Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1msDp9XksE
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fqxXqwwRL
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SVVlXSssl
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJTRbbNcEs
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EBu4Ddljz
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKiGGhW0NU
The Cliffside163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ezP4czHwQ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyfOXVwXqf
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYCfaO56J2
The path ended at a sheer cliff.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrIg8GkUjK
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwpSYwG81p
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamQKnhg3mx
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLacriG2Cc
Gone?163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYZqD7ygOy
No. No way.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ivZyv0scN
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcR5WtLaNo
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RqoX304Ss
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZPp2889MW
The Ocean's Secret163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhNZCAfY7a
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52uDoiI0Tu
She wasn't running out of air.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF12uyrB49R
Her lungs didn't burn.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLLLqyyfgJ
Instead, she felt... at peace.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdrR2F6DDC
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7RsTwi7Mu
A glimmer in the sand below.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmiHJnqRXS
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO1PvW5fPK
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnDMx79sVy
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi1byH1B25
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt1YYaDqF1
The cave.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1ePxLpE5a
Maddie's Jealousy163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndxeNFeiwl
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpSjWPB1CF
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdYbeOL4cz
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cKf1MXnXt
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZspCEZ41b
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbaiRmUSJC
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOUj0zTiNq
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r8swUwzFZ
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS19nszd9cC
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60csb9cEzs
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFBlsSzl4f
And Maddie was getting sick of it.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu683xDALDw
Nick's Realization163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDzxmEYRk4
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v9jtZo5zN
His hands curled into fists.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs728FFXGus
She was somewhere safe.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtzLE1T7x2
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyC69thCvk
His stomach clenched.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FoNfg82F2
"The cave."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh7UcirDH6
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LuYWsSc54
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqZLW51ZEL
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaCXzW6YXC
Nick hesitated.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCc2UfXwjS
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU6Gask3od
He didn't let himself finish the thought.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3KFev9glq
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYOFOz14vm
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Jvuejnzi
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf8Ul4PMgl
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsApnCTCTc5
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB6FXBAR7l
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w8OBwxjtt
He didn't stop.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl1zhoLwyS
Didn't look back.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1AVvvyWFS
Because every second he wasted here...163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3Ro3nJEpv
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmT86A5D2P
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrcnzw6GNX
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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