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?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfekHg9UdKG
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGbCHNCp6d
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqf3tAt2FM
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZG9iMSayz
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSo8WaBhKP
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2CZ2qqExR
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDGY8230DM
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7hdcEVAtx
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rZetRe3pp
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtELfY66qq6
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAL0yC1S3g
Then—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXkQPItdeC
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTG8ARJflW
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv46cgyoaoK
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81SEBMdIWh
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq37VVE39pf
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfaIkoUMcT
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gauKBUQB1
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETqjywCyos
A necklace.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFl7azY9NT
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE5Ji78CWV
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6IPKvkSU9
A locket.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ebQuUmOqA
And inside—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DgsO1KFX7
A baby picture.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LQT5wvIpc
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylwU0HOrGa
It was her.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKfK0HbuoB
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBPvMT1eBI
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX14ZvXJioR
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMnGYbX98s
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA3tmB8K41
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoRTEdDWi8
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNBSDBGbLS
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKrNVCnrPt
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43TinG8EpT
None of it made sense.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjyvhjUdHK
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKZKOlo1XN
Nick froze.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Pk4y4mmVK
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCSoGdCyGK
He spun toward it. "Hey!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VteNknUzw
But the figure vanished into the night.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4WgdnjCwk
And at their feet—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A4glJWpC5
A journal.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf1ejgMxgz
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycWiSQYqHX
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsjy8UxqXd
Then, something fluttered to the ground.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGyn6twuBY
A sticky note.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58IsREbe1H
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzI2sauxEe
"Be careful. Stop looking."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58UlY5uGD7
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVbtYTFdQ3
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDoYWE6X1Z
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4pZ6P0MWy
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6fMM5MvzS
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhANPo6poM5
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUJZQNjPMy
"I never let go of it."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmMDgemQVg
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn06RBfMJb
He met her gaze.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4bnRXip6c
"This... feels familiar."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTT68nN06k
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkG6dplA4x
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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