Chapter 3
Chrissy nearly tripped as she shoved her feet into her flip-flops, grabbing her still-brewing coffee before it had finished dripping into the pot. She didn't have time to wait—Nick and Maddie were already at the beach, and she didn't want to keep them waiting.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1SPplUrOL
By the time she reached the shore, the early morning mist was beginning to lift, revealing the endless stretch of ocean beyond. Maddie sat cross-legged on a beach towel, flipping through the pages of the old mermaid mythology book they'd found at the Book Nook. Nick stood nearby, tossing a rock into the waves.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOijPjth6v8
"Finally," Maddie teased as Chrissy dropped onto the sand. "We were about to send a search party."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpwymxnojA
Chrissy rolled her eyes, catching her breath. "Overslept." She reached for the book. "Anything interesting?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznh1bv90l9
Maddie's eyes gleamed. "More than interesting. Listen to this." She cleared her throat and read aloud:210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhSTTPacDd
"There are whispers of a woman who emerged from the sea, enchanting all who crossed her path. Some say she was a lost soul seeking refuge. Others claim she was something more—something not meant to stay on land."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU699iuWB4
Chrissy shivered despite the warm breeze. "Sounds like the lighthouse story."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tUJRgobMq
Nick nodded. "The townspeople thought she was a mermaid. That's why they wanted the lighthouse keeper to give her up."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtmKeUtN1B
Maddie snapped the book shut. "And that means we need to go to the lighthouse."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY7CrgV7f7
Chrissy hesitated, staring out toward the rocky cliffs where the lighthouse stood abandoned. It had always given her an eerie feeling, like it was watching, waiting. But something inside her stirred—a pull, a strange sense of belonging.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAgWOQ007V
"We have to," she said, surprising even herself. "If there are answers, they're there."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2U6O2bbqS
Nick sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uCMVxjuVS
The Lighthouse Exploration210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv7Y539UOw
The hike up the cliffs was steep, the path overgrown from years of neglect. When they reached the lighthouse, its looming frame cast long shadows across the ground. The paint was peeling, the windows clouded with dust, and the heavy wooden door groaned in protest when Chrissy pushed it open.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo88UA82zBB
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of salt and decay. Dust motes floated in the shafts of light filtering through the broken windows. The space was small—an old wooden table, a rusted stove, a bed pushed up against the far wall. Everything was left as if waiting for someone to return.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm01Yr185iy
"This place is straight-up haunted," Maddie whispered, running a hand along the peeling wallpaper.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2BTBnXSea
Chrissy's fingers trailed over the edge of the table when something caught her eye—a leather-bound book, nearly buried beneath dust. She reached for it and blew away the grime.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI25p4kh9T
"A Bible?" she murmured.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EgWBhivQZ
Nick, who had been rummaging through a nearby cabinet, glanced over. "Weird place to leave it."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDb4YhRQDT
Curious, Chrissy opened the cover. The pages were yellowed, the spine cracked from years of use. And then—something slipped from between the pages. A faded photograph fluttered to the floor.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYWE5j3vD2
Nick bent down and picked it up. His expression shifted from confusion to shock as he turned the picture toward Chrissy.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0dUi6aAw6
"Uh... is this you?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdunnLMdrCM
Chrissy frowned, reaching for it. But the moment she saw the image, her breath hitched.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw5i2WbIRc
The woman in the photograph wasn't her. And yet... she could have been.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK5LWOzqUR
The resemblance was uncanny—the same wavy dark hair, the same sharp eyes. The woman's expression was soft, almost wistful. Around her neck hung a delicate necklace.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoLINWHlYv
Chrissy turned the photo over. Scribbled on the back, barely legible, were the letters: S & J.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGhaJ6uCe5
Maddie peered over her shoulder. "Who's 'S & J'?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRlrQbjgBP
Chrissy didn't answer. Her heart pounded as she stared at the image, the lighthouse's eerie silence pressing in around them.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CwQcCx0FS
She wasn't sure what she'd been hoping to find here. But this... this was something more.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zNRM7fVJN
Something personal.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8oEnX8aRU
Something unsettling.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaM4HpTOPQ
And she had no idea what it meant. 210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCEBepkFYM
That night, back in her bedroom, Chrissy lay on her bed, the photograph held tight in her hands. She traced the woman's face with her thumb, searching for something—some clue, some explanation.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84BT0I6VtK
Why did she look like her?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yTFlut1Mu
Why did she feel like the lighthouse was calling her?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImDwuNIyld
A shiver crawled down her spine. She glanced toward her window, the curtains rustling with the evening breeze. For a split second, the feeling from earlier crept back.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJURbfCs45
Like someone was watching.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwAD8JWwEO
She sat up quickly, heart pounding, and forced herself to look outside. Nothing. Just the trees swaying in the wind.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPtKWS9ngv
Still, she couldn't shake the unease.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj6ABszBbK
Tomorrow, she'd tell Nick.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LCgchYqd6
Maybe then, they'd figure out what this all meant.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ET0lcSnQX
Chrissy tugged her hoodie tighter around herself as she walked barefoot down the narrow path leading to the beach. The morning air still clung to a crispness that hadn't yet burned off with the rising sun, and the damp sand felt cool beneath her feet. The ocean stretched out in front of her, endless and restless, but her mind wasn't on the waves today.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo47Cm0THbW
She hadn't slept well. The photograph was still tucked safely in her bag, but its image was burned into her thoughts. The woman's face. The necklace. The resemblance. And the eerie sensation that had crept up her spine last night—the feeling of being watched.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gbRKovwjE
Nick was already there when she arrived, standing near the water's edge, absently tossing small rocks into the surf.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0MWuy7Js1
"Hey," she called, pulling her bag higher on her shoulder.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14b8SOgclP
Nick turned, giving her a once-over like he was checking for something. Weird.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10lJGQPqkO
"Hey," he said. "You good?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLs43e5Gjk
She hesitated. Should I even say anything? It was probably nothing. Just her mind playing tricks on her. But then again...210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5raIQuf86
"I don't know," she admitted. "Last night, I had this weird feeling. Like I was being watched."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPUzELmmCe
That got his attention. He straightened, his easygoing expression shifting to something more serious. "Watched?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpO1max0Mx
Chrissy nodded. "I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't like I saw anyone, but it felt like someone was there. Just... watching me."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cYjW0eeHr
Nick's jaw tightened slightly, and his gaze flicked past her, scanning the area as if expecting to catch someone lurking in the dunes.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyA5aHMygB
"You see anything?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
"No. Just felt it."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGkKJxvuuY
Nick didn't answer right away. He looked out at the beach, then up toward the boardwalk, his brows drawn together. Finally, he muttered, "Probably nothing, but... you sure you were alone?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37VaSm9uqF
Chrissy shrugged. "I mean, I think so."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoD2jJrTxy
Nick exhaled sharply through his nose, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, if you ever get that feeling again, don't ignore it, okay?" His tone was casual, but the way his eyes kept darting around the beach told a different story.
Chrissy frowned. "You think someone was watching me?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUbFIXO7Fr
"I think it's better to be careful," he said, then glanced back toward the boardwalk one last time. "Come on. Maddie's probably waiting for us."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuj917bZMq
As they started walking, Chrissy noticed how Nick's posture had shifted—more alert, more aware. He kept checking over his shoulder, subtly at first, then more obviously when he thought she wasn't looking.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjONVNMjRb1
Maybe she had imagined it.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqUqdTQEk0
But if that was true... why did Nick look like he wasn't so sure?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BsEpIOYEJ
and then Add to home screen.