Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YyqumRtgy
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJQop7Fhpj
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHhdunlGcc
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpTcDogtAF
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."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TDLkZf6rv
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj49rlVIw5W
The Cliffside154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqV9acpQrH
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJkc0aBRi6
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauZxPyFq6v
The path ended at a sheer cliff.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9Exu4UKIj
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCWlejDLtQ
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70M4vghK33
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWQmw4tgZy
Gone?154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Q6UAzRI4
No. No way.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzFVW1OCBu
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAcmhHCEeV
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFwmwPvPhB
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7ODS0owYm
The Ocean's Secret154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHLcnXqEAM
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TrCceMOgP
She wasn't running out of air.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjnDWjLgYB
Her lungs didn't burn.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbPZ1xbne
Instead, she felt... at peace.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XLuGOHR0I
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWyDfunv5P
A glimmer in the sand below.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ388bInF37I
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZRzmT255w
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BQzYVQY3y
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyZNiE4JV9
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h0PqGM8sg
The cave.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17v8IXrtFT
Maddie's Jealousy154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5kDBLOVs9
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEDx5xPesK
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi27jikAIhK
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dAU0bioR9
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ5F0RoI9s
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."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qKZQW4hY6
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR9G8RRHIQ
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.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8a9aNOfT9
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9xP8ULokD
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1OeyKCVF9
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ODRQRl80Z
And Maddie was getting sick of it.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZg1zymRZg
Nick's Realization154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKSEy902ox
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdNFwfkaGP
His hands curled into fists.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjH6kcfR4e
She was somewhere safe.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8uDTi406
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQieNqBhMI
His stomach clenched.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zuS1oKcCL
"The cave."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwcR1lRzUE
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnQVzSPDnS
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95x34vk3B9
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm7y7RyyYL
Nick hesitated.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxRimagnqm
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOo6m9g1eJ
He didn't let himself finish the thought.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM06DoWs4m
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gkgel2Aaf
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABifmU2qPE
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIsIkknxls
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TzaAetePi
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEzjVCZKfz
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYJjwgBLDo
He didn't stop.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ4oBzoE4O
Didn't look back.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3gMY9bDDu
Because every second he wasted here...154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo0yYu1EOw
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeoNVyc20C
154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCqvTgVGIN
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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