Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQw7rcsc1u
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm2gSXiIje
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGBPG6GW4Z
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk73RgpPcBR
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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSPlTJSu4Y
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZwOHrAvoP
The Cliffside167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFofwwEkO2o
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFW8KFq2Lo
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7kPjUGwfr
The path ended at a sheer cliff.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPhJshpwmY
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OPjgiRwgN
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2FqbWcnXs
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnFa9b0Nha
Gone?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu83xJtStuA
No. No way.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PufXI79LA
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CDfz4PLXl
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ0j9EqzRQ
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tSzM6vpMd
The Ocean's Secret167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGuJBPRtb6
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykFAJr0G0W
She wasn't running out of air.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBDYZnz6m3
Her lungs didn't burn.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvAxmpzZUX
Instead, she felt... at peace.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajkqeR7Qqg
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3djUXpI7xo
A glimmer in the sand below.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ53Be1M2U
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMmNoqzx81
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbykqx4iEW
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuCDnmCX1D
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhINNs8Kzuv
The cave.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpbIh9gYT8
Maddie's Jealousy167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQlKE4X6hF
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHZ3RZYrhy
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mZHTeJVCN
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3v1yHwIq2
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVoXiRUnki
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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9YJYNEBT9
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ794OImk1Ir
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgffx8ugmBF
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfQX2vHwG6
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdQxEBnYWm
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWF7AfSQyJ
And Maddie was getting sick of it.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MUms6KxAj
Nick's Realization167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZsQPOI0Xg
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93hY55IYEA
His hands curled into fists.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPS5H4BGse
She was somewhere safe.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL2sXWAEe5
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNzgE4iwSL
His stomach clenched.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmJqvFy9uO
"The cave."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2FPUbcEGb
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl7atrKS5O
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3qRY6Uo9X
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYsy4s24qQ
Nick hesitated.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWegLMzPr1
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiyX5vCCDs
He didn't let himself finish the thought.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXIKdXXlhY
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfw7bnD9Ri
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICtQYkuzK9
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqyVYfa6BD
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl2d1CcLzJ
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OeaZKa5q1
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioaG1wDJTa
He didn't stop.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfqlGla4Nr
Didn't look back.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiPBeq2NBD
Because every second he wasted here...167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Rggl6J6m
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF39SlQvScS
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRai1pWI3l
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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