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?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvjvSC0vLG
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIclslDNRy3
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNJ3RSzQjA
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ume6Yls1J
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYHff84s1m
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogLpqnojhG
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ3nJfk8qq
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVtSAA03nl
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIKsFxKxGN
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f4StH10R5
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3agEiYbzT
Then—147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GbeiFTXcl
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN36uqo07XI
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoTbSGikst
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL7rDUgDZE
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvA7hfMjPV
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gocGRrHuo
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjhjFFDY95
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoLYDJ2YDP
A necklace.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcCQ7iLlVl
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpiym3dJu1
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu4yRAZV4j
A locket.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGtv4aroKT
And inside—147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtkGR7IHPq
A baby picture.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lyqbg0sAE
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo8751zvwB
It was her.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2lYkSdmZ3
⸻147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHTGeUrMbD
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eEXrinvgx
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DsNlSqWqD
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHwxgcWj3k
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKUX4OoIAY
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4yG0EHLb6
⸻147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkppJxQX0n5
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ni1un5d1p
None of it made sense.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozqCFYmSED
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDIWlAsI74
Nick froze.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1qfuEcAmZ
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOTwGxY6kM
He spun toward it. "Hey!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhKk7KQQ6C
But the figure vanished into the night.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYbXNBcHbK
And at their feet—147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDtx6txJvJ
A journal.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws5935tymk
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNJLNRyMS4
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdmYByP0Nn
Then, something fluttered to the ground.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3PT3PlVY8
A sticky note.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHizJCLXm95
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLafnYAK6nk
"Be careful. Stop looking."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3Z6eljRzY
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTMtzjndIz
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMqtIxJjin
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6LVdYKH5b
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM9wOjN9H4
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WbcI4dsXU
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vEtYDUMkZ
"I never let go of it."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzVaD9n7Za
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3QJVMUmR0
He met her gaze.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAPfpuzg96
"This... feels familiar."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVnCDQYbaq
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZlYojB7nd
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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