Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjpyJy7huL
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqsj6xTMcs
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wsm64KRMV
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfkJiwgr05
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."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X0nhIrKMm
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTsxwlb4sQ
The Cliffside60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ybFxZdApX
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWPUJmet5g
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxR7TAWPjz
The path ended at a sheer cliff.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8fqTFvw0Z
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AdC6TYv8t
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsWlnQoapf
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6gjwoTvlt
Gone?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WC3DrVXHl
No. No way.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAuu37g7HT
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTFoEg4j2X
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpvoe8Mmbs
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHioCGts4XN
The Ocean's Secret60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGGOdeJlcl
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdCDxaXuQQ
She wasn't running out of air.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0CGN3rlA8
Her lungs didn't burn.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi88gSXoA70
Instead, she felt... at peace.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs5nu5gkeM
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVoq2NUSxY
A glimmer in the sand below.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSLcRUM5et
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIjdTDi8e1
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvLvj0kz0H
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoRum8pArb
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMg9oEYAbW
The cave.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnwRakvlRn
Maddie's Jealousy60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX47IDKbCKu
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K7hZBahSn
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBENsDTInAj
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHacUNbfT3
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiKiPNRmRO
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."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2KRXm2MAS
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJuVnBoMLf
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIElsgnyyV
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnYrF4GruB
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB3I9r7Ezj
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIrYoPjEob
And Maddie was getting sick of it.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87KvGwTqaY
Nick's Realization60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e71CpF4RW
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEozAkJ01pg
His hands curled into fists.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWywcB6JFUy
She was somewhere safe.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpTYMrTOBt
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hp9dRG7ZF
His stomach clenched.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcuJwSTowF
"The cave."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaTL2wTblk
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQlzs0P7KM
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuqZjqh5je
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyj1dlxGok
Nick hesitated.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpa4BrYGxF
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGwjP8rdMR
He didn't let himself finish the thought.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GsIQogbaW
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6qz9QiiPQ
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarxwMSzQQi
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvmLxnYfd
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRsdaS6Vxn
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EzUXDjL3b
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd7wxAdhUD
He didn't stop.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3ZTmKNcH2
Didn't look back.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP9vaukGfo
Because every second he wasted here...60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdD1XMbcPO
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmQCebjWzy
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECTV1eeBHs
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns3.14.144.145da2
