Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zH2qKVhP2
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdcuo157D3
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9PpOPzJpj
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj1ITHA0ZX
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."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV57U15ixdQ
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXSNP8J5r0
The Cliffside43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcyts4C43i
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlUv3SbPF9
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogppjEMcU3
The path ended at a sheer cliff.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtTS83yPFV
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt4a8SJjJu
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWD6X4GPrW
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdONpu2x9X2
Gone?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCL7n3ZxC3
No. No way.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV3FogHsJ7
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIev4dbCTui
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUpoj0bqfH
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF68ruNSOC3
The Ocean's Secret43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM3MUU4Lut
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICNfMrkEPr
She wasn't running out of air.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIRD5Dvx51
Her lungs didn't burn.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCnyl5G7FU
Instead, she felt... at peace.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD7FjDX0JC
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLTY5YSqNV
A glimmer in the sand below.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmwwjUIywo
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxP8PzPkTp
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5TUDsORIZ
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSadhmvLzh
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKYqNJY8pe
The cave.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcDZxeAxmf
Maddie's Jealousy43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNK7ugJ06o
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvPuo3kDXE
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdzIYFyxjc
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHVeUQIz7v
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCmWD4v9A1
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."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmEjJ01Zm2
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw0BCBwlBO
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaKclhFUMy
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfK2tI2Xgf
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk2usdZsWz
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48W8e3Y9br
And Maddie was getting sick of it.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ9ky98kh2
Nick's Realization43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8k9HwV8VB
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9jFblm35K
His hands curled into fists.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpnTOjwEth
She was somewhere safe.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZSe5Pgz3E
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvlDJ1rGWU
His stomach clenched.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSbZ30cisl
"The cave."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWJPtv5Zb5
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXfBnAv009
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHQXIVluId
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPffsibpWI
Nick hesitated.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7HXpsazKs
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWOgaQqEkr
He didn't let himself finish the thought.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8EGIa4r21
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuGmk7OzBP
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbcgIvKP0s
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkf4kR6wHt
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbbTgbGgjF
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohguO668NB
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqMvm41uGS
He didn't stop.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrbjN1S86o
Didn't look back.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsozDXkuJJ
Because every second he wasted here...43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s6YcanmPu
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5No16TwtD
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pbZeGfXXM
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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