Prolouge: The Lighthouse



September, 7th, 1969 The Heart of the Sea Rapture Research and Development

Its been a year since I saw the glass break up at the Adonis Resort. Raptures been quiet since then, strange enough to say. The young one and I have been doing alright, Ryan sent quite a bit of food and water here after we last talked, when that ran out the little one started using the tunnels to bring us what little she could find before the splicers caught her scentbut I fear Raptures dying and I have no intention of going down with the ship. I found a very large book in the utility room behind Ryans office, seems to say that if I manually reroute the power from the citys main line, I might have enough to get out a message to someoneanyone. My work on Subject Omega is almost complete, but emergency power isnt enough to wake him up. Ive asked the little one to take a gander around the level above our wing to find an access panel or exposed bit of line I may be able to tap into. Until I can get the power rerouted, Omegas as dead as this city.

September, 7th, 1969 Grindavik, Iceland, Home of Hans Adler

The doctors gave him 6 months to live, that was over a year ago. Hans Adler was never the kind of man to back down from a fight, after being forced to leave his home in Germany in the 30s Hans vowed to never again allow another man to decide his fate for him. As chance would have it, 37 years later he lay dying in his own bed, the victim of a hit and run earlier that morning. His grandson Eric was the first person to arrive that morning, before the ambulance even; a man had been driving drunk and hit Hans while he was getting the days paper. Eric was a spitting image of his grandfather, tall as a tree and built like an ox. Before he began fishing to support himself and Hans, Eric had studied engineering; like his grandfather before him. Hans company had gone bankrupt just a few years earlier, forcing Eric into a very abrupt change of careers. Eric enjoyed his life on the sea, feeling more at home among the squalls and tides than the cars he now watched pass through his grandfathers window.

Some emergency service this is, its been over half an hour since you called them!
Patience Eric, everything in good time son.

Patience wasnt something Eric was good with, ever since he was a child he found himself pushing for things to go faster, to be better. It may have gotten him into some trouble over the years, since he was more often asking for forgiveness than permission. It killed him now, to watch car after car speed by the window while the final sands fell in his grandfathers hourglass.

Thats it, Im taking you to the clinic myself. These people will never get here befo-

Im dying Eric, you know it as well as I do. Erics eyes began to well as his grandfather continued, Ive raised you since you were just a boy, Im proud to see the man youve become

Stop, youre not going to-

Let me finish, his words cut into Eric When you were a child, you would ask me about your mother, and where she was, what was my answer to you?

I cant remember, it was so long ago. We really must leave now! His words laced with panic as Hans eyes drifted to the ceiling.

Thelighthouse he sputters as a fit of coughing engulfs him your mother.

The words hardly escaped his lips as death claimed him, the air left Erics lungs as his world collapsed around him. Just then, he heard the sirens scream through the cold morning air. Eric released his grandfathers hand as he stood to face the window. A feeling of dread engulfed him as he fought against reality, his grandfather, the last person he had in this world laid dead behind him and there was nothing he could do about it. He sat in the chair next to the window and laid his face in his hands; the emergency crew rushed in, trying their best to save Hans, but it was in vain. His soul had been claimed, his penance paid.

The next few days were a blur of phone calls from his grandfathers old business partners and friends calling to give their respects, Eric tried his best to remain respectful and embrace their well wishes and apologies but every word from their mouths stung his heart and fed the fire burning within his chest. The funeral arrangements had been made, he was to be cremated and spread into the sea. The ceremony was quiet, only Eric and the Pastor were present as the ashes drifted into the sea never to be whole again. For months Eric lived in solitude, hed spend weeks at sea, only returning to refuel and sell his catch or make repairs to his vessel, the Sirens Call a 30 schooner that had been pure white in some past life, before the sea carved its story into the hull. He had picked it up As is with more problems than you can imagine. On one such visit to the harbor, a local courier came by the boat to deliver a message.

Excuse me sir, are you Eric Adler? The boy called into the engine room.

Whos asking? Eric yelled back from below
The bank of Grindavik is looking for you sir, your grandfathers left you something urgent! He cried


The mere mention of his grandfather was enough to get Eric to come out of the engine room to speak to this boy face to face, he wiped the grease from his face and hands as he climbed the stairs out of the engine room.

Are you okay sir? the boy asked, Eric was covered in blood from a gash above his eyebrow.
Im fine boy, cut my head on a shard of metal, now what is this urgent request youve got? Eric spat as he approached the young man.

Your grandfather has left you a box sir he said, trying to look at Erics eyes and not the gash on his head, andand the bank needs to see you in person to give it to you!

Eric turned away from the courier and continued to wipe the grease from his skin as he approached the bow of the boat.

Excuse me sir, they need you now! Its urgent as I said and the bank is only open for so-


I heard you boy. Eric groaned as he went into his cabin, Cant exactly show up bloody and greasy, can I?

Eric could still hear the courier rambling on about the weather, sports and other nonsense he had no interest in as he descended into his cabin, with barely enough room to stand up straight and hardly 10 feet across he always felt cramped down below. Erics mind was busy with thoughts of his grandfather; what could Hans have left him that was so urgent? The house was left to the local orphanage and he had no money left after the bankruptcy, he continued to wonder as he washed his hands and face in the kitchen sink. Grindavik was a small town, only a few businesses and a theater occupied Main Street. It was a 5 minute walk from the dock to Main Street where the bank was, which was 5 minutes longer than Eric wanted to be off the Sirens Call. He ascended to the deck and gestured for the courier to lead the way.

So what kind of fish do you catch out there Mister?

The kind you eat, now lead on and keep your mouth shut. He spat.

There was enough on Erics mind without having to explain his fishing habits to a 14 year old boy. What was in this box, and why hadnt his grandfather mentioned it to him before? Sure, Hans was a private man; but to keep his inheritance a secret from Eric seemed out of character for him. The bank was small, the size of your average gas station now-a-days, the vaulted ceilings gave it the feeling of being much grander than it truly was. The security guard checked Eric and pointed him to the Accounts and Holdings section. Behind the counter a small wiry woman with black hair and a nose that could rival an anteater. The courier ran to the counter to greet the woman.

I got him mom! The boy exclaimed proudly.

Good job James, now run along, I think your father is looking for you! she called to him as he ran for the door Good morning Mr. Adler, has James informed you of why I asked you here today?

He did indeed maam, are you sure youve got the right man? Most of my grandfathers possessions went to the city and I cant imagine what could be left for me.

Yes, Im quite sure its for you Mr. Adler. If you could sign here, I will go and get your box for you sir. She turned away from the counter and walked towards the vault.

She had slid a paper forward to Eric with the words Release from Liability emblazoned on the top of the page. He skimmed the paragraphs of legal jargon looking for the dotted line. Line after line of evasion and trickery engineered by lawyers being paid thousands of dollars to ensure no responsibility fell on the bank. Eric found the spot and signed the line, giving up his right to sue in the case that his inheritance threatened his heath; as if anything Hans left to him could get him hurt. Hans lived the quietest life Eric could imagine, he worked at the same business for 30 years, took the same route to work, drank the same brand of coffee every morning, and even gave Eric the same present every year for his birthday. The soft tapping of high heels on marble met Erics ears as the banker returned from the vault. In her hands she carried a small wooden box covered in carvings of a lighthouse, a layer of dust covered the top with the initials D. A. A. engraved on the brass nameplate. She laid the box down on the counter and took the paperwork from Eric, reading over the pages she noted his signature and smiled.

Thank you Mr. Adler, heres your box.

Thank you maam, I appreciate it. Eric replied as he ran his fingers over the brass.

He turned away from the counter and took his leave from the bank. He made his way back to the harbor, box in hand. As he walked he pondered the possibilities of who the box belonged to, how it had ended up in his grandfathers possession and why he had left it to him. It was a beautiful box without a doubt, the intricately carved lighthouse shined almost as bright as the brass inlays that bordered the edges. With his vessel in view his pace quickened, he grew excited to open the box and find what his grandfather had left him. Could it be a ring maybe, or a letter? He boarded the vessel and made his way into his cabin; he sat at the table positioned tightly in between his bed and the counter in the kitchen area. He placed the box in front of him and took a deep breath, preparing for whatever could be in store for him inside this mysterious box.