1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:06,279 Speaker 1: Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and Bamford Productions. 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: Oh it's cold up here tonight. I guess it usually is, 3 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: being this high up off the ground overlooking the ocean, 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: especially in the dead of winter. Tonight is just especially cold. 5 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: Maybe that's just because I don't feel anything anymore, and 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: the biting wind up here is just biting enough for 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: me to actually feel something for once. Would that be something? 8 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: I spent the last years of my life just going 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: through the motions, pretending to be normal, staying away from 10 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: this place, when all I ever needed to feel again 11 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: was to come back up here. That's not how life works, though, 12 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: does it. We just try to do the best we can, 13 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: you know, I've tried to, but no matter what, something 14 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: can come along and ruin it for you. Just one 15 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: swipe and it's all taken away in an instant, your 16 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: life's path completely changed, for better or for worse, mostly 17 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: worse in this case. I've always tried to look on 18 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: the bright side of things, you know, try to find 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: the good in the bad and the okay in the 20 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: even worse. I've done that my entire life, sometimes to 21 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: my own detriment, but it helped for the most part. 22 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: I know what they say about me, I know what 23 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: they feel. I just I don't care. I know it's 24 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: an unconscious reaction past trauma. But every once in a while, 25 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: when the moments of pure clarity shine through, like now, 26 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: I can look back and reflect and say the hell 27 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: with it. It seems to work for me, so why not. 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: But it's not working for me anymore, is it. That's 29 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: why we're here, Why I'm up here saying this to 30 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: you right now on a cold winter's night, sitting at 31 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: the top of a goddamn lighthouse that's been abandoned for decades, 32 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: but still somehow lights it's beacon to signal that something 33 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: bad is going to happen, Like right now, even as 34 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: I am sitting up here alone, it's phantom beam is 35 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: rotating out over the ocean, over the house, the grounds, 36 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: through the snow, and back again, over and over. It 37 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: sure does look beautiful from up here, though. Oh that 38 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: snow stretching as far as the eye can see, falling 39 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: into the water, disappearing into the abyss, blanketing the house 40 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: as it floats to the ground. I just walked from 41 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: there less than an hour ago, and it's like you'd 42 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: never even know. It's coming down so hard it looks untouched. Now, 43 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: I guess it'll stay that way. Sorry, getting off topic, 44 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: getting ahead of myself. I do that when I'm nervous. 45 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,119 Speaker 1: But you know that already, don't you. Let me try 46 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: and start this over again from the beginning. Hi, Tara, 47 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: this is your sister Leany, and this this is my 48 00:03:27,280 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: goodbye Lighthouse. Chapter nine. So much has happened over the 49 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: years that I am not even sure where to begin. 50 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: Looking back. There are major beats of the story that 51 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: you were present for, things that you did for me 52 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: that I am forever grateful for. But then there are 53 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: the other aspects that are hazy details that I confused 54 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: with other instances, and I'm not even sure what was 55 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: real and what wasn't. I guess I should start with this, 56 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: It's not your fault, Terra. I know that after I 57 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: do this, you are going to beat yourself up over it, 58 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: but I just need you to know this isn't your fault. 59 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: You did the best you could and helped me as 60 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: much as I could be. I guess it could be 61 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: argued that it was my own stubborn refusal that did this. 62 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: I should have left, I should have visited you in 63 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: your family. I should have gotten far far away from here, 64 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: but despite how much she has retreated into herself, I 65 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: could never leave our mother here alone. At the end 66 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: of the day, there's only one thing to blame for 67 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: all this. The house lighthouse ruined our lives. And even 68 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: though you're hundreds of miles away, I know you still 69 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: can feel it calling out to you. It's got a 70 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: siren's call, doesn't it. Over the years, I've come to 71 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: realize that this old lighthouse, despite not having been used 72 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: in years, still does exactly what it's job entailed. Except 73 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: it's not calling out to those who are lost in 74 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: the fog at sea, guiding their way so they can 75 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: find their way home. No, Instead, the lighthouse is a 76 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: beacon for darkness, calling it in from the far corners 77 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: of the earth, letting it know. That lighthouse was a 78 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: feeding ground on which they could stuff themselves full of 79 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: unsuspecting souls. Even before the house was built, and long 80 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: before the lighthouse, this land, the grounds on which it 81 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: currently stands, was considered cursed. I found a book in 82 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: our library, once hidden among the stacks and thousands of others, 83 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: that detailed stories and lore from New Jersey stuff that 84 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,239 Speaker 1: was passed down from generation a generation, As these types 85 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: of stories often are, there was one in particular, marked 86 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: by dog eared pages and an ancient pencils circling it, 87 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: that was of interest. It told of a parcel of 88 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: land located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The land 89 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: sat barren for years as ancient tribes refused to settle 90 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: on it. Despite its advantages, early colonizers to the area 91 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: saw it as an opportunity established a camp there. Not 92 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: only was it the perfect vantage point, but there were 93 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: also resources to be had and rumors of fresh water 94 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: running through the cliffs grounds. These settlers dug a well 95 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: on the bluff. Deeper and deeper they went, until miraculously 96 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: they did strike a vein of underground water. But despite 97 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: their good fortune, apparently they found something else in the 98 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: well too. A black cloud escaped from it, bursting into 99 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: the air, scaring them all. Bad luck befell them then, 100 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: and eventually the camp was abandoned and the well was 101 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: covered up. Does any of that sound familiar, Terra, because 102 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: it should. I mean, it's right there in stained glass 103 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: on our front door, the well, the black cloud, and 104 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: the lighthouse. I did some digging of my own, not physically, 105 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: of course, but at the library, the land that the 106 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: story spoke of. It's here, right where I'm standing, And 107 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: the well, after years spent covered up, was destroyed. But 108 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: what was built on that very same spot because of 109 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: its natural vantage point the lighthouse, And soon after the 110 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: lighthouse came a small home for the housekeeper, and then 111 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: eventually the Hollis family home, our home lighthouse. I wish 112 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: I had saved that book and put it aside for 113 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: you to see, because after that day I read that 114 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: the one time I saw it, I never saw the 115 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: book again. I searched that library top to bottom, each 116 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,119 Speaker 1: in every shelf, but to no avail. Was it even real? 117 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: Did I just imagine the whole thing? Or was it 118 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: just the house playing tricks on me? Once I started 119 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: to learn its secrets. I believe that book had more 120 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: in there, maybe even something I could have used to 121 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: stop the darkness, But now that it's gone, we'll never 122 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: know for sure. I have some ideas, but nothing concrete. 123 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: I sure would have come in handy though, especially now 124 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: now that I have no choice. But I'm getting ahead 125 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: of myself again. Sorry, Tara, I should probably tell you 126 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: about the other stuff first, Like Abigail. Now, look before 127 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: you roll your eyes, because I know that is exactly 128 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: what you are doing right now. I need you to 129 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: understand something about her. I know you think she's been 130 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: a bad influence on me, and sure, in some ways 131 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: she was, but she's not all bad. She's actually kind 132 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: of well, I don't know if if nice is the 133 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: word for it, but helpful. You already know who she 134 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: really is. Madeleine hollis Dad's younger sister. What you don't 135 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: know is that she loved our father very much, so 136 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: when she started to talk to me, she thought calling 137 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: herself Abigail would endear herself to him. I guess she 138 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: was wrong, But as scary as she may have been 139 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: to you, sometimes she really was trying to help. She's 140 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: just a little girl forever stuck in that mindset because 141 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: her life was taken from her far too early. Maybe 142 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: that's the reason I sometimes act like a child. She 143 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: she and I both went through something tragic when we 144 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: were young, so we can relate on that level. Now. Granted, 145 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 1: she died and I didn't, so she had a little worse, 146 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: but you know what I mean, and she helped us 147 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: a lot, even without you realizing it. She's on our side, 148 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 1: I promise you. She just wasn't enough. Nothing is ever enough. 149 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: I saw that little boy on my way here, the 150 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: one with the chattering teeth. We didn't see him a 151 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: lot as kids, but I see him more now now 152 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: that I'm spending more time up here and not in 153 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: the dark room. I guess he's confined to the grounds 154 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: and not the house itself. That's weird, right, Like how 155 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: come some of them can go wherever they want, like Abigail, 156 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: and others are stuck to the one place. It doesn't 157 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: make any sense, but there has to be a reason 158 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: for it. Anyway I saw him, This weather is perfect 159 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: for him, his teeth just gnashing away in the cold. 160 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: I assume he died out here somewhere, froze to death 161 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: on the property, and is forever doomed to repeat that fate. 162 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 1: He followed me all the way out here, and the 163 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: way his body moves freaks me out. It's not natural. 164 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: It's all jerky and slow. But no matter how fast 165 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: I moved, he was still right behind me. Maybe he 166 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: just wants a friend. They don't all have to be bad, 167 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: do they? Some of them can be good, right, Like Abigail, 168 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: I keep avoiding saying what I really need to say, 169 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that it is frustrating for you hearing 170 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: me babil on about nothing without getting to the reason 171 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: I'm here. I think I know how to stop all this, Terra, 172 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: and I mean really, stop it once and for all. 173 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: And I'm going to try. I really am. But m h, 174 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: if you're listening to this right now, if you're hearing this, 175 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: that means something went wrong. It means that I'm I'm gone. 176 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: Lighthouse will return after these messages and now back to Lighthouse. 177 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: Before I tell you my plan, I need to tell 178 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: you what I am thinking. How I got here, about 179 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: the time the shadowy thing came for me and failed, 180 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: not by much, but thankfully enough that I was able 181 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 1: to escape. The seed was planted. I remember, just before 182 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: you left for college. It was on a night I 183 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: couldn't sleep well almost nights, yes, but on this one 184 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: I was especially restless. I was thirsty and I went 185 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: to get a drink of water. It was late and 186 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want to wake anyone, so I took a 187 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: candle instead of turning on any lights. It was dark 188 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 1: and the candle only illuminated so little of the world 189 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: around me, but it was enough to light my way. 190 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: It was quiet at first, but then I heard a 191 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: rumbling behind me. I turned to see, but of course 192 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: nothing was there. We were no strangers to the ghosts 193 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: of the house, and my hope was that it was 194 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: just Abigail checking up on me, making sure I was safe. 195 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: I was wrong, though, because the more I walked, the 196 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: more the rumbling echoed behind me. The hallway, for some reason, 197 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: started to feel impossibly long. I kept walking and walking, 198 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: and it kept stretching on forever. I wasn't making any progress, 199 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: it seemed. I began to run, afraid of what might 200 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: be coming next. When an unearthly sound caused me to 201 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: turn around. The shadowy thing was in the walls, bulging 202 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: its body outward as it came for me, stretching the 203 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: wood and plaster in unnatural proportions. It got closer and closer, 204 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: and I kept running, but it was like I was 205 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: running in place. I couldn't get away from it. It 206 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: jumped out of the wall and into the carpet, hot 207 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: on my heels, like a shark stucking through the water, 208 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: and then it was on me. I turned and it 209 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: came right at me, Tara. I turned to see, and 210 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: I stumbled backward, thinking that it was the end for me, 211 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: that the darkness was finally going to get me. I 212 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: held my hands in front of my face to block it, 213 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: a fruitless effort, of course, but it stopped. One second 214 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: it was there, and then the next it roared away, 215 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: running like a dog with its tail between its legs. 216 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: I had no idea what had happened. I thought maybe 217 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: it was just trying to scare me, toy with me. 218 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: But then I felt it. A bit of hot wax 219 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: dripped off the candle still in my hand onto my stomach. 220 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: It hurt only for a second, but it gave me 221 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: an idea. What if it was the candle, the one 222 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: that I held in my hand, holding it up in 223 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: a defensive measure. What if it was afraid of the flame? Silly, 224 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: I know, but that was the only thing I could 225 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: think of. I thought about that moment a lot over 226 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: the years. I should have told you about it. I 227 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: should have tested that theory out sooner. I should have 228 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: thought about it when the darkness took Dad before I 229 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: had well, you know, it was later on, after you 230 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: had left for good that I was able to actually 231 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: try it out. It was a little dangerous, I know 232 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: that now, but it had been gnawing away at me 233 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: for years, and I had to see. It wasn't even planned, honestly. 234 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: I was in the dining room and I saw that 235 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: made you know, the one, the woman with the bleeding eyes. 236 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: She was setting the table again before she noticed me, 237 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: a ghostly action that was never ending, since her phantom's 238 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: silverware never stayed in sight for long. I watched her 239 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: for a bit before she noticed me. When she did, 240 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: she stopped and stared. I stared right back. A flickering 241 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: caught my eye, and I saw that there were a 242 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: few candles lit on the table. I don't know why 243 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: it popped into my head then, but I grabbed the 244 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: candle labra that often sat in the center, armed with 245 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: not one, but three candles. I took a step toward her. 246 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: She didn't move. I took another, and still she stood there. 247 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: But on the third step, when I was within a 248 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: foot or so from her, she grimaced and took step back. Surprised, 249 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: I walked toward her again, and again she kept moving 250 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: away from me. I continued trying to back her up 251 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: to the wall, but she eventually just vanished before she 252 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: got there. That was it all I needed to know. 253 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: It might have just been a fluke, but it looked 254 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: like the ghosts of lighthouse did not like an open flame. 255 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: There wasn't much I could do with that information at 256 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: the time, but I was going to use it as 257 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: a precaution. I began to light candles a night in 258 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: my room before I went to bed. I tried to 259 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: carry one around as much as possible, just in case. 260 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: It acted like a deterrent for a bit, like a 261 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: mosquito and citronella, but not forever. Unfortunately, perhaps they got 262 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: wise to my plan, but the candles began to go out. 263 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: They'd be out when I would wake up in the morning, 264 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: or a gust of wind would snuff one out as 265 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: I carried it. I still did it, though, even if 266 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: it wasn't a perfect method. It gave me a little 267 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: bit of hope, which is more than I had before. 268 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: But over the last few years, I can feel the 269 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: darkness closing in on me. It consumes people, Terra. But 270 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: I think you know that already. I think you had 271 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,719 Speaker 1: some idea after we watched what it did to our 272 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: father eats them up from the inside out and turns 273 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: them into a hollow shell of a person. It drives 274 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: them mad, and once they are so weak that they 275 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: can no longer help themselves, it takes over in their 276 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: final moments and takes them. We were good at keeping 277 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: it out away from us, but that night I killed Dad. 278 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: I think I unintentionally opened a door for it to 279 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: come in. I committed an act of violence, and it 280 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: was drawn to me. The darkness got into my heart. 281 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: I've been fighting it off for so many years, but Tara, 282 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: I'm just so tired. I'm tired of constantly keeping my 283 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: guard up. I'm tired of the sleepless nights, and I'm 284 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: tired of wondering when the moment will come, when its 285 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: final strike will take me away and I'll be stuck 286 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: within it forever. I can see it watching me, Tara, 287 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: late at night, just outside the circle of candle light, 288 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: in shadows of its own making, in the corners of 289 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: the house as I go about my day, and even 290 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: here in the lighthouse itself. It moves freely in the house, 291 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: using those it has consumed in the past as vessels 292 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: to do its bidding. But I don't think it lives there. 293 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: It was trapped in the dark room when we found it. 294 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: But that's not where it's originally from. It's from somewhere else, 295 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: from somewhere deep within the earth. And if that book 296 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: is right, then the lighthouse is ground zero. I've been 297 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: coming here for years, watching and waiting myself, trying to 298 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: study it, trying to find a pattern or a clue 299 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: or just something to help. And I think I finally 300 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: have it figured out. I think this is the way 301 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: to stop it. I'm going to lure it here to 302 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: the lighthouse. I'm going to try to trap it inside, 303 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: and then when it's backed into a corner with nowhere 304 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: else to go, I'm going to burn it to the ground. 305 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: This lighthouse is old and falling apart anyway, right, I mean, 306 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 1: it's been deteriorating for years, long before we even moved in, 307 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: and it's one step away from being condemned. I piled 308 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: a bunch of old wooden boxes on the ground floor 309 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: to help ignite it, and I even sprinkled some gasoline 310 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,959 Speaker 1: on everything to spread the flame from the bottom floor 311 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: up the stairs to right here near the beacon. If 312 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,679 Speaker 1: I can time it right, and luck is on my side, 313 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: I think there may be a chance. It's not a 314 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: perfect plan. I know there are so many ways it 315 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: can go wrong, and honestly I'm not very optimistic about it, 316 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: but it's all I have tera I have to do 317 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: something because, like I said, I can feel it watching 318 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: me now more so than ever. I feel like it's 319 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: getting ready to strike, so my time is growing short. 320 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: It's now or never. If this goes south, then my 321 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: only recourse to escape the darkness is to jump off 322 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: the lighthouse into the ocean. It's a long drop, you 323 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: can see that, and I won't survive it. To everyone else, 324 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: that will probably look like suicide, a poor, lonely woman 325 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: whose life was filled with tragedy taking her life so 326 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: she doesn't have to endure it anymore. Despite how it 327 00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: may look to everyone else, I want you to know 328 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: that it wasn't. It's just my last desperate attempt to 329 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: escape and make sure the darkness does not get me. 330 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: But it has to be done. I'm sorry for not 331 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: telling you this in person or sooner. I'm sorry for 332 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: not involving you. You'd want to help, but I can't 333 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: risk you getting hurt too. This is something I have 334 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: to do. Alone to give you and Mom a chance 335 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 1: at getting better. It's time for me to kill the darkness. 336 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: Lighthouse were returned after a word from our sponsors, and 337 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: now Lighthouse continues. There's just one last thing before I go, 338 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 1: something I need to ask of you, Terra, and it's 339 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: something I'm not sure you will be comfortable with if 340 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: I don't make it out of this. If I fail, 341 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 1: I need you to take care of Abigail for me. 342 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: She's an innocent in all of this, Terra. I know 343 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: she is. She may have been frightening to you, but 344 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: she was always a comfort for me. She was always 345 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,959 Speaker 1: there for me, especially after you were gone. And and 346 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: don't take that as me blaming you for leaving, because 347 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: I am not. I know why you did, and I 348 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: wish I had the same strength you did that. Abigail 349 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: truly was a bright spot in all this darkness for me. 350 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: She helped me get through some tough times. Yes, she 351 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: sometimes does bad things, but I think that's only because 352 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: the darkness is in her. She's like me. She tries 353 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: to do good, but sometimes she can't fight against it either. 354 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: I think at first she was priming me to be 355 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: like her, a vessel for the darkness to corrupt, but 356 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: she fought against it, and she's been getting better at 357 00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: controlling it. She can be herself with me. I left 358 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: some things for you in your room. There is a 359 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: box on your bed. The teddy Bear is in there. 360 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: I believe she is tied to it, and if it 361 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: goes she will too, and I hope no. I know 362 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: that if you take it far away from here, the 363 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,880 Speaker 1: darkness won't be able to get to her anymore. Whether 364 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: or not I succeed, it shouldn't matter. She'll be free, 365 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: and that's what we all want, right to be free. 366 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 1: Hopefully after tonight we will be all of us, Me, you, Mom, Abigail, 367 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: everyone else that it is consumed, and if not, at 368 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: least I tried. Right. If this recording does fall into 369 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 1: your hands and I'm gone, please tell Mom I love 370 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: her too, that I don't blame her either, and that 371 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. And I'm sorry to you too. I love you, 372 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: tera You're the best sister anyone could asked for. And 373 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: I'll miss you. Okay, it's now or never. I said, 374 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: I have to lure it here, and while I'm not sure, 375 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: I I think this part will work too. I haven't 376 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: touched it in years, but it always seemed to attract it, right, 377 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: m such a pretty song. I used to love it, 378 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: but I grew to hate it over the years. You know. 379 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: As strange as it sounds, one of my fondest memories 380 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 1: of childhood was going on that adventure with you to 381 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: find it. Granted, we accidentally unleashed some kind of ancient 382 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: evil from its hiding place, sure, but everything before that 383 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: it was fun. We sure did have fun, didn't we. 384 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: We always made the most of our situation. Looking back, 385 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: I know we were poor, but we were kids. We 386 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: did know any better. We had each other and our 387 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: family and that was enough. Right. Well, now that's it, then, 388 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 1: I just I just wait. I don't know how long 389 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: it will take or if it will even work, but 390 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: that's all there is left to do. This. The view 391 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: is nice. It's a shame we couldn't even get up 392 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: here to enjoy it, and we were kids. I thought 393 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 1: we would have loved it in another life, without all 394 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: the ghosts and spooky stuff of Lighthouse. I think I 395 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: think we would have been happy here. We would have 396 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: grown up happy and moved out, had happy lives, and 397 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: then one day one of us would have inherited the house. 398 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: I could have raised our own kids here, maybe even together, 399 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: and told them about how wonderful life was here. We 400 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,120 Speaker 1: could have shown them the gorgeous view from up top here, 401 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: or the winding passages and secrets of lighthouse. Wouldn't that 402 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: have been great? One big, happy family growing old together 403 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: in a place we loved. I can't remember the last 404 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: time I even was happy. I just want to be 405 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: happy again, Tara. I'm sure you're happy with your family 406 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 1: and your life far far away from here, but I 407 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: think you feel it too, that feeling the lighthouse is 408 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: still there, calling out to us, trying to get us, 409 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: and that we won't even be truly happy until it's gone. 410 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: And it does need to go. I thought there could 411 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: be another way. I thought I could stop it. I 412 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: thought if I learned their stories, knew about their life, 413 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: it would help. I know all of them now, Tara, 414 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: everyone that has ever lived and died in the house, 415 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: I know all about them, their tragedies, their triumphs, their lives. 416 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: I thought names were supposed to give you power over someone, 417 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: But I know all their names, and yet they keep 418 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 1: coming for me. Ter They keep coming and coming, and 419 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: they don't stop, and one day they are going to 420 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: catch me when I'm not ready for them, and it 421 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:28,719 Speaker 1: will be over. I have to do this, I have to. 422 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: I can hear it, Tara, even over the wind, the 423 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: ocean crashing below. I can hear it stirring. The music 424 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:43,959 Speaker 1: box woken, and it's coming for me. Now there it is. 425 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: I can see you through the windows, that shadowy thing. 426 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 1: It's looking for me in the house. It thinks I'm 427 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 1: still inside, but it's only amount of time before it 428 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: realizes that. Yes, they're It sees me up here. I 429 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: just looked in my direction. It's leaving the house. Now 430 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: I can see it's blackness against the snow, rushing toward 431 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: the lighthouse. It's inside. It's here, This is it. It's time. Goodbye, Tera, 432 00:28:18,160 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: I love you, No No MHM. Lighthouse is a production 433 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio and Bamford Productions. Chapter nine featured 434 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: the voice of Paulina Logan. Written and directed by Jeff Himbuck, 435 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 1: audio engineering, an original musical score by Corey Celeste. Production 436 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: assistance by Alex Gona. Executive produced by Holly Fry. Questions comments, 437 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: you can reach us at the Man in the Hat 438 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: is Watching at Gmail dot com. Thank you for listening.