The Dare to End a Lifetime
Jakob dropped his bag down onto his bed, unbuttoning it as he looked around his room. The teenage boy grabbed onto everything he deemed essential, whilst listening to his friends talk to one another behind his back. "I want some cash in return for this. Saying how I only dared you to get us some booze. Now you want me to go all the way to the Coastline?"
"Fine fine, I'll get you whatever you want, alright? Just go do it, okay?" His friend raised his hands in defence of himself, then looking out of the window. "It's not that far anyways, I can see it from here,"
"That's a lake, idiot. You can see the other side of it here. You're not that smart, are you, Hauker?"
"I told you already, just Lyle would do. Also, don't call me an idiot, you're not that smart yourself!"
"Smarter than you Hauker, least I can tell the ocean from a fucking lake," Jakob turned to face them both, throwing a filled backpack into Hauker's hands. "Go downstairs and grab me a lantern, it's getting dark out. Watch me get over there, if I start flashing it, that means I'll be in danger and, well, hopefully you two can finally be useful in something," He'd state, chuckling afterwards. Jakob got himself downstairs, going to the door. "Your place is so much fun without your family around. We'll not ruin it too much when you're gone, just enough that it can be fixed, hah," His friend nudged his other friend's shoulder, and Jakob lifted up the lantern off of the desk next to the large, oak door.
"You better not, or else I'll fuck up your houses next," He joked in response, leaving his home soon after.
Jakob began his trek by himself, donning a dark coat, boots made for adventuring, just how his father once did, along with thick gloves to hold the lantern high. It was a gentle breeze, quite lucky for this region of Lydgartha. He was used to the high winds that came from living so close to the shorelines. The bitter taste of sea salt entered his mouth once he began to pass the lake, and as he did, his gaze went back to the manor he lived in. Calton estate, where he grew up, along with the majority of his family. His eyes went across the arches of the home, seeing dim lights where his bedroom would be, along with two small outlines of his friends, clearly watching him. He gave a small wave, and turned back to face the oncoming wind. The clouds darkened above his head, each step causing squelches of mud to coat his boots. His lantern flickered, and shivers ran down his spine. The weight of what he's doing only now just kicked in, he turned back. They probably just got him out of his house to take something. Idiot, why'd he do that? No matter, he can lecture, and probably win a fight with them, if it comes to it. Jakob knew he'd either be a coward, or a daredevil. His father would prefer one over the other. With that thought in his mind, he brought himself forward, to finish the dare he was given. He continued, on and on. It felt like forever, but his pocketwatch depicted the time to be nearing midnight, he had only left a mere fifteen minutes ago. The house was just a speck of black now, the dark clouds above having began to rain down, soaking his dark hair, making it stick to his cheeks. He need to wipe his hair back, the fluffiness it once had dissipating into being flat, against his head.
The rain only got heavier. His lantern was dwindling, but most of the water that'd snuff out the flames he used to see would carry down his soaked sleeves instead. Soon enough, the lighthouse came into view. Abandoned, the light that'd usually be upon the top of it was long gone from being used, and it looked like it won't be on again any time soon. The shorelines had a gentle wave, one of the only things that brought calmness to the novice adventurer's mind. He edged closer and closer, stepping with fear in each step. Upon getting to the great door of the Lighthouse, he began to hear what he deemed to be wailing. Screams of fear, as he assumed. His trembling hand got closer and closer to the handle of the door, only to have the screams be distracted from him by the unsheathing of a blade. Pressed against his back, his hands shot high into the air. "I... I'm not doing anything, I swear!" Jakob stammered, having dropped the lantern, it shattering into a hundred pieces.
"What are you doing here, are you trying to break into this building?" A deep voice uttered, strong with power and ambition. Jakob instinctively backed up, his back hitting against the door. With his only source of light gone, he had to rely off of only the light of the midnight sky. A smooth mask, hooded, and with light, yet ornate armour on. This dark figure had a crossbow in one hand, and the end of his shortsword against Jakob's chest.
"I just... I just wanted to see what was inside it!" He'd whimper, his heart beating fast. The hooded figure in front of him withdrew his blade, and removed the mask he wore. With rugged, but still a little short hair, his eyes illuminated, the source of light continuing from his eyeballs to just above and below each socket. "You, you have rune-eyes?" Jakob asked, wincing from the newfound light.
"It is not of your concern, boy. Inside there is nothing but ruins. There's no purpose to either one of us going inside," He took a step back, and extended his hand, for the boy to take. "Come on now, you should be going home soon," He'd order. Fear flashed through his mind, Jakob knew that both his father wouldn't be proud of his lack of a proper adventure, and that he relied on the help of a strange. To combat this, he turned, and swung open the door to the lighthouse, dashing inside.
Jakob kicked the door closed, and began to dash forward, immediately. His arms reached out, and hit the other side of the lighthouse's interior. Books collapsed to the ground, and the distant wailing he once heard didn't seem so distant now. Jakob's skin crawled with fear, tingling sensation going down his spine. His legs wobbled just as the bookshelf he ran into did, soon sinking to the ground. Jakob's eyes shot up, the novice adventurer seeing something trail above him, in a floor above his head. No creaking of the wood above however. Was this place haunted? It probably was, but ghosts are rare in Lydgartha. At least that's what his father told him. That thought can wait though, as the aggressive slams into the door, which soon enough broke off of it's hinges, caused the man to burst into the lighthouse. The wailing grew. "You! Out of here, now!" His sword gleamed from the moonlight of the window above, before passing by some dark clouds. He edged closer, blade kept close. "I'll gut you, if you don't come with me. You have no idea of the horrors here!" The storm only raged on more, as did the screams and wails. Jakob practically curled into a ball, frozen in fear, seeing a gentle breeze carry down the spiral staircase to the east of the tower. Like the graceful swaying of a ribbon, it carried down the stairs, soon turning into the form of a well-dressed lady, soaked-black hair running down her outfit. A face of beauty, yet one that'd seem as if hiding a sinister form. All it took was for the crack of lightning from outside to illuminate both the hunter and the lady. It was then that she dove, pouncing onto the hunter, and ultimately killing him. His body flew across the lighthouse, and landed next to the traumatised boy. The tower now dark once more, the figure edged closer and closer, the eyes of the now-deceased hunter giving a soft glow to both the teenager and the spectre. She got closer and closer, his heart thumping when her hand would reach out. With a death as violent as the other man, Jakob closed his eyes and gripped onto the remnants of his lantern. His father, poor Jakob may never see him again. That's all he was thinking of. It would be too late, Jakob now devolving into shock. His eyes widened, and his hands clawed at the tunic he wore, gasping for air. The ghost's eyes widened, and in fear, she began trying to pull at the tunic. "No... no! I won't let... another... innocent," She wailed, tears going down her face. "Not like the others, please..." Still, unable to focus on her, Jakob soon scampered to his feet, as he scaled up the stairs. The wailing continued, as his foot broke through a couple of the old steps. It took a few tugs, whilst holding onto the corroded handrail, but soon enough he'd break out, his boot falling off, and landing to the ground with a loud thud, echoing. Jakob was out of breath, but he kept going, eventually getting to a platform. Each of his steps creaked, his eyes travelling across all of the contents of the platform. A discarded sailors hat, the dagger of a navy officer, and a broken frame to a family. His back turned to the stairs, he only felt the cold breeze coming from a weary hand, reaching to his shoulder. Jakob shrieked, turning to see the pale lady. She was certainly not human, her translucent form letting him see the thrashing thunderstorms that was ongoing outside. "Please, listen to me... I am not trying to hurt you!" Her hand trembled, trying to assure the boy that everything would be alright. "That man... he would hurt us, us here," The wails grew louder, no longer feminine in nature, from the lady. Instead, it came from all around the lighthouse itself. The floor creaked, Jakob backing up until he felt the ledge. His breath shook in the air.
"Stay back, please, I just... I just want to go!" He whined, his voice cracking as he spoke. The wood creaked more and more as he edged backwards. Her face went pale, saddened by his fear before floating closer.
"I can help you, I promise!" Alas, it was too late. The creaking came to an end, followed by a snap. The platform broke, sending Jakob spiralling down a couple stories. His hand reached to grab onto a ledge, to survive, but to no avail. He sunk down, soon breaking down into the floorboards. Dead on impact. The last thought that polluted the boy's mind was of his father. What'd he think, upon realising his failure?
"Fine fine, I'll get you whatever you want, alright? Just go do it, okay?" His friend raised his hands in defence of himself, then looking out of the window. "It's not that far anyways, I can see it from here,"
"That's a lake, idiot. You can see the other side of it here. You're not that smart, are you, Hauker?"
"I told you already, just Lyle would do. Also, don't call me an idiot, you're not that smart yourself!"
"Smarter than you Hauker, least I can tell the ocean from a fucking lake," Jakob turned to face them both, throwing a filled backpack into Hauker's hands. "Go downstairs and grab me a lantern, it's getting dark out. Watch me get over there, if I start flashing it, that means I'll be in danger and, well, hopefully you two can finally be useful in something," He'd state, chuckling afterwards. Jakob got himself downstairs, going to the door. "Your place is so much fun without your family around. We'll not ruin it too much when you're gone, just enough that it can be fixed, hah," His friend nudged his other friend's shoulder, and Jakob lifted up the lantern off of the desk next to the large, oak door.
"You better not, or else I'll fuck up your houses next," He joked in response, leaving his home soon after.
Jakob began his trek by himself, donning a dark coat, boots made for adventuring, just how his father once did, along with thick gloves to hold the lantern high. It was a gentle breeze, quite lucky for this region of Lydgartha. He was used to the high winds that came from living so close to the shorelines. The bitter taste of sea salt entered his mouth once he began to pass the lake, and as he did, his gaze went back to the manor he lived in. Calton estate, where he grew up, along with the majority of his family. His eyes went across the arches of the home, seeing dim lights where his bedroom would be, along with two small outlines of his friends, clearly watching him. He gave a small wave, and turned back to face the oncoming wind. The clouds darkened above his head, each step causing squelches of mud to coat his boots. His lantern flickered, and shivers ran down his spine. The weight of what he's doing only now just kicked in, he turned back. They probably just got him out of his house to take something. Idiot, why'd he do that? No matter, he can lecture, and probably win a fight with them, if it comes to it. Jakob knew he'd either be a coward, or a daredevil. His father would prefer one over the other. With that thought in his mind, he brought himself forward, to finish the dare he was given. He continued, on and on. It felt like forever, but his pocketwatch depicted the time to be nearing midnight, he had only left a mere fifteen minutes ago. The house was just a speck of black now, the dark clouds above having began to rain down, soaking his dark hair, making it stick to his cheeks. He need to wipe his hair back, the fluffiness it once had dissipating into being flat, against his head.
The rain only got heavier. His lantern was dwindling, but most of the water that'd snuff out the flames he used to see would carry down his soaked sleeves instead. Soon enough, the lighthouse came into view. Abandoned, the light that'd usually be upon the top of it was long gone from being used, and it looked like it won't be on again any time soon. The shorelines had a gentle wave, one of the only things that brought calmness to the novice adventurer's mind. He edged closer and closer, stepping with fear in each step. Upon getting to the great door of the Lighthouse, he began to hear what he deemed to be wailing. Screams of fear, as he assumed. His trembling hand got closer and closer to the handle of the door, only to have the screams be distracted from him by the unsheathing of a blade. Pressed against his back, his hands shot high into the air. "I... I'm not doing anything, I swear!" Jakob stammered, having dropped the lantern, it shattering into a hundred pieces.
"What are you doing here, are you trying to break into this building?" A deep voice uttered, strong with power and ambition. Jakob instinctively backed up, his back hitting against the door. With his only source of light gone, he had to rely off of only the light of the midnight sky. A smooth mask, hooded, and with light, yet ornate armour on. This dark figure had a crossbow in one hand, and the end of his shortsword against Jakob's chest.
"I just... I just wanted to see what was inside it!" He'd whimper, his heart beating fast. The hooded figure in front of him withdrew his blade, and removed the mask he wore. With rugged, but still a little short hair, his eyes illuminated, the source of light continuing from his eyeballs to just above and below each socket. "You, you have rune-eyes?" Jakob asked, wincing from the newfound light.
"It is not of your concern, boy. Inside there is nothing but ruins. There's no purpose to either one of us going inside," He took a step back, and extended his hand, for the boy to take. "Come on now, you should be going home soon," He'd order. Fear flashed through his mind, Jakob knew that both his father wouldn't be proud of his lack of a proper adventure, and that he relied on the help of a strange. To combat this, he turned, and swung open the door to the lighthouse, dashing inside.
Jakob kicked the door closed, and began to dash forward, immediately. His arms reached out, and hit the other side of the lighthouse's interior. Books collapsed to the ground, and the distant wailing he once heard didn't seem so distant now. Jakob's skin crawled with fear, tingling sensation going down his spine. His legs wobbled just as the bookshelf he ran into did, soon sinking to the ground. Jakob's eyes shot up, the novice adventurer seeing something trail above him, in a floor above his head. No creaking of the wood above however. Was this place haunted? It probably was, but ghosts are rare in Lydgartha. At least that's what his father told him. That thought can wait though, as the aggressive slams into the door, which soon enough broke off of it's hinges, caused the man to burst into the lighthouse. The wailing grew. "You! Out of here, now!" His sword gleamed from the moonlight of the window above, before passing by some dark clouds. He edged closer, blade kept close. "I'll gut you, if you don't come with me. You have no idea of the horrors here!" The storm only raged on more, as did the screams and wails. Jakob practically curled into a ball, frozen in fear, seeing a gentle breeze carry down the spiral staircase to the east of the tower. Like the graceful swaying of a ribbon, it carried down the stairs, soon turning into the form of a well-dressed lady, soaked-black hair running down her outfit. A face of beauty, yet one that'd seem as if hiding a sinister form. All it took was for the crack of lightning from outside to illuminate both the hunter and the lady. It was then that she dove, pouncing onto the hunter, and ultimately killing him. His body flew across the lighthouse, and landed next to the traumatised boy. The tower now dark once more, the figure edged closer and closer, the eyes of the now-deceased hunter giving a soft glow to both the teenager and the spectre. She got closer and closer, his heart thumping when her hand would reach out. With a death as violent as the other man, Jakob closed his eyes and gripped onto the remnants of his lantern. His father, poor Jakob may never see him again. That's all he was thinking of. It would be too late, Jakob now devolving into shock. His eyes widened, and his hands clawed at the tunic he wore, gasping for air. The ghost's eyes widened, and in fear, she began trying to pull at the tunic. "No... no! I won't let... another... innocent," She wailed, tears going down her face. "Not like the others, please..." Still, unable to focus on her, Jakob soon scampered to his feet, as he scaled up the stairs. The wailing continued, as his foot broke through a couple of the old steps. It took a few tugs, whilst holding onto the corroded handrail, but soon enough he'd break out, his boot falling off, and landing to the ground with a loud thud, echoing. Jakob was out of breath, but he kept going, eventually getting to a platform. Each of his steps creaked, his eyes travelling across all of the contents of the platform. A discarded sailors hat, the dagger of a navy officer, and a broken frame to a family. His back turned to the stairs, he only felt the cold breeze coming from a weary hand, reaching to his shoulder. Jakob shrieked, turning to see the pale lady. She was certainly not human, her translucent form letting him see the thrashing thunderstorms that was ongoing outside. "Please, listen to me... I am not trying to hurt you!" Her hand trembled, trying to assure the boy that everything would be alright. "That man... he would hurt us, us here," The wails grew louder, no longer feminine in nature, from the lady. Instead, it came from all around the lighthouse itself. The floor creaked, Jakob backing up until he felt the ledge. His breath shook in the air.
"Stay back, please, I just... I just want to go!" He whined, his voice cracking as he spoke. The wood creaked more and more as he edged backwards. Her face went pale, saddened by his fear before floating closer.
"I can help you, I promise!" Alas, it was too late. The creaking came to an end, followed by a snap. The platform broke, sending Jakob spiralling down a couple stories. His hand reached to grab onto a ledge, to survive, but to no avail. He sunk down, soon breaking down into the floorboards. Dead on impact. The last thought that polluted the boy's mind was of his father. What'd he think, upon realising his failure?
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