“Now?” He didn’t respond, eyes forward and blazing with indifference. I stumble forward and he grabs the back of my suit, dragging me back with great force. “Look man, I don’t even know who you are. Just let me go and I swear I’ll keep as silent as a mouse.” He doesn’t respond to that either. I hear a scoff and I shut my mouth, eyes down. The thick mud squelches with each step, coating my shoes and dampening my socks. The wind, harsh and unforgiving, blows straight in our faces, chilling me to my core. My suit jacket catches the wind like a parachute, making pathetic flapping noises. It begins to rain. Thick droplets plummet to the ground like little bullets. He opens his mouth for the first time, his deep voice booming over the wind. “Almost there.” We continue our walk through the mud, the sound of waves crashing violently below begins to sound like a heartbeat. A lone seagull caws, staring at us from a single tree. It tilts its head, as if curious. I turn my head to stare at it as we walk past, the seagull and I maintaining eye contact as I willed it to somehow save me. The man grabs my head and forces it forward, sharp nails digging into my scalp. I yelp in pain and try and raise my hands, before he punches me in the jaw and I see stars. He grabs my suit again, choking me as he continues dragging me to our location. The lighthouse comes into view, tall and formidable in the dreary evening. The light was on, saving the humble fishermen with its golden glow. I keep my mouth shut regardless of the questions I have, jaw still screaming out in pain. We reach the stone steps leading towards the white door. The man reaches into his pockets and pulls out a large key ring with multiple keys on it. He finds the key instantly, even though they all looked the same to me. He keeps a strong hand on my suit and pushes me through the door. It’s cold inside and damp, the walls lined in a film of residue. Boxes filled with fishing gear were piled high, a lone coffee machine sat on the dirty concrete floor. He locks the door behind us and grabs me again, pushing me up the winding stone staircase without a sound. I suddenly become aware that if I wait until we’re higher up, I could push him down the stairs and make my escape. That plan is quickly wiped as I feel something press into my lower back. “Don’t get any funny ideas, ‘man’ ,“ he spits out the last bit with poison, my heart stops for a moment. The sound of a gun click echoes through the lighthouse. We walk slowly up the stairs, my heart thumping and body sweating as I struggle to breathe. We reach the top and the light temporarily blinds me. He pushes me forward and we go out on the catwalk. The fresh air bites as raindrops hit us relentlessly. “Please let me go, I don’t even know who you are,” I plead over the wind, my tears mixing with the raindrops as they run down my face. I’m hyperventilating and shaking, eyes wild with panic. I grab the rail desperately, knuckles white. He looks at me with hatred and disgust. “Oh, you don’t know who I am?” He chuckles darkly. “You know my wife though, don’t you?” He looks at me intently, a grimace etched on his face. “I don’t, just please-“ I choke, my heart thumping out of my chest as I close my eyes. “- please let me down.” The gun is still in his hand, limply as his side as he blocks the door to safety. “Marline. Does that ring a bell?” He spits this with such ferocity that I brace myself, ready for another blow. He doesn’t strike me but grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Marline, my wife of ten years. And you slept with her!” He lets go and puts his head in his hands, a wild look of unhinged hatred. I stumble back, the rail pressing into my lower back as I hold on tight. My heart drops and bile gathers in my mouth. “M-Marline? As in-“ I stutter before he cuts me off. “Yeah, Marline as in your coworker Marline,” he sneers, a tinge of hysteria in his voice. “Did you know? Did she...” he trails off, unsure. “She didn’t tell me man, I promise. I don’t do that type of thing. I- if I’d have known I wouldn’t have gone near her,” I’m begging at this point, desperation seeping into my voice as I hiccup, tears still streaming. “I don’t... no...” he starts to cry, loud sobs wracking his body as he sinks to the floor, head in hands. “How about we get down from here,” I speak slowly, trying to convince him to let me go. He doesn’t respond, just continues to cry. “Only if you want to... of course,” I finish, nervous by his lack of response. He stands up abruptly, no longer crying. He stares at me for the longest time, unmoving and unblinking, until he opens his mouth. “I don’t believe you.” He enunciates each word slowly and calmly, his earlier hysteria no longer present. His entire face was emotionless, eyes hollow and mouth raising into an eerie half smile. With that, he lunges forward and pushes me off the edge of the catwalk. I scream my lungs raw as I soar through the air, the seagull from earlier still watching me intently. My suit billows behind me like a useless parachute. My mind thinks one last thought as I brace myself for impact and certain death. Seagulls don’t cheat.