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?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4N1qLbHVA
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jds419y30
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTTw5tVJ4I
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CNIml0S19
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj3zmaalMq
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG2yT7iE3y
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHLyrPRMl1
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYgvuWLvad
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLUFx223TK
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HrP11OtZF
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRO3m8f1uF
Then—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmb5uzcFWV
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikDffumJmT
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqfRDVTd5Q
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKy1GQtagF
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQPYA43xzG
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVbw6nSth
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngq77HuA3P
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1RIswkEYZ
A necklace.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcldcpMXqrd
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ltli6qXe
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSQSgj5ZIC
A locket.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUQgRkSqBd
And inside—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlSXiYAjdn
A baby picture.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gt2RTBWUu
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvhAg3PHb3
It was her.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2kq158Qna
⸻40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPjzLfjyun
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsibitZQtwe
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY14W7Anzkn
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtnBZKqV5G
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxCxBHePZZ
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxylf9PUGk
⸻40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo9CiSbWn2
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZsRoSLUhQ
None of it made sense.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHsI8sUnaa
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq3JgoXDb3
Nick froze.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0oJMcCH4T
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMLgOpxjoX
He spun toward it. "Hey!"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoJuL8TdBR
But the figure vanished into the night.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvIOSuQzK6
And at their feet—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTM2MzuXc3
A journal.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0q4rm8lTQ
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N0TPIjiSn
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhSqijiODb
Then, something fluttered to the ground.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJHJv9Lbzw
A sticky note.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YjfYn32Ik
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaMQZo6QgU
"Be careful. Stop looking."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3FBC5YZcN
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3eJAmUj6o
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLtINoyI35
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac3DI7wujx
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjCf6rO5aI
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxMFWUnpta
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwBQ1GvFIX
"I never let go of it."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJtYY5Kbxm
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10yopACXXY
He met her gaze.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcLhNHGNA9
"This... feels familiar."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTatXtJyNNB
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG26qwbijn
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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