Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBOZZARUGV
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzGCQPzipH
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgIFU5CKdo
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLXcMujesx
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtGhIVK2bT
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5MK9LUzXe
The Cliffside41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmfOiP4Inr
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadMimAFJVd
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPg5JcSYWW
The path ended at a sheer cliff.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaFSxtsTkA
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQkMvTrV2k
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3v20ax2Wp
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnPBQvLxI1
Gone?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwvMrWw8ql
No. No way.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmkMtVlEZ4
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfY5sDbogs
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6sgSJQX0r
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNegjuzj9vt
The Ocean's Secret41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1C6Zll26Z
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAdbJsj8Tm
She wasn't running out of air.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA4nQx8OdB
Her lungs didn't burn.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvpc7eBEfr
Instead, she felt... at peace.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQUNcZu6HP
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPodkwATqyJ
A glimmer in the sand below.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle91Zdyy0g
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBJ0s54xSD
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZYSBLYD83
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7g6BkwyUo
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITiuJaxTUF
The cave.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthRHdEXJYB
Maddie's Jealousy41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV18Scfd7oB
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJTpCpvYgi
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZguvr3OLnN
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQieFhC2Nwt
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdziuOJMXB
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyHOWaWyyj
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y1yvvH8IS
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYY7Tfn9X6
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqK76HMF89
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNYz6OOaOd
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi08AGDAKc
And Maddie was getting sick of it.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZfaW3jhi9
Nick's Realization41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxkJzigsxN
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11dJVa6f9j
His hands curled into fists.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikfqv72evf
She was somewhere safe.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCJCSKlDWG
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEFrCeEo1r
His stomach clenched.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXuErUhZqd
"The cave."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9gKGDzmVX
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFqJevpqPM
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p32624go5
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweLGTgWUJh
Nick hesitated.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DyYOMy8Uy
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WPi3QKUPh
He didn't let himself finish the thought.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLGJEZmBNq
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2NXfjrtAl
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55YiaOcYvd
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoOKuOHP7D
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy01XEiCOER
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVtkA1S1lg
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZMeDxSasx
He didn't stop.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt2HW8cY2B
Didn't look back.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCb15srN2o
Because every second he wasted here...41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzFOfnlDUd
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrv5fcpuag
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZh9EOwk2z
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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