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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2onMBRmPw
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKVTh357nV
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIyKglYd8r
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4CzBqaIOo
She had to go back.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC96sdJWP4C
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LjAn9bemz
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabOROiyIa2
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5clZW988Y
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GZrztNger
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjh9qZLCqv
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmEvZcAw5a
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmnPGSPDUI
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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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro6kTenftE
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvzpMZyzJZ
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwf2EyTZ1y
His heart stopped.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuEoNibfRk
"Chrissy—"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyLoB7gGca
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkBWSRIDpe
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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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1um9zhVyFx
Deeper.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9zF5JfnwY
More alive.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXcMSMsvOs
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0mNCSrB8V
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNNMNubHVa
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim5866xSxe
A gemstone.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2Mcc8ZWso
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngCAKHJbTA
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1a3UOCymB
It was the missing piece.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACdfq0Z5cK
The empty setting in her necklace.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwpMbIvDku
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jmIlY0fuE
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VVP89Vj4t
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPS7aePnjp
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?"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWa3CaJUda
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm85pPQ627a
"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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmp1FK9tEO
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIJ6k0a6Si
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQfDofqeQG
She wasn't listening.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TR6L50SrJ
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K4wZr3Tr6
Nick blinked. "What?"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEuO6e2eAr
"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."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMUMaC7nsl
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgd8O6d6gW
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?"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tFr9aqk3O
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNKspZdHP7
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPWWrUPfQr
She was spiraling.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrptkpjeVWx
"Chrissy."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIfjMEhTAS
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPMD0DTcWZ
"Chrissy—"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRTmCJHe3S
"I need—"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJVqsN9kYp
He grabbed her face and kissed her.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3rRInrBUX
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVOKFhWcQb
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT40vdGpiKI
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzixaKEPbmh
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7bE2PKIyP
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."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej6SvUkmfk
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVsH2K0t4S
Her heart was pounding.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47khbuYApv
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs4Bdrzi2y
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJEdyZVsTR
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKASWV8PpH
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ099qk9yXzy
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUazoLup6k
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFUVTrW3sv
The moment it clicked into place—8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLJ6IlAI8j
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0KZxYqK0g
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5g84EmSrR
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn7xS3cyoB
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDfZz0uJOg
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUKodY1kNb
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHDi6jZtpV
Nick didn't say anything.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNEwOAvDfY
And she didn't ask.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn4ARygISs
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzaeWRNazq
Something had changed.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEY69OAJFF
And there was no going back now.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5b3ofx43E
