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?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO1oeTYXk8
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3PQX5DcfK
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyigiUOIHLw
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl0NbWOdWf
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJhjT1UAb6
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoseVYAjslY
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDnIRVF4NE
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzklMHXyFu
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv18sInDFs
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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1cD85uoCJ
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYgxqVoGQk
Then—99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL23kW2kph2
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCPJtwSCbj
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTLFNWBoSh
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9DU8x25QW
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAfSfWaJRn
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdywRo2wOb4
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCuvyY9yQl
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1UyOFozYf
A necklace.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zko75KSY6
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpdK5Cq9H3
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O9vqFj82m
A locket.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb2bs66iV7
And inside—99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwndRmzv96
A baby picture.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7spbjiyxBS
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHBLmFCZjS
It was her.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA5KN4BT95
⸻99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKCAuB03yX
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw5WCNlcLz
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj9FbxNyfp
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN1m8J2NJf
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVv80osKRy
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ojwEn1l3H
⸻99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpCh3e8MgW
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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhasQujZ3Jb
None of it made sense.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5M0S7UiiJ
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7zMD9Wovd
Nick froze.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4qt2yKgsC
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIUiixAUUy
He spun toward it. "Hey!"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTxr9VxDIy
But the figure vanished into the night.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUpp8wuuGO
And at their feet—99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRc55H1hub
A journal.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW1ua2lvug
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Poo6Pr9e
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Vam56Izc
Then, something fluttered to the ground.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3muG9xlRPb
A sticky note.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M5TRhevoe
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpiMOObFSy
"Be careful. Stop looking."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLdpEKtY9x
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3rPXxyrdS
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH9PBC8jbV
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EexJ1VxMf
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKog3NVe6gL
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG7nBm4KQW
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYzjMMUPej
"I never let go of it."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGOK5DM4st
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqUWpA7GG1
He met her gaze.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mRrs3LYuI
"This... feels familiar."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdlVMejNza
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wHAnbPt5D
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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