Writing Prompt: It is 1800. A lighthouse on a barren cliff in England. Two lighthouse keepers are alone for the winter and effectively cut off from the rest of the world until the ice thaws. Both Wilhelm and Matthew are settled in for the long haul with warm clothes, canned goods, and plenty of matches. Then Matthew starts hearing voices. His personal belongings disappear from where he’d placed them, only to reappear in strange spots. One day in particular is especially frightening when they see a figure walking behind them while they are on a walk on the cliff outside the lighthouse. Write the introduction to a story about what happened on the day the mystery figure appeared. Write it through the point of view of Matthew and show details about the setting in your writing. I did this for class but loved the outcome so here I am sharing it.
I sit up in my bed, looking outside the window to see the ground blanketed by the heavy snowfall from the day before. I walk groggily to the sink to wash my face. I reach for the cloth hung on the wall, and then for my glasses I leave on the counter. I scanned the counter for them, but they had seemingly disappeared. “Wilhem…?” I called out. “Yes…?” Wilhem responded from his room. I knocked on his door and opened it, but Wilhem wasn't in bed. I look outside the window of his room, and he's shoveling snow. Confused, I return to the kitchen area, preparing to make Wilhem and I coffee. I reached into the cupboard to pull out my mug, but it was not there. Frustrated now, I open every other cupboard, squinting my eyes as hard as I can to find my mug, but I can't. “What's wrong Matthew?” I hear my wife ask. “Nothing hon-” I pause. Thinking to myself. Who could that possibly have been? I’m in the light house, alone. My wife is not here with me. I turn around and find no one. Nothing different. No chairs moved, no swinging paintings, no open doors. Nothing. I turn around and find my glasses on the counter in front of me. A sigh of relief escapes my lips. I put them on and continued the search for my mug and whoever could have called out my name. I spend quite some time looking for my mug, turning our kitchen upside-down. I walk towards the front door to go ask Wilhem about the mysterious disappearance of my mug. I go to grab the handle and I see it. In the corner of my eye, I spot my mug. Placed on a shelf in our living area. “Come on Wilhelm! It's not even April yet” I grumble to myself, returning to the kitchen. I make myself coffee, as well as some for Wilhelm. I knock on the kitchen window and Wilhelm looks over. “Coffee” I say, lifting my mug into view. He nods and comes in, taking his snow covered boots off at the door. “No fire?” he asks, turning to look at me. “No. You can do it. I'm done with you shenanigans you bloke.” I sigh. “What shenanigans? I've been out all morning!” he stomps his foot. “Well then explain my glasses and mug appearing in random spots?” I shrug, grabbing my warm clothing from the closet near the front door. “It wasn't me. Honest! Maybe it was a boggart” He takes his mug from the counter. “Boggarts aren't real” I groan, putting my boots on and walking out the door. “If you say so” I hear Wilhelm say before the door closes. I look up from the ground and I'm hit with a huge gust of wind, nearly knocking me off my feet. I regain my balance and trudge through the snow towards the cliff. Behind me I hear the sloshing of melted snow and the squeak of boots as they collide with the ground. “Coming to apologize” I grin. But the grin fades as quickly as it appeared, as I turn to stand face to face with Wilhelm. But not just Wilhelm, no. I spot a gray figure in the forests, tall as 2 men. Arms as long as apple tree trunks. A head much bigger than that of bears. I fall backwards, losing every bit of air in my lungs. Unable to bring myself to words. Wilhelm looks down at me, as if I'm going crazy. Was I? Am I? “Matthew!” I hear him yell. His words sound muffled. Like I'm buried in 8 feet of snow. His words begin to sound like utter nonsense. I feel myself losing a sense of location. Where was I anymore?
