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?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr19fnhRg0
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dU6xrs2gh
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8APuflKBSu
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDPJnQ8M6M
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G2SYaKtNC
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLen6b02TX
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1n7IK2svV
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpQjDslQlW
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u58OR9Auj
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.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo07Ll6j8r
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyjyWGpcMs
Then—64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1dfYrwKVU
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6luUx76zOJ
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2ktsklu5E
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF3lk4Mzpy
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDH9kosp2w
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvMXau9nGL
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwE7pqTDKF
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3Iudj5cpQ
A necklace.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza5g7IdvmF
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIn6upDU6k
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxkZ4HFEoh
A locket.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbvXpDpmwv
And inside—64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI1Ub8RhXs
A baby picture.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nnzORtNuo
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHdoOprpG2
It was her.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbPRea5dAb
⸻64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4gH1UDux0
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRzr2BQ1hC
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ666Z43WceL
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6ikfqnbIO
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxHv7ol3P0
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnCeXTINXT
⸻64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TxbWQtv2a
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.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrzZ3Y3GxG
None of it made sense.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VaeMuElQZ
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nZH5XQsat
Nick froze.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyVXwwSXSw
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXffQNjcgc
He spun toward it. "Hey!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa5T5UGL3o
But the figure vanished into the night.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXMHp3A3vX
And at their feet—64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBVfvpl4sQ
A journal.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GQleMYPbv
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPibgUKD9F
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqXLiB7uqW
Then, something fluttered to the ground.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMZp4mDeNZ
A sticky note.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWcXoiE3Y7
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS72uzTxTDT
"Be careful. Stop looking."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ4S2zqbis
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIec727rvdL
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuZOO0rEgS
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6CLAMqIF2
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCfnjaUGwB
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNKdynvQu1
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKXpxyTKZV
"I never let go of it."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7x4Oh1wJ8
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw3h9kVbih
He met her gaze.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFziHKoyso
"This... feels familiar."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsF1kYqOUa
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQrjVxMx3r
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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