Originally built in 1879 and decommissioned in 1964, the lighthouse's true purpose was to observe an ancient entity dwelling in the deep waters offshore. This creature, known to the last keeper Arthur Reyes as "the Collector," gathers the names of those lost at sea and requires acknowledgment to remain dormant. Through Arthur's journals and his son Paul's guidance, Jonah uncovers a hidden underwater observation room and a book of names recording every soul claimed by the surrounding waters. As Jonah restores the lighthouse to working order, he experiences dreams of voices calling from the ocean and witnesses the entity's response to the renewed light and recitation of names. The Historical Society—actually a cover for continued monitoring of the creature—offers Jonah the position of permanent keeper. Accepting his role as guardian of this ancient pact between land and sea, Jonah continues the vigil that keeps the mysterious entity pacified, maintaining a tradition where the lighthouse itself seems to have developed a strange awareness over decades of watching the deep.