Hesitant waves lapped against a storm-shattered peninsula. The bare rock stripped of any time worn smoothness and left jagged and cruel. The gale storms that haunted this rain-drenched coast were transient ghouls. Anyone unlucky to be upon the sea or shore were shredded by its baneful claws.

One such storm was brewing, ruminating in the encroaching night as it sharpened its talons. My coat and hat nearly ripped off my body as the first pioneer winds probed at the lighthouse. Its crooked thumb of rocks sat all too close to the broken shallows beneath it. 

The wood-rotted door hung drunkenly on its hinges and flapped sleepily to some unheard beat. I entered and shut the door to block out what wailing breezes I could. The hollow whistles snuck through the rock walls, swirling up the spiral staircase. I ascended hastily as I could feel the pressure changing quicker now.

Each revolution I passed a dirty or broken window that gave a glimpse of the rumbling ocean sky or cowering hills about to receive its fury. It wasn't long before my legs had carried me to the top and I stood just below the orb. I could only peer at it through raised hands and squinted eyes. Its magnificence dominated all senses at the zenith. It spun deliberately on its axis making each turn in reverence. The enlightened beams banished the greedy darkness stealing over the water.

I stared out at the sea and saw lances laying wound after wound into an immortal force. It would never be beaten nor tamed, simply appeased for a time. The light raged harder against the stormfront, I dared not look at its sorcerous beauty lest I be bewitched as the stories told.

I urged my feet to flee the tower so as to escape the creeping dread, but I was frozen in place. The glass read beauteous and malformed things when illuminated by the light. Each pass revealed a new profound or profane inscription.

My mind shouted for my departure, it tugged at every fiber of my will until I lifted a leaden foot. And then another, soon I was scurrying down those tilted steps to burst out the door. My face was met with cloud born tears and the legions followed. The downpour was soon followed by lightning scars in the dark clouds. The thunder sounded like hideous cackling upon the hurricane winds. I was trapped.

My knees splashed as they hit the ground and I did what I had to. Raise my arms to the storm of elemental chaos and pray with the swallowed light.