Flash Fiction February - Six Steps to Whisperer's Point
This flashfic is inspired by a prompt posted on 26th February 2022 by the Writer’s Digest to “structure your story as a list”. This story is just over 900 words. Enjoy!
Six Steps to Whisperers Point
Step 1: Arm yourself.
It is generally considered effective and good practice by experienced Travelists to bring a proficient occultist or practicing pagan with you who is in possession of variety of spiritual repellents.
If this is otherwise impossible, due either to cultural attitudes of your time or to the availability of such personnel, the Otherside Wander’s Acute Guide advises you to acquire at least 1 standard kilogram of salt, various spiritual talismans (especially relating to malevolent entities, the wills of the dead and items which increase in power with close proximity to the sea) and effective, up-to-date weaponry equipped for defence against creatures of flesh and blood, as creatures you are likely to encounter at this destination are likely to be human-like.
Step 2: Seek the Council of Local Seafolk
The best manner to approach Whisperer’s Point is from the south-west side of Agatha Town at a time of high tide where the sun is expected to be sufficiently blocked by cloud cover for at least three hours. The most suitable path is generally known by the curriers of St Duke’s Church, often tasked with bringing supplies to the Ourside Lighthouse. However, some Travelists have reported great success in consulting seafarers, such as the fishermen associated with the Glugman’s Fishery Company, as they are likely to have encountered your desired location at some point in their boyhood adventures.
The Otherside Wander’s Acute Guide always advices Travelists to use trusted sources.
Step 3: Approach the Lighthouse in the Above Prescribed Manner
The journey from Agatha Town to Whisperer’s Point may take up to two hours, therefore we advise Travelists to be certain of the sun’s cloud cover. Without low light, your desired location is unlikely to show.
Step 4: Arrive with Caution
You will notice upon peaking the crest of Whisperer’s hill that the air is thick and vision is beginning to be obscured by a horizon-wide mist. This mist is unlikely to be reported by the locals of Agatha Town on your return journey, and the Otherside Wander’s Acute Guide does not recommend commenting on it within the perimeters of the town (not without risk of persecution for witchcraft by the superstitious populace).
To the uninitiated Travelist, this mist is considered a sign of success. You are now passing through to the Otherside.
Step 5: Explore the Lighthouse
You will notice as you reach the lighthouse that its profile has distinctly changed from that which you have seen before from vantages in Agatha Town. This is natural and desired. Veteran Travelists of this location have described the Ourside Lighthouse to be of a friendly countenance and straightforward in structure, with its main body elevating in an orderly, straight-sided fashion, while Whisperer’s Point appears to be jaunty, with a tower that ascends diagonally inland before sharply angling forward towards the sea. The tower light is perpetually lit and spins with a near frightening speed.
You will notice that the sky is no longer “grey” but largely black, save for the flashes of silent lightening within the previous cloud cover.
You will also notice that the guard railing, if you have already spied it from a distance before eclipsing Whisperer’s hill, is no longer. Some remnants can be found on the cliff face beneath the lighthouse, but we strongly advise you to investigate this from behind and slightly below Whisperer’s hill, not at the cliff edge.
We do not advice that you enter the lighthouse in anyway, particularly if you notice figures passing before the windows, lights turning on and off within the tower or the sea behaving in a particularly agitated nature. However, for those experienced and tempted Travelists, if you do enter Whisperer’s Point, we strongly advise suitable ear-protective equipment or that you already possess a strong sense of self, iron will and tendency to ignore those who speak close by to you.
No matter your situation within the proximity of Whisperer’s Point, do not give precedence to the Whisperings. You must ignore them. It is not plausible for your family to have followed you. Loved ones cannot be brought back by the Otherside. Dreams cannot be granted in this place.
And for the love off all, do not approach the cliff edge.
Anyone found to have approached the cliff in anyway following their excursion to Whisperer’s Point will have their membership to this magazine immediately revoked on the grounds of self-endangerment, breach of Otherside conduct guidelines and for the wilful provocation of demonic powers, wilful completion of ancient ritual and wilful disregard of Ourside stability. You have been warned.
Step 6: Leaving Whisperer’s Point
Whisperer’s Point can be safely left by drawing a circle of salt around yourself, sitting within the circle and placing both hands over your ears. Either close your eyes completely or look towards Agatha Town.
You may notice that the town has also changed: reportedly into an asteroid crater or disserted city made of unknown material. Approaching this place is strictly prohibited. You must leave Whisperer’s Point in the prescribed way.
Continue to hold still in your salt circle until the Whisperings have entirely stopped. This may take up to half an hour. You may find that, at times, the Whisperings become louder and more aggressive. Do not be discouraged. Do not move, open your eyes or remove your hands from your ears.
If something attempts to touch you or otherwise remove your hands from their respective places, know that your salt circle is deficient and that you will likely be unable to return until the next Travelist reaches your location, which may take up to a century. You will need to continue to hold still for this time.
When the Whisperings have stopped completely, you will be able to leave. Vacate the area immediately and return directly to Agatha Town using the exact path you originally used.
If you have any questions, please mail the Otherside Wander’s Acute Guide.
26/02/2022
To Be Proofread . . .