Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsARic2b9xy
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qeh8HuULr
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaNsX2RBlA
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDat5IdCKnJ
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjg5pqLfvK
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlA9bcE8EG
The Cliffside48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHAkzf5Vzk
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBQ1fPlTXX
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbNJMetUVh
The path ended at a sheer cliff.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3snvcpFRB1
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYjMah9utx
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xXVc6L0Z3
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKJuD8nxwy
Gone?48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6dM6wCpKS
No. No way.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGPqPfiqtq
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe1YE66Caa
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EggIZ2UOW
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExVrPUHdqy
The Ocean's Secret48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFUw3RJgwc
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymurfhPdSd
She wasn't running out of air.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0iNSAnXzX
Her lungs didn't burn.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj825quqKd
Instead, she felt... at peace.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0iu67r67
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ0glo9KHn
A glimmer in the sand below.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8Vg0o5n2G
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf75tD9J7G
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Bdl090waK
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrOqGW1JlP
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRCecUkbQh
The cave.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1rKaFn8XQ
Maddie's Jealousy48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFbYfdNrmn
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHAdmiKdmk
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I0Zt1mqK0
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUBx10kfq7
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehCWfvvO8p
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."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvUO2vqD2Y
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYvJkuEIQI
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.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUs5d78wxP
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK9w4qVujQ
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY3sMxZEny
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLhmBfYMEI
And Maddie was getting sick of it.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRUphIFV7u
Nick's Realization48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgaAA7FP00
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLQ3kv4KBp
His hands curled into fists.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tP75r9hbB
She was somewhere safe.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvI9SSmPDb
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z04gvNnO9
His stomach clenched.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT41GjoEspP
"The cave."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCGBO2rinF
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccEjabKOfC
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvYKZ1feUO
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc7Wqv97FS
Nick hesitated.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHzD8OQBPk
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXroz85MHx2
He didn't let himself finish the thought.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqYB7bLbQQ
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY4NmxJWsy
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykvVBeIPhe
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIGdI7Xnq1
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKCPEJRopi
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RY5d5F2ts
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw46eCcQ9Ss
He didn't stop.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iVziNaLYx
Didn't look back.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wXgWgj7ME
Because every second he wasted here...48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAeHYCA84C
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28vNY1Lkev
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMV67ur5KH
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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