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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnelyr2Hu3b
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQZkvs2D2r
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgF5JNjQws
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTAwBDchhj
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9UcZSlq5S
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwxfmq1iBR
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaesxgnDu9
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbcbYd7oy2
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP21dHajwfQ
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfRUTvQMUF
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdbOO9fYvQ
Then—174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvSIFPUOpU
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRXAxEFFEe
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnyaNsuwXC
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInNBMmgpnV
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRKMn91cP9
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmrEJIM3fo
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzNFDuhFWd
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnraAjUYoE8
A necklace.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BOzB2d1dV
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQD0UNJM2B
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T7wj01c9U
A locket.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBUO4eOg9N
And inside—174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw4b3OlTvQ
A baby picture.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2MkBLjm0r
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjbLM0XhxZ
It was her.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmtz1HGY7r
⸻174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu3pxVQ2EX
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwijaPYTa7J
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIspNrLt6G
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UBeHTmeV4
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGltK4NdLz
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwyPz3TJa6
⸻174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfqrvi9fHw
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k41jmmIfq
None of it made sense.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhOwwWK8di
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBSwv5lUJZ
Nick froze.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhSs2B2K7j
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEeu2MXCfH
He spun toward it. "Hey!"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxPLJv1smS
But the figure vanished into the night.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGGekLiIgG
And at their feet—174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzuBvv9fbU
A journal.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YGFOFfGzH
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A8j3dVjry
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8IXiz8obC
Then, something fluttered to the ground.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTD18EDaSi
A sticky note.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07NkqULowz
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOu0pzlZpb
"Be careful. Stop looking."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2QspOgEGk
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Phx5hoCG
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIZkIO7ljF
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKFfmBGfsd
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Xp3x8HII
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UtuHeOZyS
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzzdWPpzMh
"I never let go of it."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPTyTvmy8Q
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunFPYaBKIO
He met her gaze.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Dtkc9D8W
"This... feels familiar."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOpmo0vFfW
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuuREsUYL3
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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