She stepped back as the lighthouse keeper fell, a smile on his face and blood streaming from his ears. As his breath hitched, she moved in and sucked in the last remnants of his essence, shuddering as they flowed through her thin frame.
Stepping to the front of the structure, she exhaled slowly, her breathing coming in a fine mist that quickly turned into a thick blanket of fog. Content, she rushed to the stairs and climbed to the top of the lighthouse and out onto the parapet. The fog hung heavier than blackout drapes, but her keen eyes cut through the haar, spying vessels miles from shore.
Closing her eyes, she imagined all the men toiling on the ships, imagined consuming their lifeforce. And so, she began to sing.
Oh, you weary sailors, come from away
Rest your head on my breast and forever stay
Wrapped in my arms and safe from the sea
I’ll cradle you here for as long as need be.
She opened her eyes and continued to sing, the faintest trace of a smile touching the corners of her lips as she saw the ships turn toward shore.
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Here is the original image prompt from Labyrinthia Mythweaver
I love the sinister ingenuity of turning a lighthouse, traditionally a symbol of safety, into the very means of luring sailors toward their doom. The detail of her consuming the keeper’s final breath before exhaling the fog is particularly unsettling. Beautifully atmospheric and wickedly imaginative!
I absolutely loved this. There’s something so special about flash fiction that can leave such a lasting impression in so few words. You drew me in completely, and I’m still thinking about it. Beautifully done! 🖤