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?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SIiAZf3xU
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8PwLmtUSR
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86E9XWvoh4
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1HMGsqr2b
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBjWfr3Rid
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWHfMPffSe
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgsTcPJ8dp
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWmSuMAnsy
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5tlPD6Nqn
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd4vmLgP8N
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuVrMT46OP
Then—91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkzdnRqzWQ
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapcXBDWU5E
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmgxkf3YI5
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqiSXvw2BA
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6G8o6BgEf
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq542MTNNZM
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YbdJBVpci
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMJPG9FrYv
A necklace.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEIf6F8Evp
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXvOceQfEo
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo66FXW3xDA
A locket.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLKBffpOIa
And inside—91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpizOzYf8kd
A baby picture.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnrBbKts19
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11sMQqrPlA
It was her.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTqUJHMQFz
⸻91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW19gh5rO4P
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQHpYU1n0K
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL76l4LCNHv
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmXP5Jt36u
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVphrsTH1M
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQUgUuABsF
⸻91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pisd6yCVw
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQxAOuVl5Y
None of it made sense.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHZmolVIU0
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyc8daomKQ
Nick froze.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2VtyWCyDw
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqoldm2B9W
He spun toward it. "Hey!"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXlNf9KHg
But the figure vanished into the night.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDBcEU0DpU
And at their feet—91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmitYBySVM6
A journal.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWlbx9KMFj
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyPZeeGuQe
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS34UzNMqZ4
Then, something fluttered to the ground.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq0p9uYQai
A sticky note.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQtCTKKBAx
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXiGS21PYs
"Be careful. Stop looking."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP3pwZN8t2
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoozS88R3pb
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxTSZXjPgj
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK0b7Smd3O
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngdOUkv3Dk
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvoCDSFwLo
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoQDGtoUnm
"I never let go of it."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUm8lwEUZg
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooemtAzRP7
He met her gaze.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxoZ6NDL0p
"This... feels familiar."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsDbbh9Wj5
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HvxHH6Xqs
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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