Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZPhBxTRq7
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xjn9yGjFW
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ016v2Y7r
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTTYpkkqa3
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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYZeMSyNRX
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbzDQuzOya
The Cliffside152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYC7oAMQtX
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX78hvCRrEP
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBNg1NBKCH
The path ended at a sheer cliff.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO7bOt7709
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEbnRJMgNm
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApooGY5BJ5
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS2LLtXzc9
Gone?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVWwca1fr2
No. No way.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoToFF5GuJs
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6nurA6A0W
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA9GtNVbaq
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWKjiAaIho
The Ocean's Secret152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rXk75OnKQ
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kL92PlOyj
She wasn't running out of air.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9uYsDq0P6
Her lungs didn't burn.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B1dZMghVS
Instead, she felt... at peace.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfi754tsXD
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Snd15pEi
A glimmer in the sand below.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5sqEhTEp1
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkLisszPLR
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK84Chfrp7E
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUlcozzz62
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFA0SxVRK0
The cave.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRT8Lhg1rQ
Maddie's Jealousy152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1SgEgV487
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHoPLofjf9
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh52f7J1JtP
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdjMnlZRRx
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkMA9GUlYW
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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYIagTfBIy
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDuEAU6sVD
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6uY9IeNGg
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ4Kw4Vcvx
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuCwKG1GHd
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNMKzmsp6C
And Maddie was getting sick of it.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY5qQrfoei
Nick's Realization152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WHClgWvhS
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSF55nhjRE
His hands curled into fists.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ulGgt0zMy
She was somewhere safe.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF3LqQiYJm
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTXwKJ35FW
His stomach clenched.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQofPDjmrvf
"The cave."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwiHwEo2XF
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6c0RXejzm
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPUqnzv341
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOZw2ynlrG
Nick hesitated.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDKJGwIEQj
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrGz7R0zXq
He didn't let himself finish the thought.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbE1ZN7zQy
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqschfbhUY
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunf3w5JjCX
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjOFJJ7SAy
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhME5U51JUz
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfOKr8P8hR
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64l35T3B9W
He didn't stop.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCfVjBB78c
Didn't look back.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvCuFDkowX
Because every second he wasted here...152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhC4kG7fTd
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTTqHRfTnw
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimh8SNWywy
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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