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?"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkmoaUIX5p
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov6Z7zMtig
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFGC1BxA2A
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7qrhnx1b3
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRK3g8NQvw
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9twmyc1RtL
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyfd7Wd3ZA
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSKiBj8p26
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixp6wnGA3V
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.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaHlAy4inr
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi2NEsUzsJ
Then—176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1mVtL26OF
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1RDZSrxeM
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1TR2Q1dAb
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwbAAUbmOm
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggTkNFRuqh
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYx89qaNSt
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrEt3AJMGX
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxefY4ssbK
A necklace.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGFeJFJApO
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwkYJltS9M
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtZFAmWHGh
A locket.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNlnXjZf7R
And inside—176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj62TAlZ0x
A baby picture.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmWoDbgOJz
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSISXUKGzW
It was her.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryfHgzU5cu
⸻176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa8wVfCWqC
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGBi3llHCP
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWk6p7pa6r
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaLkreKpJb
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pyl7xTbdq
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNzkTifV0j
⸻176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnK8eAUSqc
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.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC5fD0bHU2
None of it made sense.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbT8smIljv
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPRGOsZS94
Nick froze.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMkpT2hojW
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSOpqByJ90
He spun toward it. "Hey!"176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGhFOO6UWy
But the figure vanished into the night.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbbRpwmtMb
And at their feet—176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNqXwO5YZ9
A journal.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWJRV1EL4M
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIV7NeUN6X
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBURxA4Z06
Then, something fluttered to the ground.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnph597axN
A sticky note.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxL2iqHih0
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2CtSlSxC3
"Be careful. Stop looking."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsnUDVgaP6
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUD6OwL4iP
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVmehwabLY
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITQmLsNPc5
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFbXMYAcEj
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lAScEnjlq
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS22qKV06m
"I never let go of it."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA0tIBpekm
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIOQgnT0Lp
He met her gaze.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRjn2Tcntt
"This... feels familiar."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P6VVfnSZN
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJKOmLuQFi
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns216.73.216.107da2
and then Add to home screen.