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?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DGScnnrSb
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazexGyPshZ
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbqQv6v6AS
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxBp8fUAT2
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc60WoD2ClX
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQGJkr4NEw
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Nu4f8hGD
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx81DYqwK4
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8c4nMPynp
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GNjIVYyJP
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36QnuU84TH
Then—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpw6hMBDOZ
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkHuxzjeLs
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU8gsK74Nt
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg8ACvRAcG
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4m2Lod25A
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pozfa3iK5
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYX1ltDm50
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9vEJneekL
A necklace.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMtMk5UUmh
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqKLdhrMJu
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyYvwr4GAT
A locket.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4H6Azu2mM
And inside—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSNaYXc7MO
A baby picture.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZQTut4qbQ
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf0cYXLE50
It was her.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLZhPXlSmk
⸻65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijR5L5Zhw1
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1828k27aHV
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyreHnnH63
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S96MB8NQo
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9sP47fBTe
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnObQdvthHb
⸻65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5OuPZr38A
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqtFbdPYFj
None of it made sense.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdmjK4PtNO
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUo2zZQCNZ
Nick froze.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8YJmXhYBM
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30dyhRwGWn
He spun toward it. "Hey!"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv5j2NmCQD
But the figure vanished into the night.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsoXSf23kw
And at their feet—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqWYKjhZsR
A journal.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ47C2dOCkM
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT7oL2rmh6
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G7URIfB10
Then, something fluttered to the ground.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW8xQuQmov
A sticky note.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG2vmGVXKk
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax5VUWg8ds
"Be careful. Stop looking."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkYVve5Ti4
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiHYDFRYOG
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUPVWPq1gf
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IhS4zwpGf
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHkBoSCyZO
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXuiqyNDJy
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOfyMKFoin
"I never let go of it."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD6VCMyoQA
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40PIaiW4yY
He met her gaze.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ22LEm0axz
"This... feels familiar."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoX9WRvumC
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPWsn5cSKH
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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