Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9Y7g1xOQL
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiocMN4wl8
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTrwzLBsRY
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSaWDDYTxF
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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizRpy6YDUM
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjNszhOKZY
The Cliffside67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRZJWxIKFd
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUoGFLBOvJ
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb92HjEVAFB
The path ended at a sheer cliff.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y4xrTLJpO
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxAEPdlZyA
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPeezGgjbf
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqT2eZ9Ia5
Gone?67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUlZ93oFtz
No. No way.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD4lwZyWYC
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Ol7cpPrS
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LzYwOBgqS
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKO6N7yusV
The Ocean's Secret67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2vqtNkXLc
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTtlmP1YLG
She wasn't running out of air.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bp9WQpsTm
Her lungs didn't burn.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnJgiIQBds
Instead, she felt... at peace.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu4KjNM8YV
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAry8jtslEb
A glimmer in the sand below.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtvWCYXLR1
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrBBMD41qS
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jD775ypTZ
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKka8xLRn8u
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfxj6KkUUv
The cave.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmdwCEpEMt
Maddie's Jealousy67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAzehO3CBR
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdNXSLTix5
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfq7C7REqf
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oryjkPeFe
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dIjL2VO1l
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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuMcjlDMAA
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84gSOwBQkF
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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WkJV4yAjB
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMu9AqDaD3
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlCpBZyw2W
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3MXM3lyrt
And Maddie was getting sick of it.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj6YUjCHWW
Nick's Realization67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwd97i6au2
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV6f2iZZtX
His hands curled into fists.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGlVMh07vQ
She was somewhere safe.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmscvtUV34D
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk2Qw7BMVI
His stomach clenched.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRY7dxPZKM
"The cave."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXHMjFq3D8
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYUxkPDt9y
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1FQPhADb2
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEiKIUW3GH
Nick hesitated.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkMdAWJNUW
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXyEGPvNdX
He didn't let himself finish the thought.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnYqciwDim
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW0LgXfKe3
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCvO4tX3vk
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUEMtpfjrv
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n38XqRCuw
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u1DznSCVd
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrpeeBDuei
He didn't stop.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXcUp9OKdu
Didn't look back.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwcKQ1xzHE
Because every second he wasted here...67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrl20FTFY5
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LXVUTdelf
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVu30XK3UB
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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