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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmR4XGzY6n
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6uSZJVor4
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikrKnm4z9L
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbfgPAalPL
She had to go back.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF955lE6TW
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cX1TZ8Q6i
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUMf4cQc1U
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkTFsvydfI
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ixmCOotyo
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQGzzQNGza
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P2TxtoQiY
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvroAfiCWt
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M0eUZ0gHz
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA2bfgUKEQ
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvXL0aV6kG
His heart stopped.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomWqYEag2c
"Chrissy—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQLOFi6Qqv
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSoEDtd2aB
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUbm5gdRoh
Deeper.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfDzW1gzqJ
More alive.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQJnaTNqof
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5D341uGbQ
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRtQcbTnEB
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYpzCLDq8M
A gemstone.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWmfItCmio
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe0oxkOD9F
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rL8cVFSnU
It was the missing piece.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqriY7OPr7O
The empty setting in her necklace.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bf0xJE6aJ
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPnuXZtMmb
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZK0HQ1f6Z
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qhtrj9hNZ
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?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zpdprEk1c
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKCzY8pp3D
"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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwGI3TH7FP
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4WxT3AGxd
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEF5WNT5Vi
She wasn't listening.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKla4cEwrKJ
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nUXpNI3ok
Nick blinked. "What?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv299qylZz
"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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtVgVOxR26
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHHo9Hr00r
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?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqfCCj7bpl
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gQLpZWORJ
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoqw7f2YwY
She was spiraling.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKchAREZyxN
"Chrissy."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLbH4fchSa
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1geBINcDu
"Chrissy—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm1gWQbjg0
"I need—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGfPd3S78i
He grabbed her face and kissed her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9YvX9WfNm
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyai99GJ8xZ
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHfjKstgRS
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIjVrbfdU5
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi530pP8VK
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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwrCHekqIu
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjujGQGKeXt
Her heart was pounding.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy4ELsOK0z
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tjUkoArfe
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TUPKkAifO
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIOClE2WBp
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKFrXuKdGk
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5hrRXea7e
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLERV2p11S
The moment it clicked into place—56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspCr9DPmxX
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg5mpBneIA
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0BbUs6sDE
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKa2NcW0ph
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj6reg1nmh
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf54cmiiKbk
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjhqzKZDWc
Nick didn't say anything.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUdFg3DMWW
And she didn't ask.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7wWADwvsZ
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoEFju0beD
Something had changed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtia2IEo9Y
And there was no going back now.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvFWBk5YXc
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