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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKdoLGZ9ZM
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH13B84RDl
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ68jhA0pY
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOLU8fo3Ik
She had to go back.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmY8x7VDOu
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnDvC8Gs9U
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm4sU66A7t
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7t5ji56in
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORc3vcB0yF
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ng3crTdYg
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jnMrNKp4p
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDPDviQtIW
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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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdaV8HKeUa
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNolnEX9daq
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyg5TQrpwZ
His heart stopped.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANbkO058L6
"Chrissy—"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoIw621QHP
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRnZqgkeyu
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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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVVCwgrYxq
Deeper.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eV2sQPfu6
More alive.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjytsad2HKS
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3HSY1cYLB
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAps1CJ1Pb
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglWMk5Zec0
A gemstone.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrxKvAkpPk
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYHjOzEPBB
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf4NnL4KES
It was the missing piece.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCYSkqut9N
The empty setting in her necklace.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QQmYXAMjA
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrnqb0I0as
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt5CNmHL9f
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjnussux0U
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?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7PLF9b3Db
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIO4V9zccO
"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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1XcMziZkC
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPSjHfaZmK
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIB0ENNX28
She wasn't listening.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu6r0RO5MK
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E7prqN5NJ
Nick blinked. "What?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrOIN7ChrP
"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."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJxSFfMJ6g
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BxZnB9kT6
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?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqbph6nlXe
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hl9dQNXBI
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2SoAHUv01
She was spiraling.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJychMfDUV
"Chrissy."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0DqYSvmAl
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjglsbG5hf
"Chrissy—"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaLPmn4Phr
"I need—"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVwLQZnkLS
He grabbed her face and kissed her.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTyljHcFaZ
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKjptnvMcO
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85H7sR1Qmg
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3euCqdWqUR
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAUffs6ihv
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."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaWGLyC94W
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ENZX7wayz
Her heart was pounding.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYk0awChsv
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OWMh2Q3Wr
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH6EbFbeJE
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUHsA7rtWz
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfnevTY2jM
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkqznA2K3o
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsjCEaClw5
The moment it clicked into place—164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYhbTZL3nB
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3P1v0SKO8
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb6uIvhwo3
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE5FYqw41U
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbkck8mJ21
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.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjolBtJf8J4
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDU0CjTTR0
Nick didn't say anything.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyPHuvkbo6
And she didn't ask.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC90b6MmAg9
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h8N1iIb9l
Something had changed.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCGEIpCrWK
And there was no going back now.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplMYy8lrav
