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?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O94vAmJsN
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rFuPbRw7G
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIWohBH2gQ
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2Awwj7rMj
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3elwCGjcR
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI5cTBfbLo
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0s9OMwDKD
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHWeuQ1Al4
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl0UsYYzON
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFrob6kcOl
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNEXyRCzQh
Then—36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sMK6PPEVx
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR6NIQ5Qkx
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk06cO4jsoi
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFDCzqulM4
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RL0vmS6Dz
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag0PxLRJJC
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynP6pJyXl1
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h3WAkbaYG
A necklace.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccx4dp5mj3
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvUkDj63Lg
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx94IhGzb0I
A locket.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhJFyuuEEu
And inside—36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QIUr9oxD7
A baby picture.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QnVF4z8fC
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0iUVveI9x
It was her.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmtYvC1E63
⸻36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoCrpBZZmQ
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQAP3Rb3oO
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkCrwunqPl
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEAkyNk1sF
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrjmxYaqK4
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETpDcoJFlF
⸻36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaRJkqke9Y
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEst4K7rrTw
None of it made sense.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmBtk7wzSN
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ss6fB2wZz
Nick froze.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreeu6VuS55
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tJTCBsZQa
He spun toward it. "Hey!"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf49cZObzU
But the figure vanished into the night.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAzUPQnjhJ
And at their feet—36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOjbzlV9Rr
A journal.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8A2QlScD7
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC5LbGONpA
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr42TcUiuIK
Then, something fluttered to the ground.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrDapBxptM
A sticky note.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPGSRELKcf
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tmNTHjdAq
"Be careful. Stop looking."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eKIcuhJ3W
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCUHAyxIY4
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMLky0vzOb
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhrbyiTCpk
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYlrhAuFVR
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAB3sZyReE
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaktqjd8iP8
"I never let go of it."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb0ERHvN2t
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JqZgPWrCu
He met her gaze.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZnR8FGIEe
"This... feels familiar."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvLwNlQwmm
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHIcV8cBKS
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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