Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfESFPZj2Ne
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfloqgvDDY
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtDn8f8bCs
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3SnCBDuAl
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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh4AhJlTeA
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoIRCObuu0
The Cliffside40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPDsyFBAhC
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlesdHR0Kr
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZUuNkgVnf
The path ended at a sheer cliff.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQgZgkA8ma
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6RoOHHPlE
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bKTuQb6vO
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRxf1bjn40
Gone?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPh2vKKEeT
No. No way.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mUWloIOa6
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4IqhI5nWL
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB33gqTJwc
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgjAzoAjf5
The Ocean's Secret40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEe0vGUKXj
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHfGSb4XeX
She wasn't running out of air.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrudVYnrnNY
Her lungs didn't burn.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G6P1cDVFn
Instead, she felt... at peace.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfHRm0yi81
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9vSuLvw4o
A glimmer in the sand below.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxZ2CiP1Xc
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKWhO0KYPv
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaoZVkNwuE
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3rpgOgs3k
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOcNlgM1Y0
The cave.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB0Q3oBanR
Maddie's Jealousy40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaft6GHX9Y
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSmCyA88Ka
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw85Kq95H2
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCWsYXl8JY
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAGmgNa4Ly
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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe66KlyX5P
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ofk18eb0Y
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShS7tlKbUR
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHla4FFaRd
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf39W9BxIH
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3vPSsOILw
And Maddie was getting sick of it.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQk8JebQ1L
Nick's Realization40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya2ZFmRdvi
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvQRnezYFx
His hands curled into fists.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9AC97mJda
She was somewhere safe.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AmvA1R6D2
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYBR08eaxA
His stomach clenched.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCTfkM0ixh
"The cave."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt4kenJ2gE
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAKpqg9nIQ
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnfgIysoav
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKhbe5pgKk
Nick hesitated.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjEy7hrsJ0
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJh70qJjEx
He didn't let himself finish the thought.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFX2GYBoFA
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgb4FDow3q
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9MgfpT4aF
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlicCAlX84
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo50lLCEEBo
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDykG5avpfS
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHFxntNt3F
He didn't stop.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nBH6nC6L9
Didn't look back.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo1xnFshGk
Because every second he wasted here...40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswDpbeuIFr
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdTtwRnkrk
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlCO0Pc4GD
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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