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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5HwOKrmpn
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTaviNti7J
"Finally," Maddie teased as Chrissy dropped onto the sand. "We were about to send a search party."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubFgpX3DYD
Chrissy rolled her eyes, catching her breath. "Overslept." She reached for the book. "Anything interesting?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLtUGakr8Z
Maddie's eyes gleamed. "More than interesting. Listen to this." She cleared her throat and read aloud:206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEVk5JoDbB
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM54mW0HcG
Chrissy shivered despite the warm breeze. "Sounds like the lighthouse story."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQbf7nGVbP
Nick nodded. "The townspeople thought she was a mermaid. That's why they wanted the lighthouse keeper to give her up."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP42T82L34
Maddie snapped the book shut. "And that means we need to go to the lighthouse."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXPAphh1tl
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuaB60Hjd4
"We have to," she said, surprising even herself. "If there are answers, they're there."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zqNLo2v68
Nick sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTAwrk5pPL
The Lighthouse Exploration206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cCcdoFy4m
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteSeH2LUYl
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2mt0bRY1k
"This place is straight-up haunted," Maddie whispered, running a hand along the peeling wallpaper.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTLxoeK8Oz
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiF1YpVTVL
"A Bible?" she murmured.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsID69Q3FT
Nick, who had been rummaging through a nearby cabinet, glanced over. "Weird place to leave it."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzQfC4Bt4J
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeKwJJBCqw
Nick bent down and picked it up. His expression shifted from confusion to shock as he turned the picture toward Chrissy.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiHP6QSKCh
"Uh... is this you?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJRKKWJQbc
Chrissy frowned, reaching for it. But the moment she saw the image, her breath hitched.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLGjztjswX
The woman in the photograph wasn't her. And yet... she could have been.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBe8Yxb477
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCI3Je00I1
Chrissy turned the photo over. Scribbled on the back, barely legible, were the letters: S & J.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Bc2nFS2fH
Maddie peered over her shoulder. "Who's 'S & J'?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYdmKCjA9F
Chrissy didn't answer. Her heart pounded as she stared at the image, the lighthouse's eerie silence pressing in around them.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCijujTqoti
She wasn't sure what she'd been hoping to find here. But this... this was something more.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8seIc5NI9
Something personal.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieYsFem8T4
Something unsettling.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWh9rpd8fM
And she had no idea what it meant. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyaPlrLCwi
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjoKiU8qOE
Why did she look like her?206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rk3EanfH2
Why did she feel like the lighthouse was calling her?206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF37tzqmzv
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DVrWgu5Pi
Like someone was watching.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pnu9GZgN3
She sat up quickly, heart pounding, and forced herself to look outside. Nothing. Just the trees swaying in the wind.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOBqhOrn9t
Still, she couldn't shake the unease.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYKZf14ZC3
Tomorrow, she'd tell Nick.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziMaljCxW8
Maybe then, they'd figure out what this all meant.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWSJi2QMFX
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT9CybOhO9
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUsV0UiTHX
Nick was already there when she arrived, standing near the water's edge, absently tossing small rocks into the surf.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5u2xZzNI6
"Hey," she called, pulling her bag higher on her shoulder.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe6kPnJu82
Nick turned, giving her a once-over like he was checking for something. Weird.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbhkde6XuA
"Hey," he said. "You good?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbwCRghdVG
She hesitated. Should I even say anything? It was probably nothing. Just her mind playing tricks on her. But then again...206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMh2VxHmTS
"I don't know," she admitted. "Last night, I had this weird feeling. Like I was being watched."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqynwiFQq3J
That got his attention. He straightened, his easygoing expression shifting to something more serious. "Watched?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmzaTenXNr
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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGLDI0XY6o
Nick's jaw tightened slightly, and his gaze flicked past her, scanning the area as if expecting to catch someone lurking in the dunes.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOhptyS6dy
"You see anything?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
"No. Just felt it."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRaBHP5qOr
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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ153Wy4D80w
Chrissy shrugged. "I mean, I think so."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07mE9wFQ5Y
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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm9KE9Eylk
"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."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiBXwxnDyp
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1hDV9EQ3p
Maybe she had imagined it.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWbgP70UKH
But if that was true... why did Nick look like he wasn't so sure?206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDb1XoUZcJ
