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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXqzyWo9aM
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8ag5kPq1B
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJAJWBEfAV
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvCCdnpHrx
She had to go back.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrHXgfl4Qv
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUUsT9zHi8
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9Y5SpeiFg
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgYJVvdxg9
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15W3tObJqV
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BGRL5tBDZ
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXCc1VwQAC
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQbCpvUPFp
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY69G1AfWcR
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLOcIzVPj2
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCqPacRayF
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjajf0JpjGj
His heart stopped.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1mA8xVWT7
"Chrissy—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFu7vFiwjm
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgEFrugNVt
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3AEVUigJG
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmCYYxC3qN
Deeper.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHawUbVLloo
More alive.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKBhBrvibh
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7RgErmUv9
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzhB1SHZQh
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hKQiisMpS
A gemstone.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH8ARioADn
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFOzYWfIgg
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XXF7TH4lP
It was the missing piece.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSorqrQxzmC
The empty setting in her necklace.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHUukPoTYo
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2y5VqZcx3
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9arYXeNO6
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUpAptSciF
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?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAbtgvpdby
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESB1cDgnnE
"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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDxmykleB4
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09A9RD4KiI
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRKIEA1dPQ
She wasn't listening.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hRYYVWSNy
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo39r69L9HR
Nick blinked. "What?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqoe9jFvoR
"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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHxtkWZNnY
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwegAbyR5K
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?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjhNgkO6PX
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYkuvsbemu
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq5Q0JdxYg
She was spiraling.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1sPXoMb9N
"Chrissy."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpBrVzwRHj
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvl1aenXWg
"Chrissy—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD56Ldd0Dq
"I need—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCdC4sBbKF
He grabbed her face and kissed her.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rLYH0Bl7Z
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67idyu7Nms
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9RIGlOkbv
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSa8haFbOn
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7dtu1w0gp
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9mnzawjIC
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PkD8AP7Sp
Her heart was pounding.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF6VwRei2M
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1sYgB4fhg
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tXmqdFE7x
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrydmjB1G3C
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLgAwratFD
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa5ovjWtSX
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8egeM5OKoT
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfVWVBvGo3
The moment it clicked into place—165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3TyRZVuds
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5CTivicIt
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9CW4JExVl
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH6iZo5fNu
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevV7XZ64DC
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD01Wqx745V
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHVXGb8bLn
Nick didn't say anything.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMclZCdvpqH
And she didn't ask.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7L4ikaF5d
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau8fTwl0fz
Something had changed.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTFYqpsw45
And there was no going back now.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vwsi3rImm
