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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9Ff4hmHF8
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2gFjwADih
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡameeTN5MOc
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWGXBjxcSU
She had to go back.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ooY5YwHSF
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuGMmztn1T
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFN68X5zLc
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrTHGkr35X
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmfRtxbFyq
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohe446lhjI
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwMtLfgB7q
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU1M1EUowT
⸻82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJdavDc08w
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp1A5c0Rlo
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWn407eXw2
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4Z0oHbEoI
His heart stopped.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZM7q56V4m
"Chrissy—"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUdW0ilTYN
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4fBZuWpzf
⸻82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAYtHvWoYB
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjfaU5atsJ
Deeper.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPfGPlNhW7
More alive.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Dr2RN0xGy
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIsGGc4OFp
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn57eszTVId
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInb1d9NzL9
A gemstone.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9T2WURMHO
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZmI7uARWE
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgCJIucnvd
It was the missing piece.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26WeLjflKh
The empty setting in her necklace.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGw4IlM7cB
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiabgHRr2VG
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruxpHT7c48
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXIuydHDEG
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?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gKFENi2Yb
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0hbU5e0We
"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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkpLPiy2wV
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoMpTeRo45
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXdkK2Or8Z
She wasn't listening.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB95InYVI4s
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8uQQw363s
Nick blinked. "What?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf89zL1o6tp
"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."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5byM1aniEo
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gJ1FDVt5S
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?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOGOqbyTKA
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDmwoR8SFA
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6fmVhuqxW
She was spiraling.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSPikmpgQM
"Chrissy."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGBm3W9k5s
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGunerNuKO
"Chrissy—"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaWPsG66nF
"I need—"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmBZBDDv7I
He grabbed her face and kissed her.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3LWVrA6EL
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9MrVFzA8U
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMwtzfjm4M
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlXdkuSFTG
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qUyEYA0ZG
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."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl17q47YURL
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oulR1MwB4
Her heart was pounding.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ8GzBXwqi
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf93cXiMCJ6
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtxTzKUKQv
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEZDOySsV7
⸻82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2nqWSieZK
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj05lip4jRE
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJfOXKhH2E
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rT2Hy6MCx
The moment it clicked into place—82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ1uKQXMPX
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD8HHf3Zp6
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWT1Rv9VaY
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKL5CcmBjW
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn0xQbQHBk
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.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfhLp5Zkfw
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JPvZj2fZr
Nick didn't say anything.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIAXKL9J21
And she didn't ask.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRoRNxBhbQ
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSYVvuwhIZ
Something had changed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpbk7eLfiQ
And there was no going back now.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlnU8YWJv3
