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?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZHD3i9NfU
Chrissy nodded. "It was just standing there... and then, when Nick tried to check it out, it was gone."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVBra7pMZi
Nick crossed his arms. "Not just gone—like it never existed. No footprints. Nothing."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE8CtgkdtR
Maddie shivered despite the warmth of the sun. "Okay, that's creepy. But who would be following you? And why?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5nXQ4atr9
Chrissy hesitated. "I don't know... but I think we need to go back to the lighthouse."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufKyg1kJRH
Nick frowned. "Chrissy—"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgfVA3FtA9
"I have to," she insisted. "There might be something else we missed."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJYRsZRSMR
Nick sighed. "Fine. But we're all going."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw9bCPwcno
Maddie groaned. "Because that's not how horror movies start..."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaRhrh5jqP
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.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArU6Sh3WOV
Inside, dust swirled in the light streaming through broken windows. Their footsteps echoed as they carefully made their way up the spiral staircase.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kpcWDetDg
Then—538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1JBw4BKUP
A noise. Rapid footsteps above them.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz3gY0opsY
Nick's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS8XGyymqk
Maddie's eyes widened. "There's someone here."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIwWDAWzLo
Before they could react, a shadowy figure darted up the stairs.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaN7XlEZQs
Chrissy's heart pounded. "Who—?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2guICf5gL
A clatter echoed down the steps as something slipped from the figure's grasp and hit the wooden floor.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt8EaSVU9A
Chrissy rushed forward. The object gleamed in the dim light.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsY4deceGG
A necklace.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKDyYp8wfx
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5fsGQV97C
Nick and Maddie leaned in, and a hush fell over the group as they realized what they were looking at.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjUh6TUOA7
A locket.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrQJ5eFu7Z
And inside—538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGADNztKjI
A baby picture.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLhDZkGrqK
Chrissy stared at the tiny, faded photo.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppmF46nXCo
It was her.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72Ed6WVTxy
⸻538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U9izP3uhz
The silence stretched before Nick finally spoke.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK07q7Br0b
"Chrissy... how is this possible?"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tdZOIYHAh
Chrissy shook her head, unable to answer.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa598drDxTj
Maddie looked up toward the stairs, but the figure was gone. Whoever they were, they'd wanted Chrissy to find this.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZYD5xYUCM
Nick clenched his jaw. "We need to get out of here. Now."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73zKszRbGA
⸻538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQOhLE9IwD
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.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1tmd1ehGY
None of it made sense.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICDQRkuEXx
They reached her front porch, and just as Chrissy pulled out her key—538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDULDjsGFwY
Nick froze.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdsvY1KlVq
A shadow moved at the edge of the trees.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kbU9ejo4v
He spun toward it. "Hey!"538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgJxm6qkKp
But the figure vanished into the night.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbF2jvSHjn
And at their feet—538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvp7dD9DLV
A journal.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYrGAUByLn
Nick bent down cautiously. "This wasn't here before."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jOOOWOSTs
Chrissy swallowed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover. It felt old. Important.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6q7cpEzuT
Then, something fluttered to the ground.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEueHFFdS7
A sticky note.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5lsxKP8iU
Nick caught it before the wind could carry it away. His expression darkened as he read the hastily scribbled words:538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05SsPkEc3I
"Be careful. Stop looking."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYrPTRC51T
Chrissy felt her stomach drop.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrsOEPaClR
Maddie leaned in. "Okay... that's creepy."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTidiyYsly
Nick flipped open the journal, skimming the first page.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLJxhCTuqh
"I never should have gone with them that night. I knew it was wrong. But fear—fear makes you do things you regret."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91ZbgmKr4X
"She ran. And I chased her. We all did."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr8YcXYKAi
"The necklace broke in the struggle. It landed at my feet."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTownKmhLU
"I never let go of it."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YZEYJmfLN
Chrissy's hands trembled. "Nick..."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8GJ0IZFKU
He met her gaze.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTjqF0tw16
"This... feels familiar."538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQjRQrAGqR
Short chapter but 6 will be longer. Enjoy! 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyqj3WBi6H
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