Chapter 3
Chrissy nearly tripped as she shoved her feet into her flip-flops, grabbing her still-brewing coffee before it had finished dripping into the pot. She didn't have time to wait—Nick and Maddie were already at the beach, and she didn't want to keep them waiting.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtKsNpeH0n
By the time she reached the shore, the early morning mist was beginning to lift, revealing the endless stretch of ocean beyond. Maddie sat cross-legged on a beach towel, flipping through the pages of the old mermaid mythology book they'd found at the Book Nook. Nick stood nearby, tossing a rock into the waves.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ1E8z0kGn
"Finally," Maddie teased as Chrissy dropped onto the sand. "We were about to send a search party."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS759hRr4K
Chrissy rolled her eyes, catching her breath. "Overslept." She reached for the book. "Anything interesting?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkttCJqmPo
Maddie's eyes gleamed. "More than interesting. Listen to this." She cleared her throat and read aloud:220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8bLH3mXVl
"There are whispers of a woman who emerged from the sea, enchanting all who crossed her path. Some say she was a lost soul seeking refuge. Others claim she was something more—something not meant to stay on land."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11oc3HKECl
Chrissy shivered despite the warm breeze. "Sounds like the lighthouse story."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4cHeTP6UJ
Nick nodded. "The townspeople thought she was a mermaid. That's why they wanted the lighthouse keeper to give her up."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq8eFIDEaI
Maddie snapped the book shut. "And that means we need to go to the lighthouse."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmmEXYjFod
Chrissy hesitated, staring out toward the rocky cliffs where the lighthouse stood abandoned. It had always given her an eerie feeling, like it was watching, waiting. But something inside her stirred—a pull, a strange sense of belonging.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo01mxQySKk
"We have to," she said, surprising even herself. "If there are answers, they're there."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS2f8Kh5ac
Nick sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddvKMKwZAC
The Lighthouse Exploration220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjxcRqsfBq
The hike up the cliffs was steep, the path overgrown from years of neglect. When they reached the lighthouse, its looming frame cast long shadows across the ground. The paint was peeling, the windows clouded with dust, and the heavy wooden door groaned in protest when Chrissy pushed it open.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgHLHGhTV5
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of salt and decay. Dust motes floated in the shafts of light filtering through the broken windows. The space was small—an old wooden table, a rusted stove, a bed pushed up against the far wall. Everything was left as if waiting for someone to return.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeckc9SRR2
"This place is straight-up haunted," Maddie whispered, running a hand along the peeling wallpaper.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZtgqxQzqx
Chrissy's fingers trailed over the edge of the table when something caught her eye—a leather-bound book, nearly buried beneath dust. She reached for it and blew away the grime.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnU2iN4HWF
"A Bible?" she murmured.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKbRbffasO
Nick, who had been rummaging through a nearby cabinet, glanced over. "Weird place to leave it."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5kh4sdsD1
Curious, Chrissy opened the cover. The pages were yellowed, the spine cracked from years of use. And then—something slipped from between the pages. A faded photograph fluttered to the floor.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIafxmISUy
Nick bent down and picked it up. His expression shifted from confusion to shock as he turned the picture toward Chrissy.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YqcpBGChp
"Uh... is this you?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gOWZNOYzz
Chrissy frowned, reaching for it. But the moment she saw the image, her breath hitched.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlBbVVYtxP
The woman in the photograph wasn't her. And yet... she could have been.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20reqYTHA8
The resemblance was uncanny—the same wavy dark hair, the same sharp eyes. The woman's expression was soft, almost wistful. Around her neck hung a delicate necklace.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRlldl4hD8
Chrissy turned the photo over. Scribbled on the back, barely legible, were the letters: S & J.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLybtJtrYF4
Maddie peered over her shoulder. "Who's 'S & J'?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnwuXhjtsT
Chrissy didn't answer. Her heart pounded as she stared at the image, the lighthouse's eerie silence pressing in around them.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIvj5Wjhjv
She wasn't sure what she'd been hoping to find here. But this... this was something more.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53ZGKNrK3K
Something personal.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ317tmIwKRX
Something unsettling.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvqMgqtoxQ
And she had no idea what it meant. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnYmhgT8Hu
That night, back in her bedroom, Chrissy lay on her bed, the photograph held tight in her hands. She traced the woman's face with her thumb, searching for something—some clue, some explanation.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80LFQuGhiI
Why did she look like her?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJFDO1OU3K
Why did she feel like the lighthouse was calling her?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYAuGgZwV0
A shiver crawled down her spine. She glanced toward her window, the curtains rustling with the evening breeze. For a split second, the feeling from earlier crept back.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrlzWaQ8db
Like someone was watching.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA9tCI9SLc
She sat up quickly, heart pounding, and forced herself to look outside. Nothing. Just the trees swaying in the wind.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVBOQspy5a
Still, she couldn't shake the unease.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGoqxD9u1X
Tomorrow, she'd tell Nick.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI2JXpbTUV
Maybe then, they'd figure out what this all meant.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbrqvJo8h0
Chrissy tugged her hoodie tighter around herself as she walked barefoot down the narrow path leading to the beach. The morning air still clung to a crispness that hadn't yet burned off with the rising sun, and the damp sand felt cool beneath her feet. The ocean stretched out in front of her, endless and restless, but her mind wasn't on the waves today.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM4Uv1bE2i
She hadn't slept well. The photograph was still tucked safely in her bag, but its image was burned into her thoughts. The woman's face. The necklace. The resemblance. And the eerie sensation that had crept up her spine last night—the feeling of being watched.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAuSC5T9k6
Nick was already there when she arrived, standing near the water's edge, absently tossing small rocks into the surf.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF1GE3RHda
"Hey," she called, pulling her bag higher on her shoulder.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmML0cnT9ln
Nick turned, giving her a once-over like he was checking for something. Weird.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5OyXSMhUy
"Hey," he said. "You good?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIdiyZJGXV
She hesitated. Should I even say anything? It was probably nothing. Just her mind playing tricks on her. But then again...220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIXt716nHC
"I don't know," she admitted. "Last night, I had this weird feeling. Like I was being watched."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMqBhyizpS
That got his attention. He straightened, his easygoing expression shifting to something more serious. "Watched?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUjiczboUR
Chrissy nodded. "I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't like I saw anyone, but it felt like someone was there. Just... watching me."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3agYmVFF9P
Nick's jaw tightened slightly, and his gaze flicked past her, scanning the area as if expecting to catch someone lurking in the dunes.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DIKuRfl45
"You see anything?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
"No. Just felt it."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQexR1cqsB5
Nick didn't answer right away. He looked out at the beach, then up toward the boardwalk, his brows drawn together. Finally, he muttered, "Probably nothing, but... you sure you were alone?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTvKZlBCYd
Chrissy shrugged. "I mean, I think so."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQLAeWFKmR
Nick exhaled sharply through his nose, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, if you ever get that feeling again, don't ignore it, okay?" His tone was casual, but the way his eyes kept darting around the beach told a different story.
Chrissy frowned. "You think someone was watching me?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsQBjPUDEm
"I think it's better to be careful," he said, then glanced back toward the boardwalk one last time. "Come on. Maddie's probably waiting for us."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm34fKzfHD
As they started walking, Chrissy noticed how Nick's posture had shifted—more alert, more aware. He kept checking over his shoulder, subtly at first, then more obviously when he thought she wasn't looking.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsxkLMolYd
Maybe she had imagined it.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zY4VnEvPY
But if that was true... why did Nick look like he wasn't so sure?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtCzZE2qVa
