Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOURP003Bt
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPgE98kLSU
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vdCpB5LWB
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvVXyjjl9C
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."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqmoAZddg3
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEJCB47vJu
The Cliffside200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOVDDI1SF5
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV0rMSKDWW
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5xn4iIosW
The path ended at a sheer cliff.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcJHBlWkbr
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eGryDjqYH
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFRG7wakE8
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2R273POyv
Gone?200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9pKJwzWBT
No. No way.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IzIIggWJT
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6UtSTumnW
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkVtwIf3c1
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHWYrTAqnS
The Ocean's Secret200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BwIEkNWVV
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD49CZEdFN
She wasn't running out of air.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zrO1433dq
Her lungs didn't burn.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLhrfT25dM
Instead, she felt... at peace.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9WiwhdJiu
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFB6FtW7Wz
A glimmer in the sand below.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cXy6iYqVp
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeC8JetJWG
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgjRFNeXgQ
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW48KLewXRv
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYJCJQ7Ji7
The cave.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6296NCIUp
Maddie's Jealousy200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8kSJYAwi4
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMHZxtTM9e
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBjpjMDtce
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S5lK1BzMo
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUuXxTuKOx
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."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdvoayzrLj
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn6Fschd2k
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujgncn8N0T
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDGjH3qKVg
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGZIw1idUn
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkOmk23mMw
And Maddie was getting sick of it.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0c1kQxwzl
Nick's Realization200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPhDWZYQIn
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRP2t95Jnq
His hands curled into fists.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagW3B1YsGC
She was somewhere safe.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FKoTRGefl
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizr9nesk5S
His stomach clenched.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYguX4h6Bvn
"The cave."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58ojZNszC8
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0rQnIQDHB
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJLXxFz8sD
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8p8OV3xjm
Nick hesitated.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFddEfRueLL
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEMZHw59gC
He didn't let himself finish the thought.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxmuiE15yB
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfPgeVekSL
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lvK11t3xk
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxEkoJnCsG
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AKJU9NzIe
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMDxhMebY0
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfm2VJZth0
He didn't stop.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rUnodL6y4
Didn't look back.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S4q2krP0H
Because every second he wasted here...200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIhQ2aZ0Lb
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYPxaS7qop
200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3sI5YdWnO
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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