Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoGmATLDSn
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjbAyHn2EG
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeRTbXJPxJ
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2as2NspJ5
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94yy3YxcHd
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmoHUkVz8K
The Cliffside210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZC8mKmMLk
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEd4JLnhCS
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx55mrwoTuc
The path ended at a sheer cliff.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuir6kaLOM
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIRISO1WGA
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZTxDEYrGK
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VwIF8OyfA
Gone?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM3041iXV5
No. No way.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbQiEmHJ2V
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG9yVPE6oR
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztFFwHCtWq
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesYaC1mwdP
The Ocean's Secret210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrnWTnlZyL
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hARkZgs5U
She wasn't running out of air.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ppnlfS0VW
Her lungs didn't burn.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJoVlh8JL5
Instead, she felt... at peace.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxoZfNc1Tj
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rFfi1Qfw8
A glimmer in the sand below.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3qYOml26J
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAgP9TuAKB
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOhQSWyqke
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrnGALV9Mf
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFcvZv42Q5
The cave.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAsPgvzHG6
Maddie's Jealousy210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnYKpK3BcM
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt1NZ8QCOX
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P2iIfQNaJ
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtJuszjlMf
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JUqmdhNB8
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjphZ0iH477
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA6GCuH5Ad
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cY0AYE8TI
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SBlxkzREC
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5R51RjZmP
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z0s3ZTGz6
And Maddie was getting sick of it.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Jd7vXxLN
Nick's Realization210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPql6WdnHDw
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qd1FwaKI0
His hands curled into fists.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1HsmM9ZcY
She was somewhere safe.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWISg9Pa96B
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus0VmI8A7B
His stomach clenched.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiu51rza9I
"The cave."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxKipAzeCK
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQuuKL9MQL
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55U9D8sBJR
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHfJdTwdeG
Nick hesitated.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e0Wck1pAb
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6XpB7JsM2
He didn't let himself finish the thought.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0xzreKKsE
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafujFBn6no
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43EQSXdbDO
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOlgwvd1cY
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG1gAnpHSU
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KdiPpwIcM
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkkKZ7yZt8
He didn't stop.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBkTFHxqFs
Didn't look back.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj95xOSngm
Because every second he wasted here...210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7oHnSNSGx
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcAxJ3Dulh
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a7U2jycqi
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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