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?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHbJJycINr
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MoWlqRHHZ
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MJNv1ovdn
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwCy5eMHNL
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QaQwbGVwl
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fzvu3IxKs
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPFi0g8Buw
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTTfGS2q4P
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRuLpvaHKV
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OAESMRmRS
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0Yz9GeWeh
Then—172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb9j1cLC9d
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbhzuuw5HW
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNIUGkyXct
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIaUQt4wVX
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX83gvsolWM
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7g0mrDalP
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpmT4lKQWX
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6s9Ypx1Rb
A necklace.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJjyo5GlUK
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6uVR6v7Gw
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD41eMRWuu
A locket.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcejoHPrtXT
And inside—172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAE8lFPnxQ
A baby picture.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSDczvBONS
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK4Is9wVXK
It was her.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAjaYCsFUd
⸻172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZNMLtO2fZ
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNZRdWV7KQ
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYPdwsgnoG
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK0ZF22duE
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn0y0DPqZR
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrBozHXQw1
⸻172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPO2u2sLPQ
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F5QM0PAPE
None of it made sense.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVcaLBbXYq
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDOrDs8P3P
Nick froze.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mf8ms3oH2
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vArOVoAd9
He spun toward it. "Hey!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgFT8u1e27
But the figure vanished into the night.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJFoB5wzjD
And at their feet—172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd2xRq4Wwc
A journal.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj5Rhyv0Pk
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlVRVApWrc
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5fzLsJ8qa
Then, something fluttered to the ground.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K8dyw7jP1
A sticky note.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyxwEw8268
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2nwtYlIY9
"Be careful. Stop looking."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54eHn6PgJ2
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOHzWRlv8c
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnwxzytuAR
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwGCDZ2WlB
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyF7xqDYa6
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGtYMghnlX
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjWihqNaSZ
"I never let go of it."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcqG9N7Y5q
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2wauTriCI
He met her gaze.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xsCuPTCta
"This... feels familiar."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyyvlS2dJr
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy6Tb7LKvQ
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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