Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ7zxyRPmG
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3yx5XaADX
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovGbi7bJb5
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrMTH9Nn38
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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PnOsQwysI
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZdDRukhSz
The Cliffside188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMdVJVc1Nw
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo4vFRtCLP
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDh9jpomGM
The path ended at a sheer cliff.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYogL4vMWV
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaqTZXU2ZM
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfIXmbb0ZN
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Q8KyPK5h
Gone?188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkEO3ARbgt
No. No way.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtKqswlCog
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n2ji30pAb
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoLFshFA6K
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLnsxfHlql
The Ocean's Secret188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfN6BH6oeE
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkBuMb0wBR
She wasn't running out of air.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ148wYGUjD2
Her lungs didn't burn.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXsSMU7KTR
Instead, she felt... at peace.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUH7YnD5Al
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIBf1pUewY
A glimmer in the sand below.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TmZ7j7q1C
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9l5rxyo42m
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD6C24kBB3
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uikN527Ac
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU3ogRKPfR
The cave.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYycZc2nNPi
Maddie's Jealousy188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegFGV7yg9P
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iQ75UWuY2
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfdaKl5y6r
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPtGcW3yXk
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLOTzZd1xp
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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtavbYBGHvm
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Fq3XAKfx
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkHjUvukRI
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjNBi8ZwRs
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1AckM5Qm4
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNEtle8AtV
And Maddie was getting sick of it.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm8iheFAkc
Nick's Realization188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN4WhGeXba
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qwQWq7jMU
His hands curled into fists.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtGh1Flgbe
She was somewhere safe.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinFKYI4rkx
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpls49kWcI
His stomach clenched.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwQID7ks79
"The cave."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVgSdVgWmV
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77UgtHGwgA
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ989UFywQRk
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzSBTa5OT9
Nick hesitated.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj43Nr4NEw6
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6MLFc5yrP
He didn't let himself finish the thought.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNsaJzRwrY
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wX1Z5C6Zk
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppWAiRuPst
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AUSFBD0tO
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ00k35pjXi
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMKA5TbHrN
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhgx5QWo78
He didn't stop.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V4yqBaXF2
Didn't look back.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNUgJkECT3
Because every second he wasted here...188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBqgxAPPim
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cR2Gerq4x
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBKuZbGgCT
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.216.32da2
and then Add to home screen.