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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIuLL2evKp
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2wfuAXOKZ
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq3ufgYncq
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbhO0guBo5
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwyP1V5bqx
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jawTVNtbi
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGwLtAe97O
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq1HJobNK5
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qJ6vXinCv
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJpqnr7sjR
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLSutr5GHV
Then—181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxPmxtKHE3
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8X4gJKdkQ
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG0FiXCyvT
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQNfYCNJ2T
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl8OQsq362
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAw6P44SXT
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH0PIJwuqZ
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDXIM4q4QR
A necklace.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi6tpZTPCC
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJV1XAI18h
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qq4kk5Cub
A locket.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCeXUKFJqp
And inside—181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLhdFkJio0
A baby picture.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FhBHp4ia2
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAbA2xM7mi
It was her.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWnJt87d13
⸻181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tB5r1OBjH
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXOLqYVF7s
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW9QwhZATM
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOcZkzeLIR
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7zwK1uJAo
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zX4Leotir
⸻181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0mt15oaWN
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa23h8vwd4
None of it made sense.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCbRM4ksUN
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS6VNt6xsX
Nick froze.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtUsMV0OgX
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTI1bomMhz
He spun toward it. "Hey!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnXqPGSBTx
But the figure vanished into the night.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CqXd18Y4J
And at their feet—181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzlPstYI96
A journal.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK2qulL7dU
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6QRqDY0kb
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkMwP6uPNI
Then, something fluttered to the ground.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu0DVTZkq5
A sticky note.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zw62nbtok
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nQ0P5txjr
"Be careful. Stop looking."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrvjn7k5qc
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O10n4urMd
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktpFZmEUD0
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS12AacI9Z
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKB3qiGgvM
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LKbEbKkG6
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsIyvH70jy
"I never let go of it."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13DZmINsnj
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiGaEDaK8H
He met her gaze.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhbipAVkPj
"This... feels familiar."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPMFvIWyiK
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEbaLPDSAL
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns216.73.216.45da2
