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?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkwpXvh7Rz
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAvS6TwmD3
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs4NpvDLuh
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoZsF8qIpZ
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzkMokQfaQ
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70L09HG7FY
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I1YYUz0Ol
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSwUcaB7wz
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxf83YuEKc
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHMFrhjuHi
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXl834xAbH
Then—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTZLW2Svgd
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Yw6alAYu
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnWq8arpZb
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5EDLKL2Pu
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSegIVWyUq
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9AXflKZrJ
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevEk4GHxu1
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhJ1blMiiH
A necklace.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2y0QrwIYu
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BhQm3J62P
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfbRXeFZzo
A locket.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy7a1htNuD
And inside—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNCLl0mVTH
A baby picture.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKtSWlMYPX
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2a4JGXSNb
It was her.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb52fHUvINg
⸻89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjOmmo23dv
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhazNfA3Xn5
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPPOl4Wz1R
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo64Tv6OjnJ
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzlOjv1HZM
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33dLbYD1xy
⸻89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO9Y26V9Kl
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFrAm3ReMr
None of it made sense.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNulu1D3EkA
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqhbznK4c0
Nick froze.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QFMSSr230
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSWr6YJSFd
He spun toward it. "Hey!"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGsIBpy2se
But the figure vanished into the night.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cO78nprzW
And at their feet—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QyOBMXlQt
A journal.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbApBaYMzx
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhzeVPJ6Um
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgzg6xxA7j
Then, something fluttered to the ground.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql4O4nZRGE
A sticky note.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3loJu9pDd
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiKAqClSsS
"Be careful. Stop looking."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FRMmjTNUJ
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGbavn244U
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6abUXEBB4
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXsAOQ2KZm
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO88SlOy5sj
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzHnGVhGw1
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlniMujNMYe
"I never let go of it."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg4lS8xMmD
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA7eKnPR33
He met her gaze.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcneFSkYUDd
"This... feels familiar."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnVAIGItJf
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E4qrHRRcb
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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