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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXruDe0Z9C3
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zFoWmWBLj
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvIqC23TLP
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25CTw5D63r
She had to go back.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHlormrHmW
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkywkN8cM2G
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1GmTQk2YZ
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nHuBhfsux
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQE3QRBSd2
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDGnGc0EvY
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8teghdWkz
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0IXU7QOPb
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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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoYNDC0JGu
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2S27BCIiE
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTmjtqN8xm
His heart stopped.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rJmZPjGzb
"Chrissy—"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurSFHSEygw
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S8fHBRCPm
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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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdfJJRTMUv
Deeper.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK9EiKYlWo
More alive.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4zAZLdxpC
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF6oOKcDzV
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFWl5HVthC
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGerm93JTo
A gemstone.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKEIpIco13
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImO0ylk3nx
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojzS4NZVRT
It was the missing piece.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSKJ00Ln3u
The empty setting in her necklace.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5WL0eOApJ
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4TriJteiu
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tldOliXHr
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxavQfwpTQ
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?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv3baZfteo
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcQTDPQXpE
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRMwbyOp1x
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJelYQkZilc
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWxXHq3t6a
She wasn't listening.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth5jrl56fu
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnroWtMkU0k
Nick blinked. "What?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcA0DzTzHp
"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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ936rEUk5U8
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhN3jmF96X
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?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOEoML4S6L
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4IAUxtF1G
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtFZXHc5y2
She was spiraling.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpniwnCdQ8
"Chrissy."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckssGybY0M
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaFcgXMyjW
"Chrissy—"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbKOrM8iju
"I need—"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdhDAH11QC
He grabbed her face and kissed her.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtdEXctNWC
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiF349rvdv
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfchocdZXS2
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDn2gvaR80
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckfrV3ETEe
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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3tMpeVv5i
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmDSCMOHKK
Her heart was pounding.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM9yr1mi4Z
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1SrNMri6j
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q9HFDPVt6
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLJQBQdML6
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuClpoE2V66
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC15OlmgU5M
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY2XLTchDW
The moment it clicked into place—9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JMdM6qyYK
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnXNwuydgG
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhVg5C8kzP
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOFOsUQ9Z6
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDU6MetQQz
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvQtijd8DX
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdDQx6yx5Y
Nick didn't say anything.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0KracGllY
And she didn't ask.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrn7lFfmR6
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE5hEoV3zy
Something had changed.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TvZKDEp0P
And there was no going back now.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qTpsZGMj9
