Excerpt - The Lighthouse by Clarissa Johal #newrelease #paranormal #ghoststory

Sent to cover the haunting of Pelican Rock lighthouse, Riley Murdock vows to write a historical piece instead. Ghosts aren’t real, and she wouldn’t ruin her reputation as a serious journalist by writing the contrary. Photojournalist Dillon Page loves anything to do with the paranormal. Carefree and open-minded, he’s happy to treat their assignment like a ghost-filled vacation.

​But there’s more to Pelican Rock than either expected.

​When night falls, the mood in the dilapidated lighthouse shifts. Unexplained sounds, fleeting shadows, and icy breezes keep them both awake. And when Dillon starts acting strangely, Riley fears something is going on that she can’t explain.

From the author who brought you bestsellers Poppy, The Island, and Struck; comes a haunting tale that will keep you awake long past lights out.

Excerpt from The Lighthouse:

Riley woke to a loud “thump!” resonating across the floor. Followed by several more, the thumps were in succession. The door in the entry room probably blew open. Her tired thoughts began to wander before there was another thump, followed by yet another. Heavy, purposeful footsteps were coming up the lighthouse steps. Riley sat up, instantly awake. It looked like Dillon was burrowed in his sleeping bag. Weak moonlight traced the rumpled edges.

“Dillon!” she whispered.

The footsteps became louder and louder before they finally stopped at the door. Riley fastened her gaze on the broken handle, holding her breath. The door slowly swung open.

“Dillon!” She shot out of her sleeping bag and made a grab for him.

Dillon’s sleeping bag was empty. He’d left his sneakers behind, along with a rumpled hoodie, ripped-up jeans, and T-shirt.

What the hell? Riley turned with a frown, ready to tell him off for scaring her. The doorway was also empty. Confused, she crept forward and peered down the stairwell.

He probably went to the bathroom, she thought with a sigh of relief. I must have heard him going down, not coming up. Her bare foot brushed against something cold and she bent to pick the object up. “You forgot your flashlight, dummy!” Riley waited for him to respond. “For someone who’s afraid of the dark… You’re going to break your neck without your flashlight!” Her voice echoed against the walls of the lighthouse. She turned it on and shone the flickering beam of light down the stairs. The sound of footsteps echoed from below. “Jack-ass.” Riley slipped on her boots and trench coat and went to follow him.

The weak beam of light bounced erratically off the brick walls. It was pitch-black, and she grasped the railing to keep herself from tripping. As she rounded the curve, she caught a shadow disappearing around the corner. “Slow down!” When Riley reached the landing, she stopped to catch her breath. The footsteps continued down the stairs before they too stopped. “Dillon?” she called down. The footsteps started again. Angry, she debated whether to leave him on his own. The footsteps faltered. And if he breaks his leg, then what?

Riley descended the second flight of stairs, anger growing with each step. Every time she reached a landing, the shadow slipped down the stairs, just past her. And every time she stopped, the sounds of footsteps also stopped, as if Dillon were goading her on. By the time she reached the bottom, she was sputtering with white-hot anger.

The front door to the lighthouse stood open. Muted moonlight fell across an empty beach like an afterthought. Confused, she shone the flashlight in the outhouse’s direction. There’s no way he could have run that fast. I would have seen him. Riley scanned the rocks, expecting to see Dillon crouched beside one, laughing at her. Nothing but normal shadows lurked in the crevices.

She started towards the outhouse when she caught movement at the cottage. Anger again pricked at her insides. She marched toward the doorway, shining the flashlight needlessly on her path. The moonlight was enough to see by but she felt better holding the flashlight in front of her, like a club. I’ll clobber him over his dear little head when I catch up with him. She stopped and pointed the beam of light inside, like an accusing finger. Dillon’s quiet singing sounded from the bedroom. Continuing inside with a scowl, she found him sitting beside the cradle, rocking it slowly.

“What are you doing?”

Dillon paused, his attention still focused on the cradle. 

“It’s the middle of the damn night.” Unbridled anger washed away threads of fear. “You woke me up stomping down the stairs like that—”

“Shh,” he interrupted. “I’m singing to my baby.”

“This isn’t funny, Dillon! You could have broken your neck running down the stairs like that! Worse, I could have broken my neck running after you.” She waited for him to explain himself, her heart thudding in her chest. Instead, he continued to sing quietly, as if it was perfectly normal to sing to an empty cradle. A sudden realization dawned on her. Oh, my god, he’s sleepwalking. She inwardly rolled her eyes. Of course, he is. She felt the muscles in her neck relax a fraction as her anger dwindled. “Dillon, it’s time to go to bed. I’m going to take your arm and we’ll walk back together—” She made a move towards him and his gaze snapped to hers. There was something in his expression that made her stomach lurch. For a moment, he didn’t look like himself at all. His features were too soft, too feminine. And his eyes… They didn’t even look blue in this light. Riley took an involuntary step away. 

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#Paranormal Wednesday-Lighthouse Hauntings

When I decided to research haunted lighthouses there were literally hundreds. I came across two theories as to why this might be. Since lighthouses are surrounded by water, and water is considered a conduit, some felt this trapped a spirit. Others felt that spirits could become trapped due to the proximity and solitude of these areas. What stood out for me (and made more sense) were the number of tragic and violent deaths connected with these hauntings.  The stories were both fascinating and sad. Many of these places no longer serve as lighthouses but have been converted to bed and breakfasts, become historical landmarks or have been abandoned. If you're planning on a vacation, you may want to check these out.

Photo courtesy of L'Aquatique

Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat, New Jersey
A man and his wife are said to haunt this lighthouse. In the 1800s the couple was visiting a ship just off the coast when a huge storm struck. The ship was evacuated, including their infant daughter, but for some reason the husband and wife chose to stay and they both froze to death.  It is said that if one is walking a baby in a stroller, the ghosts will appear, compliment them on the baby, and then disappear again.

Big Bay Point Lighthouse, Lake Superior, Michigan
This lighthouse is said to be haunted by its first keeper, H. William Prior. Despondent over the death of his son, Prior went into the woods with a shotgun and a bottle of strychnine, apparently intent on committing suicide. A search party was sent out but he was never found. Over a year later, the skeleton of his body was discovered hanging in a tree. His ghost is said to haunt the property by slamming doors and moving objects. The Big Bay Point Lighthouse is now a bed and breakfast.

Public domain photo

Bird Island Light, Sippican Harbor, Massachusetts

William Moore was the first keeper of this lighthouse. There were two rumors associated with William: he was either a convicted pirate serving his sentence or he had stolen money from the U.S Army during the War of 1812. Regardless, William was known for his bad temper and for being abusive towards his wife. In 1832, he called shore for help and they found her, dead. He claimed she had died of tuberculosis but many felt he had murdered her. Though her grave site was never found, it is believed that William buried her on the property before he fled the area to avoid further investigation. Many claim to see her ghost--weeping and with her hands outstretched in supplication. 

Photo courtesy of Padraic Ryan

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, Toronto Island, Canada

J.P. Radan Muller, a whiskey bootlegger, was the first keeper of this lighthouse. He was murdered in 1815 by Fort York soldiers who were in search of whiskey. The drunken soldiers threw him off the top of the lighthouse, chopped his body into pieces, and then buried his remains across the island. His body, or pieces thereof, was never "officially" found. In 1904 a jawbone was discovered and reburied but was never identified as Muller's. Strange phenomena have been reported including lights in the windows, a shadowy figure of a man drifting across the sand, bloodstains on the stair case, and moaning and dragging sounds. 

Photo courtesy of HISE Studios

Heceta Head Lighthouse, Florence, Oregon

This lighthouse is said to be haunted by a woman named Rue--reportedly the mother of a baby whose grave was found on the property. Her ghost is said to move objects, steal rat poison, open cupboards (and once) sweep broken glass into a neat pile. Some say they've seen an elderly woman looking down at them from the attic window. 

Photo courtesy of Ebyabe

Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, Gasparilla Island, Gulf of Mexico, Florida

Reportedly haunted by two ghosts, the first is the spirit of a child who died of diphtheria or whooping cough. She can be heard playing in one of the rooms on the upper floor. The second ghost is that of a Spanish princess named Useppa (some legends report her as Josefa de Mayorga). Useppa rejected the love of José Gaspar, a Spanish pirate. Legend says that he beheaded her for rejecting him and carried his beloved's head forever. It is said that the headless ghost can be seen wandering the shores. The lighthouse is now a museum.

Photo courtesy Mark

Point Lookout Light, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Said to be America's most haunted lighthouse, Point Lookout Light was established as a prison camp during the Civil War. The place soon became overcrowded--a breeding ground for disease and death. Strange noises, disembodied voices and figures have been seen standing at the top of the stairway and in the basement. Some have encountered a woman in period clothing; asking for help to find the grave of her loved one. The apparitions of Union and Confederate soldiers have been seen, though the graves located on the property were moved many years ago. 

Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard

Seguin Island Lighthouse, Georgetown, Maine

Seguin Island Lighthouse is said to be haunted by the wife of the first lighthouse keeper. The keeper had his young bride's piano moved to the lighthouse to stave off her loneliness and depression. Unfortunately, it was delivered with only one sheet of piano music. The wife would play the piece over and over again, even after her husband sent for more sheet music. Her husband was reportedly driven insane and destroyed the piano, his wife, and himself with an axe. Some report that they can still hear her piano music drifting across the ocean. 

Photo courtesy of Paul Brennan

St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida

In 1859, the original keeper fell to his death while painting the lighthouse. In the 1873, three young girls--a servant and two daughters of the superintendent of Lighthouse Construction--drowned in a tragic accident. Voices and footsteps of the girls can be heard. Tenants report seeing a young girl dressed in old-fashioned clothing who appears and then disappears. A large, dark male figure has been seen in the basement, where a former caretaker reportedly hung himself. 

Photo courtesy of Andy Stephenson

Point of Ayre Lighthouse, Talacre, Wales, U.K.

A figure of a man in work clothes has been seen on the lighthouse balcony. Dogs have refused to go near the lighthouse for no apparent explanation. Paranormal investigators report unusual sounds, laughter and large footprints on the beach. When one group followed the footprints to the lighthouse, a loud bang was heard and a dark figure shone a light in their faces. The investigators report that the figure and footsteps both disappeared soon after. 

Only accessible at low tide, it was sold in 2012 for the price of  £90,000 and is listed as a Grade 2 building.