Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25825682-20150307211405

Chapter 1

Four hours after the suns peak in the sky in April. Alexander Renbauld sat on the bench and faced the bright sand beach and its tall lighthouse, with a glazed look over his green eyes. The salt air came softly against him. He leans forward cupping his hands together as his elbows rested on his knees. Alexander lowered his head facing the ground as his crop-cut, shag sandy-blond hair dangled over the sides of his fresh face.

Quietly he sat and began to tap the heel of his black shoe against the ground with force. “I’m sick of that therapy,” he muttered. “It’s n-n-n...” He uncapped his hands and hit the sides of his head with them. “It’s not helping,” he exclaimed. He stopped and gripped his hair. Alexander lowered his hands releasing his hair and took a few deep breaths. At the same time, a deep blue colored car drove up into the parking lot behind him.

A woman who looked in her late 40s walked toward the bench where he is sitting. The woman came up to Alexander’s left side, he could hear shoes hit the concrete walk. He looked over toward her having a stoic gaze, “Mom, why are you here?”

“So you’ve been here,” she said sighing with relief. “I was looking all over town for you,” she conveyed brushing a fringe of her hair aside.

He leans back on the bench and says, “I always come here to think.”

Alexander's mother crossed her arms and looked at him with compassion. "Your therapist just called and told me you missed two sessions," she stated waiting for his explanation. Alexander turned his head from her, his eyes planning an escape from the confines of the topic. His mother paced on the path trying to understand his reasoning, "You know it's necessary to treat your stuttering."

Alexander stood up from the bench and put his hands in his jacket pocket. “I just missed two sessions, it doesn't bloody matter,” he remarked turning and walking away from her. Her eyes widened, stunned by his actions.

Alexander's mother came out from her sudden shock and walked up to him with force in her steps calling out, "Alexander." She intercepted his path. He stopped and looked at her annoyed, believing she was going to pursue the same topic. "What has gotten into you? You never walked away dismissing me," she questioned. Putting her palm on her chest, "I'm your mother, when something bothers you tell me." She went on to ask, "Are you frustrated with the therapist or the therapy?"

Alexander leans on his left hip and raised his left eyebrow. ''Why's she so dead-set on this? It's my business that I want to stop the therapy''. He looked at his mother trying to understand her side. He closed his eyes to relax and then looked at her, "The truth is, I'm just tired. The treatment doesn't feel like it's working."

“You honestly feel that way, then I’ll call the therapist and cancel the sessions, okay,” she promised putting her right hand to the left side of his face.

Alexander wanted to agree, but could not muster confidence to say it. I want to be done with the therapy, but do I want to throw all that money away they spent on me to attend. Alexander and his mother made it back to her car and got in.

On the ride home it started to rain lightly. Alexander sat quietly on the passenger side curled up in his seat and arms crossed comparable to a child. He stared out the window more or less in a trance riding by the 40 acre Mount Pleasant Cemetery. He looked toward his mother with solemn eyes and asked, "Mom, can we stop in the cemetery?"

His mother looked over at him and saw how genuine he looked. "Sure Alex, only for a little while though," she answered. She drove them through the dark iron gate hanging grimly by its squealing hinges. Dark trees cast voided wraith shadows over the quiet, damp gravestones.

After the car parked, Alexander gets out of it. He leans back in toward his mother, "I won't be long I just have to see him." His mother nodded back to him in agreement.

Alexander closed the car door and rushed up the concrete path going up the low hill. At the top he stopped near the Viser family burial plot and looked around for a specific name. He passed by large mausoleums and stopped before a granite gravestone with angelic figures carved around its surface. The testament reads,

Here lies Eathan Viser, born June 24, 1997-died June 24, 2013

Beneath this simple stone

That marks his resting place

Our precious darling sleeps alone in afterlife's embrace.

Alexander sat on the grass with his knees up and arms wrapped around them facing the gravestone. "Hey Eathan, sorry I didn't come last week. I was so sick of t-t-t..." he struggled trying to say the last part. Alexander then blurted out," That bloody therapy." He lowered his head and said, "I just want the stuttering to end, but all the Xanax I took made me shudder after I didn't have it. Now they switched me to a slower acting one because of it." Gripping his arms, "I can't stand taking these bloody drugs."

Alexander let go of his arms to avoid bruising them. He looked up at his mother's car and then moved his eyes back to the gravestone. "What would you do in my place," he asked waiting for an answer from somewhere. He cracked a smile and said, "Knowing you, you would continue on with the therapy." Alexander could breathe easier having got that off his chest. "See you next week Eathan," he stood up and went back to his mother's car.

Inside the car, Alexander sat in the passenger seat as his mother started the car again. "Listen Alex," she said looking over at him in concern. Alexander looked at her wondering what she was going to say. "Regarding the therapy, I'll talk with your father and see how he feels about me helping you instead." His mother sat there with hope he'd take the offer. "Sound okay," she inquired.

"Maybe," he answered shrugging it off and then turned his head away.

Her eyes narrowed in disappointment at his reply. "Think it over at least," she replied, as she tried to find the words to sway his answer. She started the car and drove them home.

The next morning downstairs in Alexander's home, Alexander dressed in a casual outfit of an orange T-shirt, blue jeans and black jacket. He ran through the hall passing the kitchen archway. He paused when he felt his stomach rumble. I'll just get going before I end up late. He was ready to leave when he saw something out the corner of his peripheral right view.

He curiously looked toward the right side of the kitchen ceiling seeing a damp spot on the corner and water coming from it. Alexander sighed in disbelief, Now the ceilings leaking, great. He was going to put a pot underneath it, but then stopped. Something about it made him leery, believing getting near it could have dangerous repercussions. Leak or not I need to go. He ignored the leak and left his home.

Outside his home, Alexander noticed the rain hadn't lessened. He did not hate the rain, but hoped it would ease up during his walk to school. Placing his hood on his head Alexander walked to school. To him Alki seemed like any other place seen before in Seattle. Alki beach, which is a popular tourist spot is along the coastline and once there you can see the octagonal lighthouse. Owned by the Viser family matriarch Igia Viser, it can overshadow any tourist at an estimated 11.277 meters.

He was half way to the high school when he lowered his hood, figuring the first person he'd see at the school is Olemilia. He knew her well by her bright red hair, her green eyes covered by professional looking glasses, and her fair delicate skin. I should give her back Ulysses since I'm done with it. He put his left index finger over his mouth and then shrugged. Whatever, I'll give it to her later; she knows I'm good for it.

Later that day after school let out at 3:45 P.M, the rain started to pour heavy. The students ran hastily toward their cars or the bus. Alexander and Olemilia ran toward her car. “Thanks for the lift,” he said trying to keep up with her.

“No sweat Alex, I wouldn’t make a dog go home in this,” she replied, as she used her schoolbag to cover her head. At her car, Alexander waited for her to unlock the doors. Over near the school buildings entrance a student named Arnold had just exited the school before the bus left. He stood with his messy brown hair and lean body frame getting drenched.

"Damn, that was the last bus," kicking a rock off the steps.

The student looked around with his blue eyes and managed to make out Alexander's profile near the left side door of a car. The doors were finally unlocked, so Olemilia and Alexander got into it. She began to start her car as Alexander gazed out the window and saw a student coming toward them.

Alexander narrowed his eyes to get a better look through the rain and questioned, "That isn't Arnold is it?"

At Alexander's side window, Arnold tapped at the glass and asked, "Could I get a lift home?"

His eyebrows became narrow as his mouth turned into a slight frown at seeing Arnold. "He couldn't have asked someone else," Alexander questioned.

"Stop being so heartless, besides it's ridiculous out there," Olemilia objected looking at Alexander with authority. She unlocked the back doors for him.

Arnold sat in the back seat and breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks, I appreciate this Mili."

Olemilia rode away from the school not minding the nickname he calls her. The three of them sat in the car quiet; the tension between Alexander toward Arnold grew thick in the air. She noticed how they both gazed out of opposite windows and became prompt to break the silence. "So what will be your project Alex?"

“I figured I’d do it on the Alki lighthouse,” he answered shrugging.

“You mean the run down tower,” Arnold assumed in a snarky way. “Why’d you pick that of all places?”

"I figured I'd do it on the Alki lighthouse," he answered shrugging.

"You mean the run down tower," Arnold assumed in a snarky way. "Why'd you pick that of all places?"

Alexander darted his eyes back at Arnold. ''This bloody bugger, what do you care what I pick for my history project? You probably can't even spell lighthouse''. "The lighthouse has a lot of histories in it," moving his eyes back toward the window, "which makes it an ideal history project," he contested.

He picked up on Alexander’s degrading tone and replied, “Well, I guess it makes sense for you to pick it then,” remarking on Alexander being old fashioned. Arnold began to contemplate on the opportunities it may present for him though.

“If you want Olemilia you can come too,” Alexander offered to her with an inviting gesture.

“Um,” glanced at Alexander, and then back on the road. “Sure I can come I guess,” she replied hesitant with the last words.

Time passed and the downpour became a light trickle. Alexander was at home and opted to get started on his project, so he headed to his room upstairs. He went by the kitchen and became curious on the leak from earlier. Alexander looked into the kitchen and saw the leak had dried. Guess the rains did cause the leak. Alexander re-positioned his backpack's right shoulder strap and went upstairs.

That evening Alexander was in his room working on his history project from his laptop. The TV was on across from him showing the Ch.4 King Five News. The top story being broadcast by the blond anchor woman is of a death in Alexander's neighborhood.

''Tragic news in Alki this evening a report just in, a body has been found near Elliot Bay. The body was identified to be the twenty-five-year-old bank manager who disappeared less than two days ago. Sources tell us it's alleged she drowned elsewhere and her body had been dumped at the bay''.

''The police that are investigating the scene gave no comment to whether this death is related to the disappearances of two more people from Western Seattle or not. A reporter of ours asked Lt. Xavier Moss who investigated Eathan Viser's death, are these victims more of the killers work or something else. He had this to tell us''.

The screen switched over to video footage of a police press conference on a brusque, dark haired man at the podium.

''There was no correlating evidence connecting the incident to what happened a year ago. We have not yet established whether this woman’s cause of death was homicide or suicide. I will answer no more questions on the matter''.

Alexander's eyes trained more at his laptop screen than the broadcast, but he did overhear the news story. He shuddered at another victim found in Alki and got distracted thinking of the killer. That's the third victim this month; I hope mom and dad get home safe. He sat back in his chair and tapped the floor with the back of his left heel, waiting for his parents to return home safe.

Within that moment he heard a tapping noise as if something was hitting a window. Alexander jumps from his seat; his heart rate became fast resembling wing beats of a bird trapped in a cage. His eyes darted around trying to locate the noise. He overheard another tap and froze realizing it was at his window.

Alexander went toward his closet with footsteps like a rabbit in the snow. Taking out a baseball bat he had from the time he was twelve, he motioned toward his window reciting instructions. Don't panic, just assess what's at the window and react.

The silence felt unnerving to him as his breath became deeper. Gripping his bat tighter, he pulled back the curtain with his left hand. Alexander heard the tapping, his eyebrows slanted downward, and he peered through the glass. His eyes soon softened at seeing an overgrown tree branch tapping his window.

"Huh, just a tree," he said lowering his bat and catching his breath. Alexander sat on his bed putting his bat under the box spring. He fell back and laid thinking over the therapy he skipped as he closed his eyes. ''Dad won't go for me abandoning another commitment, especially after I quit baseball and soccer years ago. I'll tell mom I'll continue the sessions. Even though I'm going to be put back on the bloody drugs again''.

Alexander opened his eyes and sat up remembering his project that is only a quarter ways done. He went over to his laptop and sat in front of it. ''I should email Mrs. Viser before I go visit her tomorrow asking to enter the lighthouse. Access there could get me the 100 percent I need''. He started typing away the email he was going to send.

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Alexander was walking up to the Viser manor holding his body to keep warm. ''The wind is unbearable. No wonder the temperature's low out today''. He walked onto the porch and rapped at the door. From how big the manor house looked he knew to knock loud. While he waited, he saw how immaculate the yard is even after the endless storms this month. He imagined the yard stayed virtually unaffected by the rain.

In time the door soon opened to Igia Viser a woman with straight, long raven black hair, a fair complexion and bright blue eyes. Seeing his drenched exterior took her aback at first glance, "Alexander, my word."

Alexander forced a childish smile embarrassed by his condition and replied, “Hi, Mrs. Viser.”

Igia invited him inside saying, "Come in dear." She closed the door after he came in. "I can tell the therapy has helped you're stuttering habit," she abruptly stated. Alexander paused after hearing that, looking at her as if unprepared to face a hurricane. Igia approached him, "Your mother told me over the phone." She folded her arms below her chest, "It's none of my concerns, but why'd you abandon something helping you?"

After hearing that his mother told her, Alexander started to remove his jacket. His mouth twisted into a side placement creating a crease in the left cheek, "I needed a break. I didn't abandon it," correcting her.

Igia retrieved his jacket and put it in the coat closet, near the front door. "That's good to hear," she said with a warm smile. She approached him, "At any rate is your mother aware you were coming over today?"

Alexander shook his head in denial, "No, just a quick visit. You see my bike's at the shop for a new alternator."

"Dear if I knew you were coming over I'd have come to get you," she claimed.

He looked at her with disbelief, "You didn't get my email yesterday?"

"My son constantly implores I start reading those more often," fondly smiling at the thought. "I never got into the whole smart phone thing though."

"It doesn't matter. I was hoping you could, well," scratching his head, "allow me inside the lighthouse," his lips tightened waiting for her response.

She quizzically looked at him, “What’s the reason?” Igia wondered why he wants to visit it against the tour schedule.

Alexander leaned on his left hip, “We have this historical project assigned to us in class and I need private access to it.” He moved a few steps closer to impress as if his physical presence portrayed his seriousness. “Normally I wouldn’t ask this, but I need the information to get enough credits to intern at the historical society.”

Arms folded Igia looked away from him tapping her right arm and digested what he told her. Alexander stood there somewhat apprehensive, waiting for an answer. She ceased tapping her arm looking back toward him, "I see no problem with that," she permitted.

Breathing a subtle sigh of relief, "Thanks, this will help my research."

"But it will have to be two days after tomorrow," she spoke raising her right index finger startling him from the abruptness. "That will be a proper time."

Alexander's eyebrows narrowed as his gaze shifted over toward the right. He cogitated on why she postponed the visit to that late in the week, but soon shrugged it off presuming her busy during those days. "Oh, that's fine," he replied.

"Three thirty in the afternoon then," she stated as she went to get Alexander's jacket. After Igia gave him his jacket he put it on, and then she showed him out. He heard a voice echo in the outside air, "Be careful, the rain could turn fearsome." Alexander waved his left hand back implying to Igia he understood.

Alexander had his hood up as he walked through damp messes of water that encroach the sidewalks. He listened to the rain patter on the streets and houses he passed, and saw people trying to get out of the rain. Coming up to the next two floor house Alexander could hear strident shouts, which carried a broken English accent he assumed from Arnold.

He went on to overhear Arnold yelling at someone, "You're doing this again, one day I won't be here to clean up your crap." The sounds shifted to a voice slurring on the words and shouting back, "Going to walk out like your whore mother?" Alexander's pace became faster while he overheard glass shattering comparable to it hitting a wall and then a door slamming which made him flinch. Alexander stepped over the curb,''No wonder he's so messed up. I still wish he'd bugger off me''.

Later that early evening, on Alki beach maintenance workers were finishing the repairs on the lighthouse. One worker on the roof was setting in new red tiles. An unexpected call came from the communicator. He grabbed the communicator off his belt and put it against his right ear. Being told to pack up before the rains came over them he replied, "I finished the job up here anyhow."

The communicator shuts off, and he put it back on his belt. After he put his tools away, he picked up the toolbox and saw water drip from underneath it. The worker scratched his head staring bewildered at the box. He surveyed the roof tiles and noticed few leaked dark water.

The worker rolled his eyes and started going down the roofs opening saying, "That's the third damn time I fixed that spot and it still leaks. She's paying extra for this crap." Suddenly, he heard a noise like a foot stepping on the bathroom floor after a shower.

The worker came from the opening and inspected the area, "Who's up here?" After finding no one up there, he dismissed the noise earlier as high tide. Suddenly out the corner of his eyes he caught a glimpse of something on the roof spaces from him. He looked over assuming it was a punk teen, "Go get high somewhere else kid." Yet after clearly seeing the figure he became terrified and retreated to the roof's edge as it came near him in grotesque movements.

Meanwhile a maintenance worker on the beach puts his things in the truck. Unexpectedly a worker came falling from the roof screaming and hit the sandy beach! The remaining workers there were in shock while one called an ambulance. The ambulance arrived minutes later and asked them what happened. However no one could give a cause and assumed he just fell. The EMS workers tried calming the injured man as they loaded him in the vehicle. They had to sedate him to stop his erratic movements and nonsensical outcry.

Chapter 2

On April 27th it was a very dull and sodden day. The tides on Alki  beach gushed forth on the sands and not one flying animal in sight. The silver linings were dim as the clouds thickened and the sun was  obscured definitely. A noise of deep reverberation went through the  sky.

Olemilia had driven herself and Alexander to Alki Beach. The two  walked toward the lighthouse wearing their hoods. Upon approaching  the construct, Alexander saw Mrs. Viser conversing with someone under the porch canopy to his dismay. "What the hell is that bastard doing  here," contesting under his breath at seeing Arnold.

Arnold could make out two people in the downpour coming up to front  entrance and went to meet them."Hey Alex y-y-you made it," slapping  Alexander on the back in jest.

Arnold,” Olemilia sighed, putting her hand to her forehead.

Alexander gave Arnold wry looks. Arnold stood there with that  idiotic grin Alexander despised. Olemilia stepped between them. "I can explain this Alex," she claimed.

Alexander pointed his left index finger at Arnold, “Then explain to  me why this bugger is here.” He lowered his left arm back to his side and balled it up into a fist.

Steadfast Olemilia faced Alexander, "Hear me out at least." She then  looked back at Arnold and said, "Don't say anything until I'm done." Alexander and Arnold stepped back and let her speak. "The reason he's here is because I allowed him to be on our team for the project," she stated.

Alexander could not believe what he had heard, he wanted to yell at them for making that decision behind his back. "Now before you say anything this is just so he can get the appropriate GPA to stay on the soccer team, okay." Alexander saw how genuine her eyes were. He knew she wouldn't lie to him about this considering how long they have been friends, but she knew how he felt towards Arnold. ''My ass this is for his GPA. He just wants to bug me''.

He was ready to tell Arnold off, when Igia approached them she said with concern,"I hope everything is all right."

Alexander chose not to make a scene in front of Igia and would  tolerate Arnold best he could for now. He forced himself and made a  sincere  smile, "Everything's fine Mrs. Viser."

Arnold put his right arm around Alexander's shoulders and added in, "Just peachy between us, right Alex." Igia had the idea they were lying, but did not want to pursue the matter as long as it wouldn't spring up again. She started to lead them to the lighthouse, Alexander moved the arm off of his shoulders and went ahead.

At the main door of the lighthouse, they all went inside quickly after she unlocked it. Alexander, Olemilia and Arnold looked around the newly based, polished oak wood flooring and Colonial style interior, while Igia locked the door.

They all removed their coats and placed them at the coat hooks. The four of them spent hours in the lighthouse. During that time Igia would show them around and explained the history of the lighthouse.

"On June 1st, 2013 the lighthouse celebrated 100 years of helping keep Puget Sound mariners safe," she stated. "Much of the early Alki Point lighthouse equipment has been preserved in good condition for the public to view. There is a 4th order Fresnel Lens the same size as the original lens in the lighthouse." Alexander took shots of what she showed them. Olemilia eagerly listened to the in-depth history and Arnold went along uninterested.

"According to legend the first Aid to Navigation at Alki Point was a Kerosene lantern hung on a barn in the 1870s by Hans Martin Hanson. In 1887 the Kerosene lantern was updated with a Post Lantern by the Lighthouse Service. The Lighthouse Service hired Mr. Hanson to tend the lantern. His later descendants continued tending the Post Lantern until the Alki Lighthouse was lit on June 1st, 1913," proclaimed Igia.

Within that hour the downpour became worse as the four of them were now in the main room. Alexander surveyed the area and spotted a unique lantern hung on the wall hook near the staircase, which caught his interest. He focused his phone's camera on the lantern, "That looks new."

"It is. That is an exact replica of the Kerosene lantern," stated Igia. "In fact the lantern room light at the top of the tower is always lit at night. Of course, now it's by an electric lamp."

Alexander took a picture of it, in doing so he thought he saw a brief glare go by his phone’s screen and then the sound of roaring thunder followed. He adjusted his phone’s brightness, “Must be flash from the lightning outside.”

A few minutes went by; Arnold walked a few inches forward and stepped onto a loose part of floor and called out, "Hey, check out this floor.” Olemilia, Alexander and Igia came over and saw what he found.

Igia did not seem pleased at Arnold as she began to tell them, "I see you found the door to the cellar," politely imploring Arnold to get off it.

Alexander was curious to see all the history the cellar held within and asked Igia, "You don't mind if we take a look in it?"

Igia wanted to allow them access, but was apprehensive on them going down there. "I am afraid not," she replied. "You can't enter it right now."

Igia explained that the cellar has stayed shut for several years since she went down in it and has become cluttered with antiques from the seafaring days. There were no lights installed or a stable lock, so going down there posed a risk.

All of a sudden a loud thud was heard by everyone. Startled by the unexpected noise Igia caught her breath and glanced over toward the upstairs area. Alexander had dropped his phone thinking a cannon blast hit something, but thankfully caught it and said, "Bloody hell! What was that?" 