Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlgrck2kn7
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EVUJZKbnK
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzj5oX7Pbz
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiyaWZLvVd
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."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67pszuRWrj
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7FzDmQDMR
The Cliffside83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPmCkk9GjH
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhY7awT1hM
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaue1YHU8yz
The path ended at a sheer cliff.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLBur2Zzjh
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5gtHW2tfB
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb2V9hIrCc
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJFdcSaUWE
Gone?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjGNlQMtSJ
No. No way.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrOR69WdF0
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkACWeede3
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBIKhobRdU
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ62gdNj2j
The Ocean's Secret83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeOOk1hcjm
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI1blAjN12
She wasn't running out of air.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtjVn6fiBK
Her lungs didn't burn.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qf9vIzcWf
Instead, she felt... at peace.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvKNR0l5BR
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7fDkJ3A1P
A glimmer in the sand below.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk4dg6IEaT
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZLaR5JysF
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPNivHQ7KI
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp8wTvN4Q1
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVJH2vCL2G
The cave.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEDTP3VRmO
Maddie's Jealousy83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpnVcHUTzm
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc03SLK7yyJ
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZR7Gu4FOj
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IDthUkE9I
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbpLli2vWe
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."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhECWIGM2ND
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t8Yrl4hhh
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh9CBGUCJR
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuIBAKExIU
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2tPib37Hd
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8lKlM1xkp
And Maddie was getting sick of it.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCVi7OuGRl
Nick's Realization83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegGzcF1dhS
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSetCXF3QKE
His hands curled into fists.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AqTyP3ry4
She was somewhere safe.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Fxbt4R685
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAUVQ27q9Q
His stomach clenched.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7JHim2ZyM
"The cave."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaKS2CIkhZ
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ4xzouqr3
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm0qJAmc6E
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaxkkwIHGs
Nick hesitated.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IUwiXzukr
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUpjaniGeE
He didn't let himself finish the thought.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCh3MH35uV
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp0rOGzm48
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnZf9sH2Ws
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLsPYA2D6X
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUcPtR1ZjR
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV6W2ekVGJ
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQfjU7pvOT
He didn't stop.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2TX7SKQJV
Didn't look back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK8IAlopEc
Because every second he wasted here...83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhqF5h046V
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ8HNt0GJG
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjrDSaZHjc
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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