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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mNmBigjEW
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwi2l3dAU0
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPX0L3sJdC
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl6jbyy5Gu
She had to go back.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUdtU44EIO
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnlPpdqXJh
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHOYULzjjy
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF7nAJyqGa
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDPv3Bquuq
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdADo2oKSt
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflrZY1Suwp
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiFBYqr8Ak
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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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2If5z8K6fq
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO1iQRrXo4
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6suZg7KUm
His heart stopped.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7nGDUje1h
"Chrissy—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOR5Bwqc4F
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRBuORrKzx
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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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm5fo4PCKD
Deeper.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxXA9Il5er
More alive.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnBwwudLsI
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa1RxyBlKz
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WgOrN7cta
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGELWvbRjXc
A gemstone.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpWYRUWwXm
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OuQocOEjj
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8r075CytK
It was the missing piece.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTReCUIap00
The empty setting in her necklace.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQQX2PWRo
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo0ppKdHGk
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLXAupHKtY
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7AgcCAj7P
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?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09lRFBGfEv
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18nPN1bQq9
"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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsI9GiVjP4
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy1AN7kV1e
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXhTKd9Er8
She wasn't listening.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllaaFaDeH4
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjJDIa8J08
Nick blinked. "What?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJfWP1cLdT
"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."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefqyv3mxJH
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcSK0sDDZq
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?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp3znmh5l4
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡainZDV6l89
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmxCcTLnoi
She was spiraling.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFlHJ7lTGQ
"Chrissy."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLR2Zhyz6f
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHIri7LS7R
"Chrissy—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvyuwFfpTR
"I need—"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1P6CdNBd3
He grabbed her face and kissed her.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnRFhEMk8b
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRYe2SPdPK
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFfROvTnNo
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFlfwXh0Cy
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJmpxXjKMj
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."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICHpGyttVR
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr8oJHE6M5
Her heart was pounding.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8kBmvGjsG
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYGYmjsUTb
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZXkgf4afc
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXNJF7TZsp
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkSqQlMH1S
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQy6VipoYc
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefYhUWp6O1
The moment it clicked into place—170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEvy1q4Kux
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsKainUVCO
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVozG82Wt5T
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cRLiSM08j
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54PCPXXKMm
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXwLJxNpwZ
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYOUCz4zNF
Nick didn't say anything.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNeEqSNAeS
And she didn't ask.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuMUfwnGjg
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmb4O16VVW
Something had changed.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfi6QI4iz9
And there was no going back now.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSwHPLTM0v
