"Keep in mind," Aldrich said before anyone entered the lighthouse, "we will explore every floor looking for clues that might help us understand the ghost."
"One more thing, Mr. Langston you will always remain a floor below us until we call for you. For example, while we search and clear this floor you will remain out here until I call for you. If you disobey me I will use force to expunge you from the quest."
"I understand, I'm not an adventurer, do what you came here to do and I will fulfill my role." Huzon replied and nodded in understanding.
Aldrich had no choice but to bring him on the quest but he also had no intention to put him in harms way for obvious reasons.
"Let's go, we will not split up, follow me to the northern room first." Aldrich commanded and made his way into the lighthouse.
The inside smelled like a barn or worse, the most likely cause was the pile of rotten wood, collapsing crates and old barrels. They were piled against the wall between the northern door and the staircase.
Maybe it was a sign of bad luck but as soon as Aldrich approached that pile he heard a squeezing noise and slashed with a newly acquired short sword.
Light green blood spilled and he looked at the source, it was a giant centipede, he judged that it was close to two meters long and as thick as his arm.
"Shit! Help!"
It wasn't alone, seven others had attacked from the dirt pile all at once, one of them completely entangled Cole like a snake would. Aldrich ran over and stomped on its head crushing it like an egg.
Frank's saber flashed by like whip and without giving the centipedes any chances he cut three of them in a few short breaths.
Hellen took care of one by flipping it over so it couldn't move and then she stabbed it a dozen times with a dagger. Emmas didn't have to lift a finger since Frank took care of her.
Cole who was embarrassed by his display jumped over and killed one in an attempt to restore his dignity.
Nathan held one on the ground with several belts from his backpack, he was pouring on it several drops from different potions and shaking his head every once in a while.
"Fucking useless." Saying that he stomped on it mercifully.
Aldrich looked at the dirt pile and realized that it was their nest, he shook his head and walked over to the door of the room. This small room holds a bunk bed, a pair of chests and a small table holding a stoneware basin and ewer.
Aldrich walked in carefully, the others streamed in behind him, all on full alert. The earlier attack was a wake-up call they were attack as soon as they walked in.
Aldrich opened the chest, it was empty, he walked over to the bed, there was nothing to see but the dirt and dust everywhere so he decided to proceed to the next room through a door in this room that connected them both.
This one was almost identical to the first one and the cheat here was empty too.
"Call Huzon in, its clear," Aldrich told Hellen.
Huzon came in with her a moment later, "these were guests rooms. Usually to house travelers or the occasional survivors of shipwrecks."
Aldrich nodded in understanding.
"The next floor," Huzon said pointing at the spiral staircase, "that was my father's room, he used to call it his domicile. He used to stay here months on end even after the lighthouse was shut down."
Aldrich didn't waste time, he walked forward and climbed the staircase and stepped on the second floor. Since this was his room, he was expecting to find a clue as to what happened.
This level of the lighthouse is a single room. The
staircase continues up the center to the next level Small, round windows pierce each wall in the cardinal directions.
A sagging bed covered with mildewed
blankets sits beneath one window, a sea chest peeking out under one end. A rusted iron stove stands between the bed and a small desk.
A short wardrobe is next to the desk, and the pieces of a broken chair are scattered across the floor.
Huzon remained down of course and the others followed behind him and they walked over to the sea chest under the window, it was unlocked so he opened it.
It had a pair of old boots and spare blankets. Next was the desk drawers, they were filled with moldering paper and crawling with silverfish. A spilled container of ink, long dry, has left a broad, black stain across its top.
While he was doing that Cole went to check on the wardrobe, it had an old oilskin coat, a black woolen cap, and a wooden cane, all hanging from hooks on the back of the cabinet.
"Hey, guys there's a false bottom here," Cole said attracting everyone's attention. Cole took out one of the hooks and inserted it through a gape in the false bottom's side and then pulled up.
As soon as he did that the top of the wardrobe fell on his head with a violent crash.
"Shit!" Aldrich cursed as he pulled Cole from underneath the wood and stone. Turns out the top was also false and filled with stones, when the false bottom was removed the trap was triggered.
Cole lost consciousness, it was a hit in the back of the head so it was the worst kind.
Nathan removed the rubble and mess while the others checked up on Cole. He pulled out was hidden under the false bottom and protected by the trap. It was an old sack and a leather-bound notebook.
"Wow, interesting." Nathan exclaimed after he opened the old sack.
"What is it?" Aldrich asked, interested by that.
"It's... two gold coins." Nathan said as he took out one of them.
"WHAT!"
The group was collectively shocked, the rest immediately surrounded Nathan even leaving poor Cole alone.
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