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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRQmxYtst1
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ls69knuYR
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8E9ZBaZgd
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB812UKqm4y
She had to go back.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRadxs2TKk
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePqVnb02RU
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64hMAWU8uR
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UxrJoVtdR
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpLcempLrj
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMasjWu496C
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoukCvePviV
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHDDzLg5zq
⸻177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGtlDuYbmL
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbk5Llo99X
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyrkFak7sV
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx1AFbNtcz
His heart stopped.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQjdaTMxop
"Chrissy—"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyvtsUmaoT
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFd1NjGRjQ
⸻177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKWy7YA2Ku
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvohvfcrCO
Deeper.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM2WFlbA5H
More alive.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrfrGEQYnN
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6OyNtkmCK
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEnsjI2JrE
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3E9PP1AA0
A gemstone.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdze3RGyZ16
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDpWcPtHYq
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf895UZTXe
It was the missing piece.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NEr9iLrXb
The empty setting in her necklace.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0vN0IuYTX
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRy1r75v8p
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpZQQ73Y3m
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxMGVcVfV8
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?"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0L2bbMDWh
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugwjm8qjBL
"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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6omKyHkfKr
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkClWUoYxS
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhc8BawNjP
She wasn't listening.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAlnPaFeuM
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9bOVrfeKt
Nick blinked. "What?"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR3IJGtjai
"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."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8WnT3ECIC
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YIwtPfN0L
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?"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGS6bdsWvj
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRuS6ED9Gt
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf52g5UpCc
She was spiraling.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRIKaOQI4h
"Chrissy."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCpkldz1oP
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJgFLOg4Kp
"Chrissy—"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxPenZJod3
"I need—"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiGy9BScor
He grabbed her face and kissed her.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3XPocU1zf
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPqMKR2IBZ
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzr9AMBThV
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQRxwmuG7e
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56NUeX0MBC
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."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3opluMEZQC
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xjwqHIVB7
Her heart was pounding.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdZ7MwLsCe
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavsVJ3XxID
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6nOqIlg3X
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqBQB1qTOu
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4GWhZ5nvR
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCzGwzxJNJ
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXJDCms4Rd
The moment it clicked into place—177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXYdhPK4fn
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8uuYbqALs
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPPbP6pTj5
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd3ZgOuNwN
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnSTk7sbEJ
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiqgZIAL8t
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuQojRNdGh
Nick didn't say anything.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5DdPuwNaC
And she didn't ask.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiZSzaf1hU
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aAHj5Khnz
Something had changed.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FII9Ljvit
And there was no going back now.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3vap0T1rI
