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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw7R2xi5II
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8tYSWIngV
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrqOpCIQ4A
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoNYzIhwKS
She had to go back.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCGjx8MFI6
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjt6VGoJVc
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvzTTSkpk6
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb1gB55akK
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU4FTqDLnn
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQqaLRy74n
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLzffCiPRD
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOTBTwZiKN
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQq5fxasQZ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk3qKPbeoZ
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6wfYIkJAy
His heart stopped.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKI5NXsvj5
"Chrissy—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ViLGn1Er2
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqUtuiF5IV
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisCirecP2P
Deeper.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi3OGTzX5I
More alive.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4y9IVB3uZ
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVicdkgETB
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyP6bVpdav
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD714WcRG6K
A gemstone.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xsDoweYhM
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCUvnEGRDS
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMBIECnNud
It was the missing piece.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1X7sRZhJn
The empty setting in her necklace.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobnr4jYoDt
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVjgLJ0cnZ
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZUPs62M16
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSSpfGx3gc
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?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaToiy0MnNq
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UemBy1Ikk
"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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREshkWCf0p
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPUd5VJ2hT
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixhGcA6yMh
She wasn't listening.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI8iq50FdH
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D4liWPYQU
Nick blinked. "What?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXm0eq7Sks
"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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGeBG2FaeA
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvnEwuUqsH
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?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIlQ36OSli
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuhUEWnhNd
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqH9Ej4Jhr
She was spiraling.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBlFP7ZxBz
"Chrissy."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jNRhr7M7X
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3S7rdIB4v
"Chrissy—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6FcsEEXZi
"I need—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqWNktKjzC
He grabbed her face and kissed her.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZVMcbiBxV
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW7pjaSZOQ
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwEdxE15Hi
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrryXNjNffh
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlzncg609T
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDW2tuPkue
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPgnEdtQyK
Her heart was pounding.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDDVfpgMPj
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3T22pHd5e
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Sw8N4Zxwd
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU0ZjtmWyU
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTehJD45o57
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f1Hf5L9vM
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I8XRkNJJP
The moment it clicked into place—163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pYo29JaVo
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT1G0WjDoz
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUINWXvdIF
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEefbjw4mal
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSded8JTDHc
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC0k6DqbNE
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP97cY0m77g
Nick didn't say anything.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYY2dzsrGw
And she didn't ask.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kbPpbFwpS
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nNFC9EBeZ
Something had changed.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFB5JIqA1x
And there was no going back now.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS6PBSnjtq
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