The ocean breeze carried the salty air as Chrissy and Nick made their way down the beach to meet Maddie. The morning sun cast a golden glow over the waves, but Chrissy couldn't shake the eerie feeling from the night before.
"So let me get this straight," Maddie said once they filled her in. "You saw a shadowy figure watching you last night?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2bZ410pai
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekFtJEGIcj
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYavSiH9jmj
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOQDMYYial
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN0OLKCUUL
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDRz1iAo8l
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dV9HMY7Pn
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDESEkOtZn5
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAdigzjuoj
Still, they made their way to the lighthouse, the abandoned structure looming against the sky. The closer Chrissy got, the stronger the pull became—like the lighthouse was calling her back.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89RTOazJ4B
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0I0o57Z11
Then—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BiZfNCzBr
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKoPhf94IU
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GNbZJbWYE
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDRwdvmvnJ
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKXhrPPIXn
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6zhl4BO6P
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWpFoiidlA
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFbvUpnxDt
A necklace.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDISmlsDWjV
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08bnxWyYx9
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MBWI0twh6
A locket.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpL4CULdq0
And inside—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIacEfrjD6
A baby picture.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRK9grO6on
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZkC5gqNYQ
It was her.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EDlQGMuNL
⸻76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESKVqx1f2Y
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIvaYrKJcv
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQIdEysmVt
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWJv37FS83
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eeWFY3qvd
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0GQsRrSP3
⸻76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zzt85Eqyg
That night, as Nick walked Chrissy home, the weight of the day pressed down on them. The lighthouse. The shadowy figure. The necklace with her baby picture.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtbXEW2F7f
None of it made sense.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9v2xIzgkE
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFztDiwiX9
Nick froze.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIPwY6Znsg
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIKKcfS3RR
He spun toward it. "Hey!"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR45j1OOb6q
But the figure vanished into the night.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnPXr3Brl4
And at their feet—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTiHxzYZnk
A journal.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8saOfESlp
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyjQGNMDAL
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4YtJ8vXuM
Then, something fluttered to the ground.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNQ5590f8M
A sticky note.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwuHalnusn
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKc9FxLgFF
"Be careful. Stop looking."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJLBdIDhX7
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8v7NrdriV
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeYTGYElyd
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TrGbfzKv1
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ROMWY8bu5
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwRfN8VwoR
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL2f07AxCZ
"I never let go of it."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEn4r3Bzcw
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ8MQGDm8G
He met her gaze.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s6w4IrBzC
"This... feels familiar."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7LAZJioxM
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj00a4O6UP
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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