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?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez6wsgKEa7
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxAQPwbTJG
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1P6E4giZ1
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRfnawaqUs
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUlltEKqCr
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9w8hECWKr
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UqXwzUPvK
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptQc9NZBTC
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mHz2I8dkT
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu7YWZPmr3
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8s9KZqcdj
Then—175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFdQaxUNnv
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6rLo93I5Z
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WBQKNxe1F
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE1WfaZtAE
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeBPybrJEU
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAj1mR3dsf
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf2pNJYJq5
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KwVOiBVJg
A necklace.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRsotS7kxQ
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfZUovwgnq
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK32Z2ZDSEl
A locket.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysA9FlCiIM
And inside—175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiWYOwScxM
A baby picture.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj24YdvyZT8
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV3pj0Ud0b
It was her.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKwtsGbtDk
⸻175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMbjGPKWGD
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxnNMFY3My
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkphb8VrBy7
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0z11I2D7g
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJVsEXM5fP
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXMedkWvvt
⸻175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FQKlmqwVb
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveHPy4KDgw
None of it made sense.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN48odE18i7
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT0IoCGY45
Nick froze.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU2R2REhkI
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHQwXmgyrr
He spun toward it. "Hey!"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4rjs0Hi5m
But the figure vanished into the night.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mZb30ZHml
And at their feet—175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx4aKTO5T7
A journal.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmXqP3qlWf
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XFiSVJEE5
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtYpnbf6cG
Then, something fluttered to the ground.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSEdtLTRzY
A sticky note.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT5G235wIt
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83zhO4UpGS
"Be careful. Stop looking."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lgS11OtZS
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINqFWxHLfg
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnitNuiWz0D
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogR63hVept
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyqlXKFoV1
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipTn5reIAJ
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKebu92rGH
"I never let go of it."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy8thefozz
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n2784YShZ
He met her gaze.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu0FeULQ92
"This... feels familiar."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUxl1OtaoN
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSymdDnEPZb
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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