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?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalhYvImFne
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHsTnxNuBQ
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fQ1R65Wps
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C5HAkgJuw
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzftqCj9kKh
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9stKam8hGR
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56XKKLzGuf
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmVYdwDC99
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1sDnHZ4UT
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJyXpX0SHB
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRR9LXeruM
Then—205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheJGYXRciI
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ41mMYuTEw
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDqmReax1B
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBR1Ird8kG
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihmNDVoMc4
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisDapWMXcH
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz6hQ1A10O
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu6x2eETmF
A necklace.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMOm7SnR7X
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t8lhDGVFT
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3FAddiO4P
A locket.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FOY74xM6J
And inside—205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQd0ahWBiI
A baby picture.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlZ3XaJJBY
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2UF62jOx3
It was her.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a8c4K7iuv
⸻205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunfgd9ar65
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIAuWfA1Tb
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyBS4IGwAc
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxed6SToOAM
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUoNjF1WiF
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEYu6QQOdb
⸻205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ7QE6bXY2
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XJH3UT6Ts
None of it made sense.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yyXgXvCJW
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTuxA3zz2C
Nick froze.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA4g7nZq5I
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1qQkqcCyb
He spun toward it. "Hey!"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2e1OfgMOC
But the figure vanished into the night.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpdQGplwgg
And at their feet—205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDlB05hCUe
A journal.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFm6WqtrRC
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY6vT0MgvI
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrHYar6OHI
Then, something fluttered to the ground.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY2ZA28c7N
A sticky note.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRn9blz61a
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BB9pxKClw
"Be careful. Stop looking."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxXY0NDKH3
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm86yOPevH
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZhB8pCuMc
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Db5cltFVl
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kcFSXpV7P
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesq56KFCP3
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRBHPnsXSs
"I never let go of it."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1txRSp1ey
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXThRbzsJE
He met her gaze.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmybiXrbs7
"This... feels familiar."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfiRWc8G7Z
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiKnUbehWr
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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