Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BPB5F1md0
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xKeupZtJ6
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMPPUFx2ft
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nJ47xV9ax
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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTF0TXbkTJ
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUCzaXGnyF
The Cliffside95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExNyjVGc2e
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJiCCmtc7w
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGudQhIRfAO
The path ended at a sheer cliff.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsXBJIN19z
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGP36SNfmW
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Gx6RGfyC
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DTV8bobNt
Gone?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjKCbNsnaT
No. No way.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IBWZtNiAF
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQn5CYekcO
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNktW2kwgYT
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttkvyl9WPH
The Ocean's Secret95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUg38s1BoR
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP71hCI2MW
She wasn't running out of air.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqJa0nF9r8
Her lungs didn't burn.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqi7gi13WQ
Instead, she felt... at peace.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKZkWNycYB
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvwTSiJpAZ
A glimmer in the sand below.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdi4npKlEN
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFaOyaSElm
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDzuey1gCg
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YUbT8iY44
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpORfRcR9P
The cave.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq7XZmckkX
Maddie's Jealousy95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeiBOwgvHV
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Y4hmNwY5
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6JDLI5HQP
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKiJACFwRv
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9FtrfOV68
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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCOzZqA9IN
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifLlJXtxpg
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbZbJiU4pd
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiO0grKFuF
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMv3iQetcI
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJW57ee0zG
And Maddie was getting sick of it.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNWzHPhAP8
Nick's Realization95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArA5i2PO7U
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYdQtl3UNK
His hands curled into fists.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNbcKY6UkL
She was somewhere safe.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVBoz8l5sp
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dhhSs4B4S
His stomach clenched.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wacHNzctD
"The cave."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcXHPc0p1w
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SkkomCAaL
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuOEOlKjiE
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N7hFEyQiV
Nick hesitated.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMFgyFBfEa
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUgeK5MDVI
He didn't let himself finish the thought.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QIKakLzgk
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzNj5267lK
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJPthcT6lb
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkAVu9VJFh
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFsm1vU8YN
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZjyGU0oAC
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4dqRx4Qnb
He didn't stop.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakSbV2npRD
Didn't look back.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB1uJFBr7t
Because every second he wasted here...95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ7KbqtR7Q
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkGJX1iShQ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJbHks8pDz
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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