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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqG3w9M4sT
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWIArmRsRm
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAD3fH2RlI
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCSo9WHyeN
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSNStBeBK4
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0V6u0GWXD
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCIYgrIfpB
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnkdtHQ4ci
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl7UYrY2jI
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3kveUTRqC
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMcQwEBHXG
Then—209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVvbbtYABd
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuDiR4nltR
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBiF2H5HiC
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R95NaHBWv
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrQeaUoKA3
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVsl1963NV
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyFG6Bn06M
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpIoIfutAj
A necklace.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk93zQ0tyJ
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSOjiGLYOH
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MMSqW1rPF
A locket.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBhOVKOjcg
And inside—209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuAcDWV6Yy
A baby picture.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBynvInoICI
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBSUzPjMMM
It was her.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dFfQVB9BK
⸻209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M8xg5Blzh
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCsrGoLRs8
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2o7tPbEpe
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxxyU3DEZ1
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZQI2GtnoA
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPVj1LqGRx
⸻209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW55cZKNMr
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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZq2qn8Lvd
None of it made sense.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHWhlJMWbf
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmIDGIWART
Nick froze.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOdNZD2liH
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHv14xrwbo
He spun toward it. "Hey!"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy63SHJ6NH
But the figure vanished into the night.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6tJ9UJT3v
And at their feet—209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxE1e4hU8g
A journal.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb7Ljs76FC
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki9zc9aZDU
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiszVe5s6Nn
Then, something fluttered to the ground.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D3B6z2OzH
A sticky note.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk92VrPL5Y
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLvzCCi8IX
"Be careful. Stop looking."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYnC1969Nl
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTE12ho9oE
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjILqEaDm4g
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYYPo377q9
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK3R5iOOMu
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6nHuPxLBa
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5P0ACprA0
"I never let go of it."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3atfIE7Oh
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qPmr0eu2m
He met her gaze.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi3yrIOn6v
"This... feels familiar."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6qCcRURVW
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lAHCZNqrj
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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