Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmUiorxRy8
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiNcDabsQn
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0coLTWN9i
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz2qDqBER4
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."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcji8dUT6uT
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX43hiRbyyr
The Cliffside509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaUGe32mvY
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnqAOW33NM
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlHhUVBwRN
The path ended at a sheer cliff.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz10En444Ss
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdPmGCvypj
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4Oog7PD5u
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFLRwi2ly9
Gone?509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6az1COdLjk
No. No way.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVxyO6RV4D
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vT4VfuLvE
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhbbsdRnM
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5xz4tXvxM
The Ocean's Secret509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWsYNMRoYr
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NSdYXqL7m
She wasn't running out of air.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG29rdqCyP
Her lungs didn't burn.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0akkhKgg7S
Instead, she felt... at peace.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq7rfHHgp7
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxW5A8dWo9
A glimmer in the sand below.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlmvTcFc76
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTBSz03703
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy62N6PyXn
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQED4FmpAl
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd3Yh0oOis
The cave.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1lQm0UO5s
Maddie's Jealousy509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyPs1ENUat
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwMqZYOTsW
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtF2S6xMcy
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJVkr43OiZ
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj6X1piU14
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."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L6PL7LkFa
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9H02vHJhN
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.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ0ls5mxmY
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDtcZWakIK
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxODO2LNtHH
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbn1BLOHN8
And Maddie was getting sick of it.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G8J9TsZuo
Nick's Realization509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUoJolGcPU
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5bFBxAzCU
His hands curled into fists.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurnLEz8uAa
She was somewhere safe.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tluk7vrYc
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddc3acHPIN
His stomach clenched.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxO56RBL3N
"The cave."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsalbM533qM
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yYw7BC94f
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvpJpW8kxa
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN6ayKkKWd
Nick hesitated.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRkND9jrWb
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9qWFNZO04
He didn't let himself finish the thought.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaakJgSpFH
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeTrlsiCcX
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2be5jfd1G
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2Ykslppku
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQVvnrkMwT
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSf1i6uReQ
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSORNUokdmI
He didn't stop.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct127fOOtV
Didn't look back.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l0sd7HhH2
Because every second he wasted here...509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZo2Abbztq
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj28a91Fn5r
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUGWqE8EKy
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.217.110da2
and then Add to home screen.