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Authors: Curtis Jobling
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us,’ Dougie whispered. ‘That’s a start, eh?’
I cleared my throat. ‘We’ve met before, Lamplighter.’
‘So I recall. Your soul burns as bright as any I’ve seen.’ His voice was less harsh now. ‘What a waste, hiding behind that silly fence. Join me.’ He beckoned, long
bony fingers creaking. I was drawn to him, rising from the ground.
‘Oi!’ Dougie stepped between us, pushing his hands through me. It did the trick. I snapped out of the Lamplighter’s spell. Once more, the imprisoned monster hissed.
‘Is this how you catch your victims, Lamplighter?’ asked Dougie. ‘You charm them?’
Neither of us knew a great deal about the Lamplighter’s story, only that he supposedly snatched unsuspecting kids from the station back in the day. That was how local legend told it; the
truth could be altogether different.
‘I make you a promise, boy—’
‘
More
promises,’ Dougie groaned. He jumped as the flames roared in the Lamplighter’s skull, teeth snapping like burned splinters in his jaws.
‘So arrogant! I shall enjoy you, when the time comes. For it shall come, I guarantee it, children . . .’
We both shivered, neither of us feeling quite so cocky any more.
‘Why have you drawn me from my slumber?’
I looked at Dougie. He looked back. We both shrugged as the Lamplighter watched on expectantly, awaiting our answer.
‘We haven’t really thought this through, have we?’ said Dougie.
‘You’re the one who rushed down here tonight!’
‘OK,’ he said, turning back to the apparition. ‘What stops you from moving on? Why are you still here, haunting this station?’
‘This is my curse.’ The Lamplighter sighed, the sharper edges of his dark form softening, the fires in his eyes dying slowly to embers. ‘My sins come with a cost. I remain here
for eternity.’
‘Eternity?’ I gasped and pointed at Dougie. ‘Does that mean I’ll be cursed to follow him around until he’s an old man who can’t even wipe his bum?’
‘Each spirit has its own purpose, its own curse. Mine is to hunt in the dark. I may leave when another takes my place.’
‘Another takes your place?’ I stifled a grim chuckle. ‘I should imagine passing on the stovepipe and staff’s a hard sell for anyone.’
‘As I said, child,’ whispered the Lamplighter. ‘An eternity.’
He began to disintegrate before our eyes, his body losing its integrity as curls of dark smoke broke away from his torso. The eyes were pin-pricks now as he dissipated, wisps of black mist
carried away on the wind.
‘I’ll be seeing you, children, soon enough . . .’
Then he was gone, the platform lamps blinking out with his passing. Dougie and I remained where we were, each chilled to the bone.
‘I shouldn’t need to say this,’ said Dougie, ‘but we should both agree now. We’re
never
coming back to this station. Right?’
Some questions didn’t need answering.
ELEVEN
Memories and Masquerades
‘This is it,’ I said, staring down the overgrown garden path. It was good to be investigating in daylight, the Lamplighter encounter firmly behind us. The sun
blazed overhead, the summer heatwave unrelenting, the bungalow’s lawn scorched dry. Brambles buttressed up against the brickwork, one enormous rhododendron bush threatening to break down the
front door.
‘It doesn’t look good,’ said Dougie. ‘It’s verging on derelict. Are you sure she still lives here?’
I nodded. ‘Last known address according to the census records Andy dug up. After you, pal. Work your charms!’
‘I’m a bit self-conscious, turning up alone like this. Should’ve brought a girl along.’
‘You could’ve always asked Lucy,’ I said. ‘I don’t know why you continue keeping my existence from her. There was a time when you told her you were being haunted by
me, remember?’
‘I did, but I think she’s pushed it from her mind, dismissed it as a moment of madness.’
‘Madness?’
‘She probably thought I’d gone
I cleared my throat. ‘We’ve met before, Lamplighter.’
‘So I recall. Your soul burns as bright as any I’ve seen.’ His voice was less harsh now. ‘What a waste, hiding behind that silly fence. Join me.’ He beckoned, long
bony fingers creaking. I was drawn to him, rising from the ground.
‘Oi!’ Dougie stepped between us, pushing his hands through me. It did the trick. I snapped out of the Lamplighter’s spell. Once more, the imprisoned monster hissed.
‘Is this how you catch your victims, Lamplighter?’ asked Dougie. ‘You charm them?’
Neither of us knew a great deal about the Lamplighter’s story, only that he supposedly snatched unsuspecting kids from the station back in the day. That was how local legend told it; the
truth could be altogether different.
‘I make you a promise, boy—’
‘
More
promises,’ Dougie groaned. He jumped as the flames roared in the Lamplighter’s skull, teeth snapping like burned splinters in his jaws.
‘So arrogant! I shall enjoy you, when the time comes. For it shall come, I guarantee it, children . . .’
We both shivered, neither of us feeling quite so cocky any more.
‘Why have you drawn me from my slumber?’
I looked at Dougie. He looked back. We both shrugged as the Lamplighter watched on expectantly, awaiting our answer.
‘We haven’t really thought this through, have we?’ said Dougie.
‘You’re the one who rushed down here tonight!’
‘OK,’ he said, turning back to the apparition. ‘What stops you from moving on? Why are you still here, haunting this station?’
‘This is my curse.’ The Lamplighter sighed, the sharper edges of his dark form softening, the fires in his eyes dying slowly to embers. ‘My sins come with a cost. I remain here
for eternity.’
‘Eternity?’ I gasped and pointed at Dougie. ‘Does that mean I’ll be cursed to follow him around until he’s an old man who can’t even wipe his bum?’
‘Each spirit has its own purpose, its own curse. Mine is to hunt in the dark. I may leave when another takes my place.’
‘Another takes your place?’ I stifled a grim chuckle. ‘I should imagine passing on the stovepipe and staff’s a hard sell for anyone.’
‘As I said, child,’ whispered the Lamplighter. ‘An eternity.’
He began to disintegrate before our eyes, his body losing its integrity as curls of dark smoke broke away from his torso. The eyes were pin-pricks now as he dissipated, wisps of black mist
carried away on the wind.
‘I’ll be seeing you, children, soon enough . . .’
Then he was gone, the platform lamps blinking out with his passing. Dougie and I remained where we were, each chilled to the bone.
‘I shouldn’t need to say this,’ said Dougie, ‘but we should both agree now. We’re
never
coming back to this station. Right?’
Some questions didn’t need answering.
ELEVEN
Memories and Masquerades
‘This is it,’ I said, staring down the overgrown garden path. It was good to be investigating in daylight, the Lamplighter encounter firmly behind us. The sun
blazed overhead, the summer heatwave unrelenting, the bungalow’s lawn scorched dry. Brambles buttressed up against the brickwork, one enormous rhododendron bush threatening to break down the
front door.
‘It doesn’t look good,’ said Dougie. ‘It’s verging on derelict. Are you sure she still lives here?’
I nodded. ‘Last known address according to the census records Andy dug up. After you, pal. Work your charms!’
‘I’m a bit self-conscious, turning up alone like this. Should’ve brought a girl along.’
‘You could’ve always asked Lucy,’ I said. ‘I don’t know why you continue keeping my existence from her. There was a time when you told her you were being haunted by
me, remember?’
‘I did, but I think she’s pushed it from her mind, dismissed it as a moment of madness.’
‘Madness?’
‘She probably thought I’d gone
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