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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWZ7d1qzaQ
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEKdu7PujX
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBHGkQX4YI
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9FQjzfWNq
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGHNKfIzji
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvWPNNyA5J
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKTt9r3UOR
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEKfXqEeKk
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cw2duPBNK
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5XBvc3M4g
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAk5Ui1Dt8
Then—188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGx20awVhZ
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr8RQYb0da
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa5TM41vWI
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQOHOUIz2G
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1IA7iYe0E
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht2WHlYnUN
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6oz0271Cn
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe7xKTeGCP
A necklace.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUnkvkLyi6
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FbycQVRK2
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP50dnDkqIS
A locket.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF0bapPHqM
And inside—188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c84bFN3Dp
A baby picture.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ULwZsKss
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUSscX9AqS
It was her.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw2LulaNMl
⸻188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxV3DPs2IN
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoYsKn6umn
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0f0q1KEfk
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq5Rvj0vsE
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKH4xI0YGq
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYhhh0eaCP
⸻188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5u3VIIGyV
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0hLKSuFLZ
None of it made sense.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPlD6lc7nz
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt4LCUzwkT
Nick froze.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoS31e07Yc
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfHXPoRCoe
He spun toward it. "Hey!"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgY1Eg8oaQ
But the figure vanished into the night.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLops9cTSM
And at their feet—188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrJ6jMPBWM
A journal.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx9dWPyvEI
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvHhjtPMzu
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHlOCEKwdI
Then, something fluttered to the ground.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aj1UtSuwC
A sticky note.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjtOmmIzhg
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYdbm6EQk2
"Be careful. Stop looking."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnti8TNo5U
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWIk0HUcZd
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16z08FrHW2
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7OQbeqeja
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOUUgLzacf
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTEcicYQAE
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWHM6OpAzR
"I never let go of it."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5AsoOc7qZ
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z1cp0vWw9
He met her gaze.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFAQAcvr7m
"This... feels familiar."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPtPsYf7aO
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWukC1lT4j
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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