnel a single yellow eye staring at them through the dark the creature’s Twisted silhouette emerged from the Shadows its limbs bending in unnatural angles its head tilting as if sniffing the air free me it whispered or stay forever Evelyn’s shaking hands reached into her bag pulling out a small VI of salt and holy water she splashed it in a wide Ark across the tunnel floor the creature let out a guttural screech shrinking back to the darkness it’s weak but not for long they moved quickly following the tunnel deeper.The Whispers grew louder clawing at their minds the walls seemed to close in the ground shifting beneath their feet then they saw it a second iron door half buried in the stone Evelyn’s voice was sharp this is the seal this is what binds it here Daniel’s heart raced what happens if we open it Evelyn’s eyes were dark if we open it it might let us go a thunderous boom echoed behind them the creature was comingDaniel grabbed the Rusted handle with both hands pulling with every ounce of strength the door groaned but didn’t move hurry Evelyn cried pouring salt around them in a circle The Whispers Rose into a deafening chorus the walls shaking with every word Stay Stay Stay the creatures yellow eyes blowed in the shadows its Jagged claws reaching through the salt barrier with a final desperate pull the door burst open revealing a black abyss beyond for a moment everything went still then the creature screamed a violent wind howled through the tunnel pulling the Shadows toward the door The Entity red its limbs snapping and twisting as it was dragged into the darkness its final words echoed through the tunnel – “I will never rest and neither will you.” then silence…. the tunnel walls stopped pulsing the air grew warm again, the lighthouse above seemed still. Daniel collapsed to his knees gasping for breath Evelyn leaned against the wall her face pale but determined they had sealed it but as they climbed back to the surface neither of them noticed the faint handprints on the tunnel walls small wet handprints that followed them all the way back to the light ….the pity sisters had never left and the warden’s final whisper echoed in Daniel’s mind long after they escaped I will never rest and neither will you.