## I. Dusk at the Lighthouse

Welcome reader, to the chilling tale of the St. Augustine Lighthouse – an enduring monument of history in Florida and home to some restless spirits. At first glance, it appears as an old, well-kept lighthouse, its white façade shining brightly against the vast, azure sky. But tread carefully, for beneath its outward semblance of tranquility festers an eerie tale of tragedy and death.

The story originates back to when the imposing lighthouse was still under construction, the two decades of labour punctuated by the crisp, rhythmic echoes of tools against stone and iron. It was during this time of toil that an unfortunate accident befell three girls, stealing away their innocent lives and entwining their fates with the lighthouse forever.

## II. The Tragic Day

Such a calamity often finds its roots in a day of apparent normalcy. A day drowned in the cacophonous harmony of construction work, punctured by the playful laughter of children who played hide and seek amidst the half-made structure. These girls – daughters of Hezekiah Pity, a craftsman adding his blood and sweat in the construction – often sought their father’s approval with winsome smiles and gay laughter.

On the day of the tragedy, the girls had discovered an exciting new toy – the wooden handcart reserved for ferrying materials to the top of the lighthouse. An innocent game, a ride down the rail in the cart, and a misjudged turn metamorphosed a day of mirth into a day of mourning.

## III. Aftermath

As the sun dipped below the horizon that tragic day, the girls were hurled into the dark, vicious waters embracing the half-finished lighthouse. Feverish attempts to rescue them crashed against the cold, unyielding armor of death – they never emerged from the black depth.

With the rise and fall of the sun, the laborious construction resumed and the lighthouse stood tall, a white sentinel gazing out to the endless sea. But the tales of dread started whispering along the spiral stairs and in the shadowy corners. Footsteps echoed through the corridors with no corporeal presence in sight, soft giggles vibrated the silence, and a voice pleading for help punctuated the quietude.

A grim secret was hidden within the mighty lighthouse, the restless spirits of the three girls who met their tragic end amidst the cold, ruthless sea-water.

## IV. Ghostly Encounters

Climbing the historic lighthouse became a staple on tourist’s to-do lists, and soon tales of ghostly encounters began to circulate. Visitors shared their experiences of hearing phantom footsteps and innocent laughter echoing in the emptiness. Some spoke of shadows, fleeting around corners when the sun dipped below the horizon.

Not only tourists, but the caretakers and paranormal investigators too carry their share of ghostly tales. Investigators reported inexplicable phenomena; photographs with mysterious light orbs and ghostly figures, chilling EVP recordings of a girl’s voice resonating in the emptiness.

The chilling voice that echoed, time and again, was always the same, a desperate plea whispered into the shadows “Help, Papa.”

## V. The Unending Haunting

Today, the magnificent lighthouse of St. Augustine stands tall against the turquoise Florida skyline, appearing innocent against the salty ocean breeze. It exists not just as a beacon for sailors, but also as a relic of a bygone era, carrying within its stone walls the echoes of laughter, the patter of unseen feet, and the chilling pleas for help.

It is the living testament to the girls’ untimely and tragic death, a host to their spirits that seem trapped within the confines of the towering structure. Their phantoms, eternally bound to the lighthouse, continue to roam and play, their innocent voices forever caught in the eerie sea-winds, inviting brave visitors to join in their eternal, spectral hide and seek.