Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Waves
Chrissy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lighthouse. The storm. The woman plunging into the sea. Kyle's words echoed in her head.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfCIZgk46S
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RWUh48JQj
Her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. She had spent her whole life feeling like something was missing. A part of her that she could never quite name. But now, with every new discovery, she felt herself being pulled closer to a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxWCa0oxOE
With a quiet breath, she sat up and pushed back her blankets. Her room was dark, the soft glow of the streetlight outside casting shadows across her floor. She moved quickly, slipping on her jacket and sneakers before easing the window open.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcUebKQxPo
She had to go back.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8hT7FKIDK
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrqIScMGms
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9HAvF5Gez
Nick had been parked outside her house for hours, arms crossed over his chest, attempting to rest but never quite letting himself fall asleep. He had been on edge ever since the hurricane. Ever since he'd nearly lost her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF0uAaGDkB
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9y99zA6Fw
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eSGNstjKr
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSMLElhYaK
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjkPetKil5
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Chrissy reached the shoreline quickly, the waves crashing gently against the sand. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light illuminating the water. She didn't stop to think.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH0CGnWVSi
She stepped into the surf, the cold biting at her skin as she waded in deeper, her breath hitching as the current tugged at her. But she didn't fight it. She let it pull her forward, her body cutting through the water as she swam toward the hidden cave.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyo2ICBqaQ
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISJMQ5ma5n
His heart stopped.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVnlw7mRX2
"Chrissy—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpJeh4w7dt
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb66LBZhutU
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Chrissy surfaced inside the cave, gasping as she pulled herself onto the rocky ledge. Water dripped from her clothes, her breath uneven. The cave felt different this time.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9JFdc7fc7
Deeper.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6beGX1XvJp
More alive.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEndjouTO07
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhvJsZSWa0
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr7SGFy8Va
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVOUdXTpav
A gemstone.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf88ZSQz0G
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG1vWIVcwY
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz6zyzqLsE
It was the missing piece.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKnp5du6KG
The empty setting in her necklace.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbwtiF4AJC
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qAPSs3wHX
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68SrYhMHdG
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeOzlrL6bL
He was soaked, his hair a mess, his eyes burning with frustration. "Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "You just—just vanished into the ocean! Do you even know what could've happened to you?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHhYnJVTWp
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdmjP661x2
"In the middle of the night?" His voice was rising, his hands running through his wet hair in exasperation. "Do you even think about what you put me through? I thought you—" He broke off, shaking his head.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsc424Qwjp
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j0Vq8Epb6
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw1hDI7adi
She wasn't listening.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppNT33f43m
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUog325qdyA
Nick blinked. "What?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKBzHx1DE3
"The woman in the lighthouse. The one who disappeared. I think she was my mother. And the lighthouse keeper—" She swallowed hard. "I think he was my father."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxD2lbWVXY
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NAHbC0nVH
She took a shaky breath, the words pouring out of her like a flood. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Why else would I be so drawn to this place? Why do I look like her? Why is my necklace connected to all of this?" Her voice cracked. "And what if my adoptive family knew? What if they knew the truth this whole time and never told me?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAjZBV3cy2
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PQjPiCEUw
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling. He could see the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once—the questions, the doubt, the fear of what it all meant.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHWdjB2mB0
She was spiraling.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26DrZPVAkm
"Chrissy."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYkL9OT1Ab
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOhCfOx49k
"Chrissy—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyK56Uj9KH
"I need—"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZoQUxWjNC
He grabbed her face and kissed her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyQvtIjQGG
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNS6IlYlbh
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPLHGS9Ozx
Nick felt her stiffen, but then—slowly—she melted into him. Her hands clenched the front of his damp shirt as she let herself fall into the moment, into him.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQPU3bF2ZD
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hwpEJDiiT
Nick rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. "I need you to breathe, okay?" His voice was soft now. Steady. "Just breathe."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0MWIdfnub
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirTLlppXXu
Her heart was pounding.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx536Cokr8
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzvYl0Dd41
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QhUqvJv2V
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2hoXtAmTP
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41HNvKeZ45
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBPU7DsP9a
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDOa7aDgx7
The moment it clicked into place—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UsMTy8Mw8
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh7mOaZQ4Z
Chrissy gasped as the light wrapped around her skin, sinking into her like a pulse. Nick flinched, shielding his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXIyHP0SS7
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTQl8nyIH5
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBqTUzDISB
Chrissy's fingers trembled against the now-cool metal. She looked up at him, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, but one stood out above the rest.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuarHZ586WO
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6O4jNwDFk
Nick didn't say anything.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg9WmqGxgA
And she didn't ask.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ6Lf5nRuh
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWsyvyMTa1
Something had changed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkunqR0ENz6
And there was no going back now.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHI4e0SI51
and then Add to home screen.