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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDKLciWLN2
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7q24SCeEi
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmvjq1KLmm
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJohurX84wR
She had to go back.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvvVptQN8U
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgbBYv6Wrx
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTJZ9y0RLF
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLfnZwvhya
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3i4rMAT1O
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzAm3314yC
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkabEMaMsw
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPWKg4oWqM
⸻136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BeGmaVUyo
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsktPW224U
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QEFrABCHc
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6uvhgnfri
His heart stopped.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJtH1ZMOky
"Chrissy—"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLypJo2Bfrz
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhB6QGMVeN
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzNM5XNbVP
Deeper.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlujAgId27U
More alive.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM7ZVASEkE
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaiqIB3Oii
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sUVWdM4Ay
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpYbRyo3iD
A gemstone.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1eO0w9L7E
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfBhMLsVdS
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxp06yOFRb
It was the missing piece.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeEm7INSo6
The empty setting in her necklace.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G9CPHrQuz
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZk7HQ4qGk
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfkAMh60hs
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyAS1sXncS
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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JkqQaqzET
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aHhYmXsf2
"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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kJtrfRkTV
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAeZAawCK5
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMO9lExMZX
She wasn't listening.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gR7pv0NBJ
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVhCL50kvd
Nick blinked. "What?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUCwAerWUK
"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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHMAzgca0d
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnOdcMxjFZ
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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEubOEWDVe
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHfALMua9a
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4aJ41BYty
She was spiraling.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHWd9yrYcg
"Chrissy."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYRREacTox
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDuhlSsmpC
"Chrissy—"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0r2KgkMYG
"I need—"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MMvbPThyG
He grabbed her face and kissed her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrECyr9kkG
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHTXhIaTA3
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9iVXq5l56
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYrCIARkor
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAEcoQePPB
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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcZCDjkF5g
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U2SYYchbz
Her heart was pounding.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4onQZ0jyS
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPZoqQKRWC
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i0dVZ0LDq
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SyNCicRC6
⸻136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT1X0AXCui
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXRxoCpf2V
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznPSOQycIF
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQtUaK5KEK
The moment it clicked into place—136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr24Rkx2Yc7
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrHi8SNv3
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o24T8mfpO
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAQVdkYx1H
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen6xPhw1vS
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3xTo97HQQ
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtRN1PaZZE
Nick didn't say anything.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu4FmhW8c9
And she didn't ask.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOzkr4iWZJ
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZTgWJ0k5p
Something had changed.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO4tnQ4U0x
And there was no going back now.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhxxFhoMU4
and then Add to home screen.