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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73GzjXlA72
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJX0HkSIVA
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL3WLiBoEm
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjZTy0mukX
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvD3AwRXEz
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZirLW0rEx0
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebUpE23RXG
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy2moVJk6W
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySQ4CSffPP
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3E5t4upMQ
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxYOR2qdWE
Then—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtrjiuYNpU
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTChMGJswQ
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWJtJukfho
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTor8U1llIF
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWswzvwtBsC
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qzLPjOaLq
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsDV2OmkK0
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ127DXKjeQq
A necklace.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF6LWFxiar
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgRsLjdMhx
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTO8dVAzbp
A locket.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf3eYH72Ad
And inside—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchv5e0QIWn
A baby picture.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QwXKwsSjY
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNsn78QAsV
It was her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12vxcilOWd
⸻28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARf8d4hTLE
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFmLLgOfSE
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLmsJS6KaP
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjybUP7XM9
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLbvwJvQSZ
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQF8UwzmdJ
⸻28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMD3bRlyf4
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7LDzPoV8M
None of it made sense.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsiDEk0ely
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcKzmNALRd
Nick froze.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsztD0rZ7p
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJUZjo4SoL
He spun toward it. "Hey!"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7h6dO2xVo
But the figure vanished into the night.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMozLwueYT
And at their feet—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4MU0hDAgd
A journal.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fB1EavYmJ
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lT9pOKlJp
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJOVmrpebK
Then, something fluttered to the ground.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVi2xmA7Gi
A sticky note.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu85NTa0wY
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyVFRm4Mjw
"Be careful. Stop looking."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u8DC1vXzB
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqlfUDonqF
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzxhlE6LiC
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoKVdjeEBU
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvuJ3e0onO
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUz7H7zYvU
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YexabZ38x
"I never let go of it."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZiAUjtmlW
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh2LGibISL
He met her gaze.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCKvfzoa8g
"This... feels familiar."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc5e95VPTW
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy5uAziFX2
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns3.138.60.26da2
