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?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWZn4IRJSS
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeXOyQunTM
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqmReTvbzr
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjL9LA1Lyf
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGCzlnj3b1
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaK9kZQozk
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZUY2chpO0
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH8EVXQ0mP
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7BWZvQsg9
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y88FkUhtu
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqePjWkY4v
Then—141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNBhXTmiQ7
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZTYzWLIa2
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgnQAYfnEl
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTc8BHRBR1
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbaROS5HlR
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywlCSvQxUa
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfFwBVnCfZ
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NSsBaXbWi
A necklace.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtqRbYARJ4
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hZxAPbfuf
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3eIl4umsJ
A locket.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTZ7UWuFoq
And inside—141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcA9Xr2d6N
A baby picture.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0A7Z9bT0EY
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C9P9o52Y6
It was her.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmZTjoTY8g
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDuBLFQVDn
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsYmxC4SFx
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTul2fn3v1
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN24tZ8phmo
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvJwRfuSxD
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgdi01VinT
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgdUChOK8C
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPRMtcJ3sL
None of it made sense.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7iH5nxn43
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEcZOMuYIS
Nick froze.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mMGGqZ9hf
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5UFLBSbRK
He spun toward it. "Hey!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6euwLRE5hO
But the figure vanished into the night.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1oOGWAC7D
And at their feet—141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v78my8Ewx
A journal.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO00jW0ltSW
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsB9BPIgY0
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lCO74BZan
Then, something fluttered to the ground.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB0AfINQWy
A sticky note.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycnzhkdvyS
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIKdUEml7Q
"Be careful. Stop looking."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NnKOgLEmE
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObwx9jibL7
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavbPSaCBcq
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MIg4BxhZu
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84qX7bw2Aw
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc5WpHker2
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmyWOT4tZN
"I never let go of it."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKCddyXzCh
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg5h8G6EvA
He met her gaze.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8tth8FeoA
"This... feels familiar."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeheh829FHO
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTjVqhRb0S
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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