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?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTLLUdqIV9
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4syT7dUPWp
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kXIUKXyaC
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tC0wzNB5D
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEiO8nUEaQ
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqtmwfePpN
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yqi7eLcXU
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6c32C8IQz
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lf1nVjhgm
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuuS4Y3j4d
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhq6CIngLL
Then—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnXeygZ3py
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkcWnILfOp
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXlXuXzJq6
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbqTmJwjWS
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmie9loqTX
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKVS7OoiSE
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvym4IVRPO
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mrtK7TH7j
A necklace.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZeENXDs10
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgq77rYpLB
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge8VS2hkQh
A locket.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa21NfSv35
And inside—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OtfFSxaFL
A baby picture.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFa6Y3EwaN
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNk6pBv1Su
It was her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIUBN1s60e
⸻18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswwm3uDUn8
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HBToQhsPy
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQDewU2pa0
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XnTDnf9uu
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGExguQrYfz
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqUz1TyaQQ
⸻18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXctBseITH
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iKrXA6yka
None of it made sense.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm89TdrWFD5
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wXtJ6oK9S
Nick froze.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmBC1j1swK
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsad6ZAb7z2
He spun toward it. "Hey!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNGcNMpWft
But the figure vanished into the night.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ehfsi9GQY
And at their feet—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dDTpyIlwb
A journal.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpT6KD51mF
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE9NUp0kXh
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfVOgbYpsV
Then, something fluttered to the ground.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FPqSn1O5S
A sticky note.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u9obkgIpe
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rUMy3DyeZ
"Be careful. Stop looking."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgAvE65xTa
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxMAaOVbJ2
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dC47IKiZv
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjVAb8YYVO
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNRKZCywvM
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALOwe3q1Fb
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLSXVaschb
"I never let go of it."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYwlZXZmNR
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQXWotSo93
He met her gaze.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG65YYllIf
"This... feels familiar."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllZhL4sfam
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7B4hIIR3v
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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