Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPOt8Sfrwf
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAFwCAoSQ7
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquR1hXrBXD
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa62UuoRQwt
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."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxgsjbO4It
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrmYo2E3j9
The Cliffside24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5i69FYQTK
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ6FOzmKKa
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18WAYmRBhk
The path ended at a sheer cliff.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN6WAQX9TE
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0VHISQGlO
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRf5aJcsxu
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6stkoUZJiv
Gone?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHijiqB2P9
No. No way.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFgHEa7ad6
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4U64BwDew
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeu3VYLlmv
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHyEu8NzoF
The Ocean's Secret24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3c5cbB3mU
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6BnGthGLC
She wasn't running out of air.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV41Xq8Dgzf
Her lungs didn't burn.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93E1bZDVQs
Instead, she felt... at peace.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAkpufHpEu
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8jA1reRrg
A glimmer in the sand below.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AIcTu3BT9
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0QmfNxCrb
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSel2vP5ATy
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpG9A0njTO
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88tUwRMYwT
The cave.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP45jDCDOCF
Maddie's Jealousy24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyXb634Jhu
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPeNRVIHuK
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzo6ZIx4Wi
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3QgaGPB2Y
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvws3kQYr1
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."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcIW5sDhTZ
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OumHN9YbC
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaulhlMZd1t
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQnTCkfaCg
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4y8ZJbX48
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0nPPKkbQ9
And Maddie was getting sick of it.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy95kBXjL4
Nick's Realization24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaVe2Phde3
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtwOhh63Qg
His hands curled into fists.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TeL5hLN5T
She was somewhere safe.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lCvrXFgUZ
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe7gg4Qz7O
His stomach clenched.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVlv4l9k0p
"The cave."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lCMPtJ5PL
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM4LELsRVp
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcF5Zz4nnB
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX9NcbR5In
Nick hesitated.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhuNxDEKwp
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpp8tfIO3p
He didn't let himself finish the thought.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqyD06856N
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5CCE3jlQO
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ807iAd3vEY
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2rNEWufMf
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzjlPJS9Cf
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmF1QFI4EH
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilQKn5R0UY
He didn't stop.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQrn9KewoJ
Didn't look back.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN15CoUn92i
Because every second he wasted here...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ108xqehCrD
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1kEF6Cu4r
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQvty1O3x3
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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