Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CGHfIkaOS
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrna0rpFpZ
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc51L8twi2n
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1xLrxeDNu
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."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSz6gPNDld
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhhVTZYybO
The Cliffside116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtvPQBkEXb
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvxRE2K90Y
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5yP22mMuN
The path ended at a sheer cliff.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPJ2Cf0Cc8
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEjTcA7Q3n
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjphO1tL1Xn
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrGfo3qala
Gone?116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqHM3Z2nek
No. No way.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXM6j6pL3e
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ5XoKgWCO
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ757Atxumf7
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNJNuxcM6u
The Ocean's Secret116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eIcBzws4U
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTETECNsLG
She wasn't running out of air.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ7zLerJh8
Her lungs didn't burn.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIlXGLXymz
Instead, she felt... at peace.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5FZ0KbbZ3
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtpx7BLMpW
A glimmer in the sand below.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfxArEPhgC
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXsN4KDeAf
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7QXgvKKvI
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjN0nJC7XS
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz220Unocc
The cave.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2AYqcnnEo
Maddie's Jealousy116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwIBxyRKrf
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7jcoeVhU5
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOhxb2WG1w
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sCrO1Mnu7
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMJkSpXPUx
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."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUjq25EK1K
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DJcn5qGhf
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.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1fRD2K5jJ
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsAaiJPVpf
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQMDsIs3KM
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRmWgYmeVg
And Maddie was getting sick of it.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x4nIpfq6o
Nick's Realization116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2QU8KPYU4
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiTMu8A3oB
His hands curled into fists.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EDjMtCKDO
She was somewhere safe.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodPWChEQbB
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFBDxGtnAf
His stomach clenched.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHKlyVA3Ls
"The cave."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZTqunem8K
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuirENou4oA
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROYg0QBh65
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H3OcpgJKd
Nick hesitated.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1hGMMGSxB
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH636ZX5bW
He didn't let himself finish the thought.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh0NzHbXDf
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLCQzXCOhi
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAtSa4OzEf
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ734LRKwtEF
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAAVmxeiOM
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAahctpwm0s
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzgYipa1Vg
He didn't stop.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8gCMcs8DO
Didn't look back.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD1gmzShzp
Because every second he wasted here...116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDylg77aBJ
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiBY5r6OvJ
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqqOQSHZKq
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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