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?"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMVZGqZWfg
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGiOluyLPU
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt1aMyucGQ
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgK4bxnkFR
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtWolmcelW
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa072NUSkMN
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0IVArVqva
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBhIwFHgCy
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprSEbUYC6T
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.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTpG4QRYET
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITfD78Qmmj
Then—253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHodbj0MOr
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSrBEWn9dr
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF8sH3TNBR
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4hKTD65G6
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGZac8ug8R
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf4pFXPp4Z
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZGYRebqQ5
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVZiQ2eoA6
A necklace.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXhPWob9RE
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5umipR2la
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY1PDZMCp8
A locket.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUrLo6pgNA
And inside—253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhAuw7rfNe
A baby picture.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2fSblo3DT
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2wo8qzEip
It was her.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXrLks69FU
⸻253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq9MuRzQYy
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCmOif2SL7
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyagmf2d9H
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7dJ1MMNwx
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFu6lhmgwW
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBXxd7CJ2O
⸻253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5YTk5jcOX
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.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0D08Zehnh
None of it made sense.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jEvbqGHTf
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CjPFvEKVG
Nick froze.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwF7rl22Iz
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1kOBNfdXA
He spun toward it. "Hey!"253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZzVd12uYr
But the figure vanished into the night.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmmxRkyehg
And at their feet—253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG7S0JqJBp
A journal.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PSmN6jAl8
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBWHOBoGer
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKUBIrK7W7
Then, something fluttered to the ground.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sBM3zDa9K
A sticky note.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u6RfP2Fuw
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgEVGvft2n
"Be careful. Stop looking."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyFdCDVmsm
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoxnwU0HxU
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYritTgToyL
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrIzUckMN4
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmGnIRnmSy
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEJ2NIz5sP
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYTNy3828y
"I never let go of it."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDqvTjbvjC
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzAVxdMiUi
He met her gaze.253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQySW7Pikq
"This... feels familiar."253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIkIdWw0lO
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJvBQKh6nw
#wattpad #magic #mermaids
ns216.73.216.82da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.