Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVhEmzteMi
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcuzhi37go
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQv0B9jDIv
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD22cLY50KH
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."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHVkpn5Mq8
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBTLzC5MJM
The Cliffside44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZouPkLaKx8
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleIMyuRvD9
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuGX2pZ6Iq
The path ended at a sheer cliff.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2snDCpnLaA
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1jS0hbTgg
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAUnTx9B9l
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2V9YGKosI
Gone?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOsRMEB7Yd
No. No way.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCWkGzeSIx
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAmTlfCyFU
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9u9UI5zTM
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyILUoQJKlG
The Ocean's Secret44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH3o1y0nYl
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc9qdaLaVf
She wasn't running out of air.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCxIG0eeaG
Her lungs didn't burn.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqIS4IpeLZ
Instead, she felt... at peace.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBmJGJoyja
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihBaZGWtSl
A glimmer in the sand below.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSVBcSI3iU
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4nFMSIYdq
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Dio1d4aW
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWzfPEfZN3
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5UAfcrDtL
The cave.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMVBtE3lbv
Maddie's Jealousy44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUF1k7vTza
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTReNjAfgJO
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPRviXX2BO
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbTHYiQkZT
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v2KX0BGkP
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."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI8QhD5iA6
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lStinVJrS
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw4DqqN8p4
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUTdoYYXCV
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbg3MknSi0
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDltFy2WLg
And Maddie was getting sick of it.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNUkUcXMRn
Nick's Realization44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUXWhorbdb
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5he0K4q1n
His hands curled into fists.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn75aLadXRo
She was somewhere safe.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfmPUXcWej
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB81mP6fwdE
His stomach clenched.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJokU0xKutd
"The cave."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXHtaGKVgp
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg9VvSzSku
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs69gQ6Pj2
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28taxyPp6U
Nick hesitated.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiimjgv3ggT
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn7iZNyDBg
He didn't let himself finish the thought.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo630NU7grg
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp4eFTaWrR
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O4m5JhxYh
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSpS8IVZfM
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz8Q48ytlD
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe89ciZBVJR
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCG7A5nmHs
He didn't stop.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX091WeZANu
Didn't look back.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VDDXuWy7v
Because every second he wasted here...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPwSho3cy2
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM7S57xNIn
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3wHDm2t0D
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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