Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltj6YWoGhh
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52tewpVi2W
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PuA5MZLB5
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr4WLn9LUi
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."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCaF7vhqXP
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaTSrDs5zt
The Cliffside190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWdXkwlTzw
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvROee0PWVA
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vE5RjV69C
The path ended at a sheer cliff.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5q2Eo0jTD
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlCY0tG2Nk
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT25ZNctf2
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgBtllHubY
Gone?190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj86LcBremC
No. No way.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSdRTt1xHY
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d0zqiEu6k
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIcVZM9ruq
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQh0c4jE1M
The Ocean's Secret190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPLxbKUsY3
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y1NlPsxgZ
She wasn't running out of air.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwqfZ14W23
Her lungs didn't burn.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocgYp454E9
Instead, she felt... at peace.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8g7BSoeUo
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyV0YEAwsR
A glimmer in the sand below.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcPxpYuKK5
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5S0U3rLMm
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bfgUtupeb
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDK3CTptid
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTsBeBH2yx
The cave.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ4TGeAP0D
Maddie's Jealousy190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6lzIQjudw
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNA5KhoxvA
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGw5D9Hsjr
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrFHr4X90N
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFJosRX68U
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."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVt2b4DMo7
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGELABWML5
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupUNglSS14
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarYrkw8KrQ
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdnW6ImQ7i
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nxsdR7wCe
And Maddie was getting sick of it.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mkecabBxV
Nick's Realization190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvJ3hmlDnV
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTij70qsnv
His hands curled into fists.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12BAVP8z9l
She was somewhere safe.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pY3RgSU0p
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDcJeWRyFJ
His stomach clenched.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBbNYA5Mc0
"The cave."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVF9IeUoqa
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqCNjBHhZd
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6KXAC3Tgb
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q5yfdC9u2
Nick hesitated.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSWfYrzxkA
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstP92ZZEyd
He didn't let himself finish the thought.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcteLYUDKNh
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmj9f6kLgA
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNTznTHIfl
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLleu52BZTL
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5ckzQQVva
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzgwUzPs0L
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqwpEetpEo
He didn't stop.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZsiCrsMcJ
Didn't look back.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzyLd3k6vG
Because every second he wasted here...190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9nUHNGQTx
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEH7BsoeXs
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc30mfc3jA
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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