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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3y9u31YvU
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8D76CaZul
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgHzcreWRV
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcKIBiawqL
She had to go back.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUflj1Mo0W9
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h61Xw8lhf
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y9bDQ9LEo
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYYWkDoCUB
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKNp7keu2J
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOjL9M6P4x
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4xRNmFrGJ
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2C4nkWpaZ
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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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtymOookqNM
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJfYIJGzva
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3urDYxRoDC
His heart stopped.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEL4e3cNuB
"Chrissy—"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpA29MVvfu
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaVoztfkKP
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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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4fDp4zJlI
Deeper.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxumNDXO1c
More alive.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLNiy5GBXS
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4dZ4OnhKR
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdGAlnsK8x
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCQ4L6UHqM
A gemstone.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0HQyHBg16
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGedXFwz0n
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahshTIrMNU
It was the missing piece.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstMlwtXAO0
The empty setting in her necklace.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rF1oafuKo
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9PmlvkFgZ
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPcZD4flbI
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY0gUz2GVp
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?"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7HeDfDeAm
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IgacjHqpm
"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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuudQvKAUk
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnazkYmMDct
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37ArZYaw5X
She wasn't listening.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Xf0dYwe7
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xaSgJqS9N
Nick blinked. "What?"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZQZimZKyg
"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."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOokHPZEVW
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQXzeclMjM
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?"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8C7KPMNMe
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA9o9Wzghc
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWzFVUmwgz
She was spiraling.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1MEPQL5LY
"Chrissy."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE7RVMJQ7r
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvA2usOR5s
"Chrissy—"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAskpWgVzr
"I need—"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfrUJVFFG5
He grabbed her face and kissed her.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf5yWNYv61
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv3A08UMNS
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFlrZu7aJO
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpeiQDF0jL
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTVwuECb7x
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."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMG0PcVVJd
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCZBSxkNPH
Her heart was pounding.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0YNlTn2SE
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI5N7HULvR
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0OLkcZxBS
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VLlpOD4EQ
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjOW9eEd7u
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52pKiI2rjm
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCTPfklSL2
The moment it clicked into place—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PlgxDuDqC
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NGNjSO7aL
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmw4AJRWOK
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PnlPZF7Pk
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlKRhhpgo0
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03XF3CMIq
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOHQTWPyp8
Nick didn't say anything.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2JO0VHz5e
And she didn't ask.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqkmQ7dRQ4
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn3FtvmeT4
Something had changed.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wvjxBzmXU
And there was no going back now.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl08gbJSyeX
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