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?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy7xjOzKIp
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHWaD8kej5
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3mZe5MFM4
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rmnnyAmIi
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYzSx8frgs
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4ZnbWjKBu
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8WpJY7SJL
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwthBJnAIE
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVisS9y0le
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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe798egzCMB
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHcHFJ2buy
Then—53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSI9zZqZL8
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqozURI8U2k
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEAruN3dhK
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GFpomRhxr
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXzN5NDPNh
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaijgINQa2
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvPlE58duW
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3wON8tAe4
A necklace.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY5FV5CKkC
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm1r1KdE4b
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCAsFlRuuL
A locket.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Vwnof90R
And inside—53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYCTNhtZdY
A baby picture.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ9RkGEhMw
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HL2WLkcBu
It was her.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppFnv6Q4Xc
⸻53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVgJk9t8e0
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwvuwyi9ex
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij5rfSceF7
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb9oWoNkmQ
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay6RtYMqws
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNENRlAdy4
⸻53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXxdbtmYQN
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.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qImFdLjLj
None of it made sense.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HYix0Sjuq
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG53VgX61HN
Nick froze.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxrAWUCt4U
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtCzOU57Xb
He spun toward it. "Hey!"53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymhX7lKkUH
But the figure vanished into the night.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkw74SiYmc
And at their feet—53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVApicCh4Bq
A journal.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhMkTUOP1Z
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iKJu3c0ku
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlUCl0bbja
Then, something fluttered to the ground.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2HN8HMbCr
A sticky note.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVl5XwImCm
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DQ2jmRMkT
"Be careful. Stop looking."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48vj7YZIi9
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAkg0eKt8x
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrixUq0ccM
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5qyiUyxou
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYRptdSajv
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpC4UcNfXh
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsFuymzhxb
"I never let go of it."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusazxwzBK2
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsM6VaQ2KB
He met her gaze.53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GvT8eKUgx
"This... feels familiar."53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbO5MzVOQK
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFOAcrq2K6
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