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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieiiArsQAn
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkUM7poKPF
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqahd8ZNKJ3
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TmkFMeUbb
She had to go back.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoPkWd3s5u
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam6846tBU3
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELcjmjTpUO
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xtVdMahYR
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn5PZHCuwO
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGpeQ4T30N
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmazW8VVTr
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrXPhJ3xOw
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJJMAOmVjT
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZH0VvdcFk
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEjCDL2CER
His heart stopped.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfFp8tg3zr
"Chrissy—"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVig1r2sos
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi1d3CSbR6
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx8bxnElkb
Deeper.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYIwYcNOkj
More alive.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U5wiMczes
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz79tFHd4Ah
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqjlmwBdnX
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xDEQh0jHQ
A gemstone.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTVNSjueEB
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O9SCWsD6B
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMfcHClx7g
It was the missing piece.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4ssCa7aFz
The empty setting in her necklace.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVTOGl2zNx
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDrbMntkl5
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YwvUhW2cE
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq1gviKGXl
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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9alhA6QfX
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LjYYbkKUS
"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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyncobJv81
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReXGoHg4rY
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkoy0ZccLL
She wasn't listening.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZThg7H2J4
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qqj6rrdLW
Nick blinked. "What?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV9cEna52I
"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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjcJKUFd4L
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd1NTkYzBL
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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31nAj3bMnx
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSd0aHaPWs
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5ISOMTJq9
She was spiraling.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TFwOh93Gc
"Chrissy."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZdqc4x72h
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ildPr07kI
"Chrissy—"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4KVJu2QDc
"I need—"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTEA6owFE4
He grabbed her face and kissed her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w2ycprEgg
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eLB9HleM9
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOo91xxoUI
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoVKIEhQI6
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1n0dbXjIO
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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicB6NCFP8w
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacdnFV6bi6
Her heart was pounding.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJJlcckFhr
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvspZMSD3oe
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViBmywVe70
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21GVqXlvzX
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0BA70NhOr
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRdnUnMSZV
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgI65mhRgv
The moment it clicked into place—57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzCFEKWxcm
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKanhblHba
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECIrV2GczR
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFBmOsXHfd
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfvW07D8ah
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG3fHQqMkE
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSDHkcqsxP
Nick didn't say anything.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFFz4NoqPZ
And she didn't ask.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEnSqZzsO7
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVhyyckeww
Something had changed.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTIEUZUfFi
And there was no going back now.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCahNZ7cumS
