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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00rZA1N7VS
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx6gHbhT9s
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QdBfQZEKD
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnr2O1vPeK
She had to go back.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaSISBEfor
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozsxjMTTOF
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlwmIbQfkj
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGrEGi9wxF
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLQLS0aAZ1
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06M932CCLE
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx61rp6ojG
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oof0GgeY2
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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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TyJrdbadW
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeQjCrWg7e
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhl2uGzTZG
His heart stopped.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz9gbZha4U
"Chrissy—"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ505571DhGL
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35yWcojU9h
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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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrXCT8uNzz
Deeper.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhk3zIvFj9
More alive.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nOr7s8VTP
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQTpcRQcyU
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbwpDN3yRU
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWmp5CwLbb
A gemstone.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXvn6cZGUZ
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat9q35H1lg
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE0wU0TeRT
It was the missing piece.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR50ckzkVI
The empty setting in her necklace.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnSfBbtf2i
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSZHyi6Hup
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B9HDBZfwi
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE9x5Wd5Mm
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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vd4q0QeL
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzgxHdJCfr
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEisqkupal
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6eG5j9M7U
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMrh9rUdeN
She wasn't listening.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh89ZAeKPL
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHQNiC93Y9
Nick blinked. "What?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nrlapsm71
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5ghclSnN6
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjESRlhEL4
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?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4DjRbCYnw
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9ipGV5x9V
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJzJmnVwmO
She was spiraling.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekmqf3KGEi
"Chrissy."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKaIdEAZvv
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQcxU7UyZU
"Chrissy—"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU8dO2waaE
"I need—"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBKOfi51CN
He grabbed her face and kissed her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBslSsuQUuD
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPOa3aCPtI
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVWLnnuc3S
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHH9Dw4dg0
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJT7eFNhFI
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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPiDVbfjYO
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeASJbz2Tsj
Her heart was pounding.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCuesVvtN3
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45Nfo9K9y0
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbMPNFSI1y
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUoPFKMry
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzuNBvJ5n1
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7UeIorxJk
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbVVWZUYSx
The moment it clicked into place—207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTujC9tUmXX
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdm6KhctwM
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPfhii3w1m
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRsFdVQDCD
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9XyYZk0ki
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC7EWfzNjy
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXi2DlRTt0
Nick didn't say anything.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O7DKdndmV
And she didn't ask.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx43WpTwjy
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSka0xECmmc
Something had changed.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5juCEhrKnZ
And there was no going back now.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxj0GSXKtt
and then Add to home screen.