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?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3baFMMEAX
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzPhBRRBcz
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDXvxmlsVE
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgblRAEfie2
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqCMOBIbUs
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMid5CSEgt
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LuWxGV4D0
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3LcJ4EktD
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKKxzIClfS
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoHfaP0fsE
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUxP1lHPTp
Then—170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvtAGULYD5
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ITxrBjgqE
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyPZpuMika
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Iw4nzRvwU
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaGcdNphwj
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gIFPSR30z
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFD1U0IRt2
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iUlU9U3LX
A necklace.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dXO7kWqNu
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6Gjc359iW
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMTcCplY5g
A locket.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLAGpcVRfE
And inside—170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJDkv8HbPt
A baby picture.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugMiOjXQq1
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xyxn9iZL2
It was her.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDjgegp2fJ
⸻170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXtwuKhmpX
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseiivRrC3W
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91eOUNdElC
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOVVOL3jVa
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9msuHzwBe
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2IJ9YE3Qt
⸻170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XiQtCzTM8
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBUk5R8sl6
None of it made sense.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0eqwDDSGY
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVpb0xTOwm
Nick froze.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCDUaIYQCe
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ksaycdpRy
He spun toward it. "Hey!"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE4XVcD7rQ
But the figure vanished into the night.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVbsa9JABk
And at their feet—170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA95RG9WGJs
A journal.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNintdv5da
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0TPNQPDi9
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ5iSKGwYf
Then, something fluttered to the ground.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsakiRdIRuP
A sticky note.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yvvc1dW4s
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEd4QFZiwT
"Be careful. Stop looking."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnhC1hlnMo
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjwKqGMeqQ
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGN9IqFQQc
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iG1k64XXU
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCrewkJkMD
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchjdb5lJ5m
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcEFU7i9wh
"I never let go of it."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JtYk4zq6k
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliO8Tbx7RQ
He met her gaze.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX73aO3xmhh
"This... feels familiar."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R1nRnr1GU
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aW9UdhmYi
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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