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?"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZciNVreXlU
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7nvlOUv0w
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s6faEU9GY
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr4AN1CfAe
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85loYzOg43
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSygYsZu0C
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hyZrUW5jT
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMSEQzO5La
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkDyChnEEW
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.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpiFr0Xpoa
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAtbw2p7ks
Then—565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuxKV1JWzA
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZDRZnvs2t
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP3ypQkkWj
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdWAtzQvW2
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJORabtY5H
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcOuA9ny9E
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN0onVATX5
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4cjGKrXrU
A necklace.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihZ1uPzxwp
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0QjW5xsEc
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmKhoSUMtc
A locket.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJQnSubPqt
And inside—565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2ExPvHLnW
A baby picture.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4ulYFl3Ve
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW33OPYc4i
It was her.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9glKrbw9u
⸻565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvUmJPXprP
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1WFTOqxUm
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbiodlObRw
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDfXfguR8a
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0G09zqWUi
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LSxJ9pyfp
⸻565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiK3n5VGyB
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.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSdJ7nU8aD
None of it made sense.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX9UYoPpXV
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAvsmA8e8s
Nick froze.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IRrRKNuNL
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxyOgvhBih
He spun toward it. "Hey!"565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJiCgtVL6F
But the figure vanished into the night.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JRSpVdJAC
And at their feet—565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJRi1SvdqA
A journal.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iIjdDbSUm
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzgs9Pxw6S
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD83HDcYeC
Then, something fluttered to the ground.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxemRYWYdM
A sticky note.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjDGigHFgV
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5hzOuFx4D
"Be careful. Stop looking."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPDVYpMCa6
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4nTXDfcMC
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogsBwHKvky
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nzd44N3xn
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7F2BtdM56
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpJI4aj3fA
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7rIi8DAbW
"I never let go of it."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP3Yj60wS7
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0zNFO6rZb
He met her gaze.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwohM3h5bh
"This... feels familiar."565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgkNbbFaGi
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbBreGd7ja
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
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