The coast of Mar de Paredes was famous for its stormy ocean and steep cliffs, but what truly made it feared was the old lighthouse, which stood solitary on the hill. It was said to have been built by a sailor who had lost his family in a shipwreck, and since then, the lighthouse’s lights guided ships to shore, but often also attracted those who were lost, in more than one sense.
Javier, a young photographer seeking inspiration for his next project, arrived at the coast on a full moon night. He felt drawn to the mysterious atmosphere of the lighthouse, with its worn walls and broken windows that seemed to tell stories of a tragic past. As he approached, a heavy air settled around him, and a chill ran down his spine. Ignoring the bad feeling, he decided to enter.
Inside, the atmosphere was dense and oppressive. The light from his flashlight illuminated only parts of the place, leaving dancing shadows on the walls. Javier took some photos, but with each click of the camera, he felt as if something was watching him. An almost palpable presence surrounded him, and the silence was so deep that it seemed to vibrate in his mind. The solitude of the lighthouse enveloped him, but there was something more, something that whispered his name.
As he explored, he found a door that led to a spiral staircase. The air grew colder as he ascended, and a faint murmur began to penetrate his ears, as if distant voices were calling from above. Feeling a mix of curiosity and fear, he continued climbing until he finally reached the top.
The lighthouse room was in a state of abandonment, filled with dust and cobwebs, but the lighthouse light still functioned. Javier approached the window and gazed at the choppy ocean, the waves crashing against the rocks. As he watched, a reflection caught his attention: a blurry figure moving among the shadows of the room. Turning quickly, he saw no one, but the murmur grew louder, a chorus of voices that seemed to emanate from the very walls.
Perplexed, he decided to leave the room and return to the ground floor, but as he turned on the staircase, he realized that the exit door had vanished. He was trapped, and the voices began to take shape, names and laments resonating in his head. He felt anguish take hold of him as he tried to remember how he had gotten there.
Suddenly, a shadow materialized in front of him, a familiar figure. It was his sister, lost in a car accident years ago. Why didnt you come to find me? she asked with a sad voice that reverberated in the cold air. Javier stepped back, unable to comprehend what was happening. Tears began to fall down his face, but the figure smiled. There is a place for the lost here. You can stay with us.
Desperate, Javier tried to remember the good times they had shared, but fear began to consume him. The voices intensified, and suddenly he realized that not only his sister was there. There were others, trapped souls, each with their own stories of despair and pain. He understood that the lighthouse was not a refuge; it was a trap.
In a final attempt to escape, Javier closed his eyes and shouted, Let me go! The lighthouse light flickered violently, and the ground trembled beneath his feet. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing on the beach, the full moon shining over the water. The lighthouse loomed behind him, motionless and silent.
But deep in his mind, the voices still whispered, and the image of his sister remained, as real as the ocean surrounding him. He was not free; the lighthouse would always have him. In the distance, he saw a ship approaching, and the lighthouse began to shine brightly, as if calling another lost soul. Would he be the next to be trapped by its light? The truth was ambiguous, and Javier knew that his struggle had only just begun.