Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4MdlYnmPf
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2Km6hRkoy
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx6n0Mbace
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLbQMPgsuN
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZFS2JfPTs
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptcdAiUVVV
The Cliffside168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTBlPbYjVu
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZnmDKjv16
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlhJrdssdq
The path ended at a sheer cliff.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFHnh1UhVc
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtmbHV191p
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSiJQnrcyp
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqqxqX9g5f
Gone?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiXRfBFS9L
No. No way.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtitqhs8WE
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L3KCqyLiq
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFSIEuDQ2x
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1DpDweL7C
The Ocean's Secret168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcRyQZzRQd
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg69MnsBGhZ
She wasn't running out of air.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPpF0C5Svw
Her lungs didn't burn.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Kcl9ot1R
Instead, she felt... at peace.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv0CrMg8UA
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNChzzmTJkv
A glimmer in the sand below.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxlqQNd5Yn
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3ysqrCI8R
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgwwHjOIuU
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMZZyRonVM
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o7Kef3IJc
The cave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9FibImOF9
Maddie's Jealousy168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZThOBNMmH
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsRAHamiEO
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiYNca21td
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUm576eO06
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4882O96akw
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6tiYrDHwB
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSftW0ZhRW
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrGqMpRikG
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIomQcB1CsB
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgxQQRTx9D
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD8A2BLF8J
And Maddie was getting sick of it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkffVsfYa4
Nick's Realization168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHZOd0DxBH
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IPKcPfrRl
His hands curled into fists.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfHXh9TwGN
She was somewhere safe.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta1LRRhZ2H
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS72b9hSDrh
His stomach clenched.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoULSuRpDzO
"The cave."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BkWR3w4Rc
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb8lrb3QRH
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjDH86mTLT
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTOpcUwy02
Nick hesitated.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8bYAY7L7v
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oPPTnYOBo
He didn't let himself finish the thought.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GXn46PuDS
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0K9QpT9b
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBz4KQHjl5
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZz0s2shI2
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnWjH2Vr64
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT3uG2caQR
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoboT7wCt3c
He didn't stop.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEBBLAjqVJ
Didn't look back.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9WEJeRNzg
Because every second he wasted here...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAjXsP9yPv
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQF1yKi0M6
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfWm2uNN35
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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