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?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfn762P4eK
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoi2xUQ9Vu
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBqrmv7BKG
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0GlAX1JlR
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSLYZjC4Ir
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiz7372oOb
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobbFDxgmiK
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe3H3EjYDo
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVdyvKpbPM
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAixNhLybq
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q5rNfikfy
Then—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A9Z1UCqbp
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfBkuQs0jg
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8PhLHGdEH
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rCQSuCXgj
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP6PpcLIh7
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEPRQSwn9Z
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcICiUJZuj
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykas5NkLi0
A necklace.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTbhmcZS0O
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GwMWHxxGO
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv8RiVr3Ji
A locket.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6NSIA2BfE
And inside—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPff15FyjTB
A baby picture.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshVkzF70TO
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnfWrUBG0h
It was her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi0mSRKP19
⸻26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6w2MHrjz2
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS2ik2YFX6
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCnjytPxq9
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56vHQFsUmH
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnuKoE6yHy
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kbNjTbjUI
⸻26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW4Swxwg9F
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVrqARfkQ6
None of it made sense.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLypqfdKXu
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02mpF5cktW
Nick froze.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT7bncwwgD
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMvxcD3b5H
He spun toward it. "Hey!"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxBRugd5eL
But the figure vanished into the night.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSwiuAkKYX
And at their feet—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlIBWHh0fG
A journal.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdmAg0rWVI
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCm5KnkV0R
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizXonAqz5l
Then, something fluttered to the ground.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRird3ArwWU
A sticky note.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjzC0V3kNu
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyI5W6jnOL
"Be careful. Stop looking."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuBhpmcU6D
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR68K5Qfovc
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUxos1AflO
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q7yUkHsKC
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XKTFVxOQe
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h2lDIQ00R
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3qE9ITUqZ
"I never let go of it."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzneZVXHuZ
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgz2XR2HeT
He met her gaze.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZCSRBtpcy
"This... feels familiar."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UkJWafRYN
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNEaaFZSsq
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns18.222.22.154da2
