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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffTY5hax1F
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLHJtxn7Xs
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyPMnP2YmV
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzO3PGTE6K
She had to go back.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeZbJ3KTlZ
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRayX9DRw8A
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeEyPPuWOE
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxU7OGX5rX
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApsLobdVQe
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXYhNeIVL0
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph2CLgXirY
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAPm4POYN2
⸻92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgY2JGSMwa
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLo8HXXO2R
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAXuBUouST
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZMmMeyzwC
His heart stopped.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrRvsNP6y9
"Chrissy—"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UkSUVgEVw
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmQtIsyFTj
⸻92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFqEYoqnrT
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq09pqL7O71
Deeper.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcmoEdA9Zf
More alive.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccV4MaRgqh
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKL4FcB0CS
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffd1gvAo6f
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcY3cMR8Ek
A gemstone.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7Uok4i7T6
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4937xjo4c2
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRZeuPXkF7
It was the missing piece.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJp6WhiZIE
The empty setting in her necklace.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD8eiqG3az
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9UKMjS8I4
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTng8HLdYp
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC835rBayS
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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmta341I7dv
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvOt1IheB1
"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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwf0moxKWY
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv4O17qvwD
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3NtBJlGxH
She wasn't listening.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBuh767aRP
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDoXsf2qGA
Nick blinked. "What?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oAISEpvSO
"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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd6Y4Ani8h
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYXZGtDQoX
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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEZVejBYlD
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo99iH9dHPi
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3poG7113of
She was spiraling.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciTo8CLANz
"Chrissy."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAAAAkZlvi
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EwtDP5f9l
"Chrissy—"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdV49y7m6o
"I need—"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk8ot3xvNP
He grabbed her face and kissed her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEGSZpu87P
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuJwkNkL2G
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJl13P7eh9
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo3FEpdw72
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM3hGnvv6o
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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhwHKw2xjn
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj33h4qlGn
Her heart was pounding.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJTFIY6WMh
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu7jEnSV45
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRivKGlUft
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmq8cni04R
⸻92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO57einIeB
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudKQPWpqqY
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhGuIbDrIy
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5mc5RagiE
The moment it clicked into place—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXBoMuYKNr
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvePayssuC8
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d2TAWcxAn
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrBu6lrgOR
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jCKm2kvAQ
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zS3fL0yUD
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2y3pB4VjS
Nick didn't say anything.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSMnqOWxr0
And she didn't ask.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabsqWr5Q5m
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oKB00tEOR
Something had changed.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEZ543nggl
And there was no going back now.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsle3K7hdP
