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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7Ga4H8Vla
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaMWkvWsCZ
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ijYufwp5P
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wdrbZjFaj
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFQ1WWnwgM
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs35wuysJo
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XQrYwAgBV
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYcDbAX1Qv
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdBGHAF6PK
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAOrlUFYIZ
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uYJJJPrWS
Then—180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIu5pEupdo
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5082XcusT
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4udnfo5C3y
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ9pgHR7hL
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFwK9Xk7m7
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosZrpGJ6Do
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71FJkFZsQ5
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNpuRNHkLP
A necklace.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hxrQ1hnsJ
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6INzdmyFh
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqjkgl3U6A
A locket.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxRRxGOhH0
And inside—180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDxyL3g8EP
A baby picture.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhPp6IL2LP
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHAxHdcnu9
It was her.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KxE2sRsNK
⸻180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZa2apwfr1
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWMmpgRwBo
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklQS3cidQ3
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p54V7W6Cp
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPICvhap9s
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRE1FHE4fz
⸻180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPU6TCJoST
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVi6UW85St
None of it made sense.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtHKyjVRhZ
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo9iK2kbud
Nick froze.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpqhx5h9qA
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD4B0uzwTU
He spun toward it. "Hey!"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5sewatC1O
But the figure vanished into the night.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDYY6XRZiz
And at their feet—180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaHq7TV2gL
A journal.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFF6XBCxCr
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7HbLfozJy
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CYigwA3Ln
Then, something fluttered to the ground.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaXGNt4NlD
A sticky note.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY8h26t2zM
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxqgPXkJgk
"Be careful. Stop looking."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtnekROpA0
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Uy1msB4z
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vdRGtp3EA
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuSCiKETyl
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OcjJ7yNcZ
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HWP6eWqlO
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75JOiQejbG
"I never let go of it."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBySAEDuBQ
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapnVGpaVeC
He met her gaze.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDVLOeCCD7
"This... feels familiar."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP47AnICRFt
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1MToJahrZ
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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