Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkyg5lCR8C
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYFVpvee6B
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aMroSgeVt
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkCma0k17e
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jlVgno95Y
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNMaUlCtxC
The Cliffside39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur3l60oOc3
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LvwVC3Afh
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CUzQxmv7o
The path ended at a sheer cliff.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz2p17lGgf
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0TNwqmHjO
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf1RULaUjy
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGFEUoVyAv
Gone?39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wNgJwoku0
No. No way.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ItlbiTFxM
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PEjE3gJaZ
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZpBuXSFRX
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD7h8Vhlff
The Ocean's Secret39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgm1KDU2WO
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjANAc8w3r
She wasn't running out of air.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd0jhuviIp
Her lungs didn't burn.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GGgsUIV0W
Instead, she felt... at peace.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f8VDs42xx
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyU0oSzn2U5
A glimmer in the sand below.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiETk2z2g5
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gdy9USnlv
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQMNcnUjPo
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEPkLIpUSM
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuIzqafvHw
The cave.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR5b3fRe6Y
Maddie's Jealousy39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLEvtjRKAD
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVW17sHIVU
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UoUj7hLAi
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrglDtwWW3U
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtgUKyCWeg
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfZWsYmQKe
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonbieWWSIx
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGL9rNC9lI
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16PQxevfqb
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYOgdiz8BZ
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55QiZS3MFk
And Maddie was getting sick of it.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOHksFjgGf
Nick's Realization39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrlfuMOKVZ
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7PwsoZHxq
His hands curled into fists.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xOQTMBbyR
She was somewhere safe.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8E1Fx9gwt
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZD9jiJsX9
His stomach clenched.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqcBoPvkWf
"The cave."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cb8JhQ7U9
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM7ixQT3Kr
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbGegpUXZ1
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5TuNokleo
Nick hesitated.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl1BkJMlwb
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SVJFLf3qX
He didn't let himself finish the thought.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIawG5co1Mh
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RPe3SnqAH
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUl5XYJgks
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQbSI3PGQp
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h2k89o4Ll
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJXVlvnt8f
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOG1SSNldV
He didn't stop.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT508b8NxKO
Didn't look back.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82NE5xx9Lf
Because every second he wasted here...39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVkLVSo8Xa
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBifpUQisu
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOawdSXuL6C
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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