The Lighthouse Keeper's Escape

    Edna Charlesford sat in her room at the top of the house that sat at the top of the cliff, facing the lighthouse as usual, watching the keeper who watched out for the ships. Sipping her tea, she noticed no movement from Bart, but he was a wily one, and now that he knew he was under her scrutiny, would probably be quite careful in his doings. The storm had just begun; this made it even more challenging to supervise him. Oh well.

    Bart's shadow sat there, unmoving, as the rain fell harder and harder. Edna thought this curious and then thought she noticed movement along the lighthouse wall. A large shadow, too big to be Bart. Edna thought her eye's must be deceiving her; in the dark and rain, she couldn't be sure of anything besides what she saw in Bart's room.

    Again she saw movement along the wall. This couldn't be a trick of the eyes, something was there. This blasted darkness. Nothing could be seen between flashes of lightning. Edna's house rattled as the wind buffeted it. Her tea was nearly finished, and the kettle had cooled. The fire had dwindled, and she couldn't afford to leave her post. Bart would not make a move without her seeing.

    Snuggled with a blanket, she continued to watch.

    And watch.

    And watch.

    And just when she thought he must be asleep, lightning struck right by the lighthouse, illuminating the structure. In the brief light she saw clearly for the first time that night. "Bart" had fallen sideways, now leaning against the wall, from the thunder. He was too rigid. No man stood, let alone slept like that. Bart wasn't there.

    Edna jolted up from her seat, and realizing he wasn't in the lighthouse, turned and grabbed her lantern. She flung the door open, and before her stood a huge blazing creature; its tail flickering with flames, and wings spread wide. Its body radiated cold, and ice formed outward from where it stood. Mounted atop the beast was none other than Bart, and he had come for vengeance.

    "Where did you find a Glizard?" Edna uttered. "You were to remain in the lighthouse, keeping watch."

    "I've had enough watching, Edna. I felt it was time for some doing." Bart replied.

    "That's Miss Charlesford to you Barty boy" Edna yelled. Then she smashed the lantern on the ground and with one palm before her, she gathered the flames that erupted, concentrated them into a fireball, and launched it straight at Bart and his Glizard.

    Before it hit, they leaped into the air and flew high into the sky, hidden in the night's stormy weather. For now.