Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House202Please respect copyright.PENANA5tw6gSKLcV
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAAZBXC5bAQO
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.202Please respect copyright.PENANAPHtCVoiz9p
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAXNwDcBUPLF
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."202Please respect copyright.PENANAJRMth7abB1
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.202Please respect copyright.PENANAcqG7eL6Vvg
The Cliffside202Please respect copyright.PENANAiBhN72GoiF
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAoTTdL5SjTh
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.202Please respect copyright.PENANARNJcrY0VBd
The path ended at a sheer cliff.202Please respect copyright.PENANAyWzFqmnzo0
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANA682v0fxtEd
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."202Please respect copyright.PENANADVTeVcQOjg
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."202Please respect copyright.PENANAXaBUDsYTLq
Gone?202Please respect copyright.PENANATK4zQwQnJb
No. No way.202Please respect copyright.PENANAL9dPISP6ZS
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."202Please respect copyright.PENANArc9oLEzn8y
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.202Please respect copyright.PENANAbCwgHTM96t
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?202Please respect copyright.PENANA2A9czYWNAc
The Ocean's Secret202Please respect copyright.PENANAlbagFxHFQA
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAeBwBIily18
She wasn't running out of air.202Please respect copyright.PENANA59o8mSQNSE
Her lungs didn't burn.202Please respect copyright.PENANAohdxZw26NP
Instead, she felt... at peace.202Please respect copyright.PENANAFwBmSngLbj
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.202Please respect copyright.PENANAuipEIrkyPD
A glimmer in the sand below.202Please respect copyright.PENANAXteWla1yLT
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAr3VvYfUPcO
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.202Please respect copyright.PENANAkdctwEdkT9
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.202Please respect copyright.PENANA5QrivYSDO1
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.202Please respect copyright.PENANAdeLZ0iaZ9R
The cave.202Please respect copyright.PENANAKZLnGiSnE2
Maddie's Jealousy202Please respect copyright.PENANA9xx4Ovhndw
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9HJ0pq7Me
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."202Please respect copyright.PENANAHZCI709fsZ
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"202Please respect copyright.PENANAkH6F3kujj3
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.202Please respect copyright.PENANA7V1WMf1HD5
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."202Please respect copyright.PENANASq2dLcFFIh
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.202Please respect copyright.PENANAAmllop5fLc
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAIbP4anw8GR
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.202Please respect copyright.PENANA5KU4eJSQvV
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.202Please respect copyright.PENANAwonAok9ykO
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.202Please respect copyright.PENANAw3OtXxnx2P
And Maddie was getting sick of it.202Please respect copyright.PENANACciW0f3kUu
Nick's Realization202Please respect copyright.PENANAlHMHDC372x
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...202Please respect copyright.PENANAgIIyWgyqRf
His hands curled into fists.202Please respect copyright.PENANAhfxp3ty90m
She was somewhere safe.202Please respect copyright.PENANAbpKssh0rlS
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.202Please respect copyright.PENANAx2JbG5KDTw
His stomach clenched.202Please respect copyright.PENANAVkP0iA3fpp
"The cave."202Please respect copyright.PENANAWVhaIGrHyF
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"202Please respect copyright.PENANAcSJ4GL04LT
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."202Please respect copyright.PENANAK5lUuJIi8W
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."202Please respect copyright.PENANAcit40lhXCB
Nick hesitated.202Please respect copyright.PENANAtU5sYUWHqI
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...202Please respect copyright.PENANA0q9MGs4vr4
He didn't let himself finish the thought.202Please respect copyright.PENANA1UGnmmunwl
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.202Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7RWOsvFjc
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"202Please respect copyright.PENANAdxV7P09Al5
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.202Please respect copyright.PENANA0TyXON1thx
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."202Please respect copyright.PENANAf6QDtYCVaV
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"202Please respect copyright.PENANAB6R6BmzH5o
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.202Please respect copyright.PENANA71w10QybFD
He didn't stop.202Please respect copyright.PENANAhFRqYt5iXN
Didn't look back.202Please respect copyright.PENANA7708QIkGI8
Because every second he wasted here...202Please respect copyright.PENANATTQRO9b4cU
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.202Please respect copyright.PENANAb6RSwDEhN0
202Please respect copyright.PENANAIJWlGmRath
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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