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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkzhyCdoc1
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ561dIg50ho
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBucrvhkRhN
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciEekFnrVL
She had to go back.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydrsJTqcZW
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxOFlPs4AS
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN8oHjXPfb
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsp1XLxyiL
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIf8vvWQDS
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi7XTTTWtj
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgao0YvV5cs
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6wbQqxWuU
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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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4U8PwPB5y
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnorf4LHBb
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3F3iIFL6g
His heart stopped.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Z1DqOOW4
"Chrissy—"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu3kVCibl2
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0UNUtUZL4
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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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJP2xf5LGx
Deeper.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ106352uv8P
More alive.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxg5Aq0lSI
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBDUbaUBUh
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqOX67Kisg
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWhcm04PG2
A gemstone.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBr8iUaDmA
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCalIWKyIp
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFVNN7vSUt
It was the missing piece.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eW0QROpLo
The empty setting in her necklace.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ib6EWq0xY
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGueYn8TWR
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfXcHRRSrQ
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpsbVp1NU5
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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DTFmDOm7Q
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwYVdcpVy0
"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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkqzumWTas
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCqXfadLKP
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsWHvCjRX5
She wasn't listening.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y0xZuqAov
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3CLPw9u1a
Nick blinked. "What?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78bdLn3IqG
"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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlshnfycd3K
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QvMsq9O9C
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?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtULurz7erV
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweGh6K1Vn2
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEhtJt87cw
She was spiraling.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImGuIVBsUl
"Chrissy."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWACLUjedq
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG4G7zCJNN
"Chrissy—"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMLuisfzCB
"I need—"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tUc6EbCCD
He grabbed her face and kissed her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5KaPyS0H
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIevVpk59OR
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tS1uuPl8b
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qy0fC3WlW
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGNr2oxapM
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."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXP5OyQojN
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonBDz51lmN
Her heart was pounding.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVbtgSpHEL
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kzqAkPP7o
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZGVQXkfMN
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OeMkMyB4X
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmW9g88bIy
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTvLZ23x54
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ4Uii2JG0
The moment it clicked into place—231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuDXgbCpwY
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeyL5xoJx7
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuPItjNiIb
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgQRp8eRZL
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jMNtDe4cO
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.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNZu1VP6my
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU0WGtVQkf
Nick didn't say anything.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFtWnO9lSf
And she didn't ask.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0tM9zkT82
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfxfPs5sVY
Something had changed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3HhjDUXPd
And there was no going back now.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx7GpdAHkH
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