Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQRp4Gh64t
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jguTWDAt3
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmpk7i7cZO
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPtCRqniKR
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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4htrAKNmDd
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgFpcnuq5G
The Cliffside181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iD050H9hu
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgUO7EyyHa
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswJEwZUacj
The path ended at a sheer cliff.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMEUroUBCr
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkg7TCVeY4
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasQC36tHh9
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7XPzuTO8w
Gone?181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKstRb1k6J
No. No way.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Duv4wzQL6
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVz7ZefPBb
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPP8cOYCEf
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjADqh7vlvb
The Ocean's Secret181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqncJTrFiMg
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KP3byyOcD
She wasn't running out of air.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFumZgcTz10
Her lungs didn't burn.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DC2wzcuNz
Instead, she felt... at peace.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu99U4hRz0f
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDV4NFzpHe
A glimmer in the sand below.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52siVYn49y
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9775IBA1q
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYeKyElgXE
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaxkRrSmQa
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXkUbZtoeF
The cave.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8ALwIla4K
Maddie's Jealousy181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnavl62B544
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZwyyimWk0
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCiaw7WbfN
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDFycSEdx4
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqXUeD22KR
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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMatg9D1bd
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe10yFmPkSG
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhBTAyeMFe
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRmO8EfLrm
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2f7WYxsk6
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUynOC4KtU
And Maddie was getting sick of it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9PFGwJMaP
Nick's Realization181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgDxeKQ5ii
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aPxzi58Wx
His hands curled into fists.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTO7LvTeUe
She was somewhere safe.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwcVvdPOMq
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc81xAiR7Z
His stomach clenched.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEoGoa7zu6
"The cave."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkt5py3nRA
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdXM9IZ1eg
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrwfVSHAQ3
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRqASBU88m
Nick hesitated.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ru7WDfeP
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgpsITzqNY
He didn't let himself finish the thought.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mVAtVdcO2
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZFCfcSLH7
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfFF0fDHbu
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqEkaWHH3S
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1c3rg3HoE
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb6bn7stt1
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOwgm3jAOh
He didn't stop.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQqHUcGhH8
Didn't look back.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHtDPB5yZQ
Because every second he wasted here...181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq5K5hT77j
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ARBnErAZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5bUnSi7Jd
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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