Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxOXlTGaC0
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc94n9AYPB
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpoC7FJtm5
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxDqUTisah
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDJ91UiPpr
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD00SCLcJ8
The Cliffside62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVpCNA81KP
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE36QA1K6v
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1TwsVQt4B
The path ended at a sheer cliff.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo5s55E3xV
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJmRLcBADC
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqgPcTvb39
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hay1V3zuF
Gone?62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTLAOaXjeh
No. No way.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtQz9F0yT5
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN5kttNdBM
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4n8c6sO2Y
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2igaymO6Bv
The Ocean's Secret62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK4wZQHHm7
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD2ObLSwRN
She wasn't running out of air.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje1ME8D67s
Her lungs didn't burn.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMZL7SPNLh
Instead, she felt... at peace.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yDrbuIRdM
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViSBQUbfzT
A glimmer in the sand below.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPd22nu1El
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8pcGQ7OTn
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD21i6cz9Ks
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61DAbgEgvH
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaondwAkqF5
The cave.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp5En4HisZ
Maddie's Jealousy62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWQSmEer5T
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWJjw5k1WZ
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfwS0wHdrD
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X0z6hSkFu
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQJxM55U3o
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0Im9BqZsT
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gGBy6fEWl
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz7YIUu448
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ456az6oHRw
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BZiqxTbpo
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dPMK7bIpm
And Maddie was getting sick of it.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZSa2SAowb
Nick's Realization62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CCvzRUoVq
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjEjwxENfN
His hands curled into fists.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqALUHfiEpa
She was somewhere safe.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbje2Qf4zT
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjCtw52qLF
His stomach clenched.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlCTCcSXap
"The cave."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zURLAGjRo
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSR8gU85q0
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSEmkSyZJj
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsPmeMb4DF
Nick hesitated.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3j8HZk5o9
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlf9QRySky
He didn't let himself finish the thought.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lc9gyyx8C
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AUzkc8aJC
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOiXCWPxuy
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2i80Y5X0i
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsReUGRPQX
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjT6nGLfb3
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNJa0iufwa
He didn't stop.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlcNejRDL9
Didn't look back.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcsi44yuEw
Because every second he wasted here...62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZNzxFuHq0
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEcMOi61Sz
62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBoGk8KMhL
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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