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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ5CDdDsF5
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bAANsgjGS
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEo1ofUAMy
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EIxl4Hvkq
She had to go back.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC0XeyFuR7
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wd36E2ZEG
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSBomabT1G
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRGjuBWw1Q
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPV21ciKQt
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWjm13AFGR
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGtUCY16NE
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLzIW7KprQ
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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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D4tjNbvxX
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xt86O1l5U
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmhv8bbajE
His heart stopped.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2BeFfHNmh
"Chrissy—"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuprwOxJgF
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGkO8OIuzu
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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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w2rlVHeaJ
Deeper.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNYCj3Qnjh
More alive.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xec14PsAE
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX2lvRrIGB
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1V22N4PnP
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOzOt9kURH
A gemstone.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4TTCTSFRV
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMYB4ljS2D
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNutKBxAExi
It was the missing piece.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekz8kxOxWW
The empty setting in her necklace.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG3vrZbmtV
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIJ9ClIHLv
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tje0q0F1n
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jJksPnaB2
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?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4CipFbQXP
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuVnm4qf47
"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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiOkMihw4m
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzsCEopGTH
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ZdiqEBNn
She wasn't listening.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrI9Z28UYe
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlloru4ZdE
Nick blinked. "What?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRmmiccqPs
"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."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kwLlkixTQ
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OdST43xSH
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?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBNiqPNxAO
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdk9AMyLRa
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSjhQAAUBB
She was spiraling.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qsu9pQaGg
"Chrissy."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLYkDnLI4C
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SoRgRMfFE
"Chrissy—"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZcUTQcALt
"I need—"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmauqX5q7bk
He grabbed her face and kissed her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeje8r1uWsF
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tldiv0XNb
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GGGXaxOvb
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgGV9SdKHt
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUpjLayOH9
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."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwCJzdMEZB
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8063ohUtB
Her heart was pounding.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRtQX1fRiV
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmABTQi720
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtdkqo9QCT
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxinupxzxn
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmfMW47lVb
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvYMrxHoIC
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjGYVadbnJ
The moment it clicked into place—185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj5wjVhaMq
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa3HDRnynE
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHy0pDSGyB
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphS04CkvdO
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg11F9kabW
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.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL93tPAWbAK
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rAW6zOQpc
Nick didn't say anything.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4Ko8GiQAh
And she didn't ask.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgg6ebuL0B
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaSTol5H6G
Something had changed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssGBXJGBHH
And there was no going back now.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOizhaqLUsJ
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