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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRoZ9WOXyx
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED5wWHe1Ot
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTaBsqK8mr
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9jhyrpky7
She had to go back.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0C6ESezVa
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3kOFiqXVk
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3P5gsOhUE
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xcmBgda3w
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXfAHQCmQu
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdOiPgeBs4
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpicg44gptv
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLss03KiQc
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX5KWiPDcz
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoOIrFo4tK
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXklomv3eg
His heart stopped.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMCBVCojWQ
"Chrissy—"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EkylV595L
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SGLib5gg0
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjBxoq7aOL
Deeper.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yw3HfciTd
More alive.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRpunPNLZ9
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4lxyK2Xw4
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWG3cDAioo
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMNgMsvaGb
A gemstone.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM28AwF1ev3
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd1bt1NoD5
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSi9tN6G05
It was the missing piece.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqvb8A3MLn
The empty setting in her necklace.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ovmi5dYQk
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN86d1MIhrP
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lp4sQOuSg
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnEHdZvMhe
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?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeXzSkAlaJ
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCUqChuCTS
"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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtNFPFe4Nk
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNbErwkoi0
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aqwTNaYUR
She wasn't listening.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyBPCXeVEi
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDlUqOCaL7
Nick blinked. "What?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUDQt3a91I
"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."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxowXEqcUCW
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP4VMkgemV
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?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTKncKP2cY
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYldumdwHJ
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy549svRj3
She was spiraling.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKlpHRmGnO
"Chrissy."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZjGB6e0Dt
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ731cyoYD2d
"Chrissy—"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WRsUK771p
"I need—"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2oXRQR4xo
He grabbed her face and kissed her.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmwNjc67SP
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrvWrzWRDo
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdRVp29Y6V
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLLLXhV7Vw
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QUedMGa4p
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."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoAVWbr0lu
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaiRLKoveT
Her heart was pounding.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaUdU3tCKY
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMl4ktbWNm
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPBAwd2I0W
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPxUjrjNNI
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kkk9cIziX
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJmKfNXOZ3
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMvVLL7WoL
The moment it clicked into place—208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15FXwFOxUr
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhWTLeR2i4
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMG1ri0ImF
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2irT5fRVdP
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtofLE9wCf
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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORAaQfhHOq
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJMFjPjVGV
Nick didn't say anything.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJEhmMLGWM
And she didn't ask.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgatJhxdksX
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O4mTaiXeP
Something had changed.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGolqfE2L0G
And there was no going back now.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t00b4Jid5
