Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Waves
Chrissy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lighthouse. The storm. The woman plunging into the sea. Kyle's words echoed in her head.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex79gWuLQy
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFgR3gRoCO
Her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. She had spent her whole life feeling like something was missing. A part of her that she could never quite name. But now, with every new discovery, she felt herself being pulled closer to a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh7tAjWuhH
With a quiet breath, she sat up and pushed back her blankets. Her room was dark, the soft glow of the streetlight outside casting shadows across her floor. She moved quickly, slipping on her jacket and sneakers before easing the window open.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnqyznOjYL
She had to go back.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRITeYIgd6s
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjQhnyubWZ
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDggQtV0dhE
Nick had been parked outside her house for hours, arms crossed over his chest, attempting to rest but never quite letting himself fall asleep. He had been on edge ever since the hurricane. Ever since he'd nearly lost her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFME9oQoh9D
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAUATzgRaD
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKoPgfXfij
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9hILgepVR
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApGZNnMW2x
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Chrissy reached the shoreline quickly, the waves crashing gently against the sand. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light illuminating the water. She didn't stop to think.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3L9xxbse8
She stepped into the surf, the cold biting at her skin as she waded in deeper, her breath hitching as the current tugged at her. But she didn't fight it. She let it pull her forward, her body cutting through the water as she swam toward the hidden cave.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzZMNj9PVo
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpfdfW29WU
His heart stopped.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYKvCKm8A8
"Chrissy—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkioP6QB3yR
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcRimZglcS
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Chrissy surfaced inside the cave, gasping as she pulled herself onto the rocky ledge. Water dripped from her clothes, her breath uneven. The cave felt different this time.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYojDw6MYux
Deeper.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvUmH7x0qG
More alive.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2DfNYPm2O
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRLQ1wHYZx
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwJmdS0BJq
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zmU1Vjtw6
A gemstone.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKPUn5l7Ax
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRgsitEKaW
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonEpplH2TE
It was the missing piece.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7ddzxlwVK
The empty setting in her necklace.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhGB59T8XJ
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAX6KvlONO
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWKzwP6pI6
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcLFj7Y8oH
He was soaked, his hair a mess, his eyes burning with frustration. "Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "You just—just vanished into the ocean! Do you even know what could've happened to you?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6cGITcNGe
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjKQB2UeJ4
"In the middle of the night?" His voice was rising, his hands running through his wet hair in exasperation. "Do you even think about what you put me through? I thought you—" He broke off, shaking his head.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B2FVaxnN9
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2xRZJj6Vk
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8x6djGyxV
She wasn't listening.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFRJquWvC1
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR88O9PiALM
Nick blinked. "What?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck7mk3y3cn
"The woman in the lighthouse. The one who disappeared. I think she was my mother. And the lighthouse keeper—" She swallowed hard. "I think he was my father."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxNEhQFx4W
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsfAbMZl6t
She took a shaky breath, the words pouring out of her like a flood. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Why else would I be so drawn to this place? Why do I look like her? Why is my necklace connected to all of this?" Her voice cracked. "And what if my adoptive family knew? What if they knew the truth this whole time and never told me?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3jZ2hWU0R
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9v2JjFk1o
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling. He could see the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once—the questions, the doubt, the fear of what it all meant.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdR6Gm3NEz
She was spiraling.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrOfItWTnQ
"Chrissy."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOTBtruaWT
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW4MbGQvjv
"Chrissy—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtAl658be7
"I need—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQArAl5FLp
He grabbed her face and kissed her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjAT7jfzVL
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g6Zl47oEd
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL96cm3t0xA
Nick felt her stiffen, but then—slowly—she melted into him. Her hands clenched the front of his damp shirt as she let herself fall into the moment, into him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAwoaUsVFY
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODNgyUXc1M
Nick rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. "I need you to breathe, okay?" His voice was soft now. Steady. "Just breathe."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqbwHFULkP
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSxcNIiguQ
Her heart was pounding.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo04uJwM24
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd6qCm7HaI
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6p19IleLZ
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5NhDb1MSK
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PzZ9mCfhj
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWWfErv89Q
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvbGNCWNlo
The moment it clicked into place—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrVxMAHa7U
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSHuVTJLns
Chrissy gasped as the light wrapped around her skin, sinking into her like a pulse. Nick flinched, shielding his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkZ35OPTdj
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bsN5Dv6xM
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnPovzbn2J
Chrissy's fingers trembled against the now-cool metal. She looked up at him, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, but one stood out above the rest.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dKR6Ing2V
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLizlS9g2l
Nick didn't say anything.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2XUjyKvBN
And she didn't ask.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAX10xfZuR
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtdVukTM2p
Something had changed.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVFygSNuXV
And there was no going back now.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8aEgxhuW5
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