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?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVgDnffNIl
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg6J1LpvO2
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1mHVEPJyk
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVQIYClhv3
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfqjAXVh3U
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAClqDPagGg
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM8RvGjEMQ
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Mjz2v6nW
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPGvkJqiRw
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfdq3B4XDS
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaJ2FE2drB
Then—206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt16ivoAV3
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4MYLjU4Eo
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxm1IatYYe
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRCz1d8Auc
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xJp5Mizkw
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YjQlmFVap
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GQaFu1Oc3
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo57siXK4TT
A necklace.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxtQ9aEsXH
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwQkYXBUyg
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYbbZqOmwV
A locket.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgggmgNuCe0
And inside—206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQWd0oKJ6P
A baby picture.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pV6FZMssd
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTb9UZSOc9
It was her.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AXoxal8tb
⸻206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6JZEIqDZT
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfiHBEJfsP
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1MPejmg9g
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8lS2XxCYG
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinG7YH01A4
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvTVO3AnHv
⸻206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP08g5BnFxl
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuYLId3BaD
None of it made sense.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAET7Dlv1j
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJRU0DdNWk
Nick froze.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqXkZ6o7jz
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLySSgZU8sw
He spun toward it. "Hey!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS64rPQNEun
But the figure vanished into the night.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nmFrrbuyp
And at their feet—206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaapKi1Jq4j
A journal.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t3BBmW9oH
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf2fAcHKZT
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA7CLVHua1
Then, something fluttered to the ground.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfv2fuQ8Gf
A sticky note.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwzndUELPC
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxExdbvjki
"Be careful. Stop looking."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LkxtyNrT9
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQZem8c3Ad
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nQWQcrb82
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YFzbaIPTW
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaM4KuZrVq
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9thBh2mQa
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kZNJKvFXc
"I never let go of it."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ24Fin9dE
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEsrNPZ1Z7
He met her gaze.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe2vHjBuAw
"This... feels familiar."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVvEAMM6ud
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsYeLA417o
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns216.73.216.223da2
and then Add to home screen.