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?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Z6OHxhCW
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLOvQLk6lk
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSA0l0dFuL
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVsQDUy6jF
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkVTAeZFpu
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIpcgbDKl1
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uWkT4XZ5f
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySdk3DRbWS
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjXPDTGplS
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxEtv23bAe
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybY3lxMM6f
Then—143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIK22Sm2Xd
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC272fqyvRk
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKdtR07rah
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEaAGN0km7
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDphBugYw9C
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN8ZW7fYAO
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm51DDZ86RZ
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xSIWpKW0F
A necklace.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0Ene1je4t
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO85oFu1Pt
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWaq9hvjIy
A locket.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yb0cDhmoC
And inside—143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHo5ZLGDYH
A baby picture.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaK5KOqeWY
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPHs1U9kWN
It was her.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2uSStkeYe
⸻143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81K4soL4bl
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYSWeouJfl
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JyDBRhDHm
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8POTAYSml
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR7RPsHQjU
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX0OmiSPMq
⸻143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HhSZ2ZUOm
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpldSukoz0
None of it made sense.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb79ipvU6Pt
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe234fohhQq
Nick froze.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HZOFYbiZX
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffeBQ1NWK3
He spun toward it. "Hey!"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbRFP85mhw
But the figure vanished into the night.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2vo8zJUQr
And at their feet—143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpRiiTxjJY
A journal.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HTJpBrojo
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu5992siyU
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTdsgDxlYw
Then, something fluttered to the ground.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRfGQn3hY5
A sticky note.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvp5xDfSgs
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvi52qmyCh
"Be careful. Stop looking."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ31jPs4A4b
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAJaFBsWrL
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzlyv3KJyS
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDkFhHDuNv
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevRfdJx9va
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J6fHGohXh
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtc4nz5ZUu
"I never let go of it."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKpnODzBkm
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w8VshePqR
He met her gaze.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrYLGijqz3
"This... feels familiar."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT3Lmu1ySw
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGw3PvRJF8
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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