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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPgIX0aQXI
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFsnvFXy2A
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVNdk7p063
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxNvU7RQaZ
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLbNRXiaMX
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxQv3AlMlG
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBXXmDYsZB
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZfQkRPoWP
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3R9AyWFOY
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQkmq8gwD0
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcwea2oQNB
Then—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S5i5LvQdt
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTz7SNf42n
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YvtjM68SV
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq9k1udgAy
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFTHSG0oZy
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYYViKU3ZE
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6zRUzGfQC
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetnoZkA7EQ
A necklace.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3YDYxaseA
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xz04rApmw
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFYXC5LF2M
A locket.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYgHsJ4UZ8
And inside—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC3qqcAgsd
A baby picture.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfdiNOvw5X
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIR6ux2EiE
It was her.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡree1dtFqlc
⸻22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDlx4R69jj
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbURyFvffS
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqlnSWcesg
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPm8lgMFHty
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1XrPWb1i8
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSavFcUgZf
⸻22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYNRRk64dF
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTvOJsLceW
None of it made sense.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2WtP2YLo8
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAFlt6gRwV
Nick froze.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrd93ul8Og
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EQn6Flwm1
He spun toward it. "Hey!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYhYPKdv1r
But the figure vanished into the night.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyd7u7RWQs
And at their feet—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWkMK6RBX1
A journal.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODPntdJAJY
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6cRET2PAn
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2khiLCKQnY
Then, something fluttered to the ground.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3uZBGoFeb
A sticky note.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTTsyPHSyO
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeHm19XA7A
"Be careful. Stop looking."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZu7U4HIyG
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITbzokzbx5
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBgleWq3Aa
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbNoMHc0DG
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOM6oSvPPA
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl16DLWeUu
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGsHAWKdPn
"I never let go of it."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqPnE2dFym
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLASn0TRdJ
He met her gaze.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYmmURPm87
"This... feels familiar."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglqw227KGv
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUSASfWF9T
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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