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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU3XRknJZN
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJABIflONU
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8hdxTuBth
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK0XliECsl
She had to go back.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ2iDp03D5
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1kjq4HtMs
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A7VlsyMO7
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9kdirUTOR
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DcAmySx2o
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oc0ZhCcvH
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0w6Nab33h
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFky5fXPqjO
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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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP2E1axHG2
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHREJjsbLv
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvC34LM8DW
His heart stopped.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2PdQsGHsa
"Chrissy—"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtBE3C83KS
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFbPvKQQtw
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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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMkyu8sipM
Deeper.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeFyVsHZZG
More alive.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgc1xWv7Or
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG25mSfw9f
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvr99Am2cM
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEckvT2aJQ
A gemstone.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA7Hh4prI9
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxlhKQPllA
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvfTXVnlMS
It was the missing piece.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT58MF3ij8i
The empty setting in her necklace.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlIFC5OmYr
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW4YPk4Q5h
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlz3kkK2Pz
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKtBAbJVj6
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?"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczauGW83qF
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq7HcrfiUU
"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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilsEjtnadt
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ4yBI3zvV
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvaZewRHZ5
She wasn't listening.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfdzSbzKF8
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdjIf1XJ54
Nick blinked. "What?"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS12a8Kvrp
"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."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AVUqGHvZJ
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHwVstvRAz
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?"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgep8kX3iSP
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WmD3jPnUk
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTxm8FRkTJ
She was spiraling.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZYGUEhtXL
"Chrissy."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrPwFKkYbZ
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk11YRWEvx
"Chrissy—"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ZRQyCda7
"I need—"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K7inxYuuz
He grabbed her face and kissed her.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjwOnOPBpi
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT1C9ftysZ
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8reCDLkr5
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaKhQXVnSn
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Dz8sc05v
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."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EbPDcBvbg
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7llqJ8ukQX
Her heart was pounding.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsJG6MTknD
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAwnqRwZyc
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sPxzkqYxd
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFgB5KJhgU
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNmzUeq5Fh
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX5JLQjsJu
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriKJapBesW
The moment it clicked into place—153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubzJufAZ2H
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfTziXWbYQ
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasMh7K2BkW
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCjvbIA9T4
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd3IoF7Z6A
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.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAJH74iqOV
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B8gYFI6Lp
Nick didn't say anything.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJo9zN3rPN
And she didn't ask.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYLV7Kumlv
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV4YSF9XGF
Something had changed.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYaQCfrKgG
And there was no going back now.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA4SjAyrZR
