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?"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxqooJOOrr
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySrE6Ciw1Y
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08FPlC5u9B
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K86h1VWLa
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYCQ7QfckD
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHuLeNihss
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVPXUNKaSK
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE6e0Tyk5b
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7PyVpA0tt
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF07JDres4
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7YTycjO6n
Then—93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ30BnUPZq
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KbQkDXpr5
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvKhprRxhz
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg6Z04UlXc
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ1NlLJpLY
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlL21GIt2j
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL9W7i8Tys
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyhPuxQJg
A necklace.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GhWbxSqNe
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcUc36mqOP
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsiq80lMex
A locket.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcwU7cX1hA
And inside—93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf6Lnt374A
A baby picture.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6rrdOA5gw
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFHUBMERo8
It was her.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmshE6NsFqR
⸻93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5l4FlLemS
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bz6Nblv7z
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DIHeDc5va
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2OvrYPDma
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmR0Hj9VZN
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lGGKe0oBn
⸻93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf28zRuir5
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK39iRX2J9
None of it made sense.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWH1lgSK67
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeLfbsq03F
Nick froze.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoW83E1QX3
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbptRu9xfz
He spun toward it. "Hey!"93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrADnjZZq2p
But the figure vanished into the night.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuNxzDWIbV
And at their feet—93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBWLzVXUls
A journal.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnHxFKWC1Z
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljoeaD4VxG
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUKjAnAM3k
Then, something fluttered to the ground.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tI6DCcf5Y
A sticky note.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4TZd9OrQ
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgRAYzRs3H
"Be careful. Stop looking."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw9sSlk2kd
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3zDx1KVCz
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2viSLK7si
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTYTZMEknV
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREovi61p41
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FnYNs8XRb
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk5kbMSf0s
"I never let go of it."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT61dfrxZus
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIYB1l7VFs
He met her gaze.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX84908VJ7M
"This... feels familiar."93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE30jQYj77Z
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabfj8FmYzW
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns3.22.27.22da2
