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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSc98k3CQV
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUTvUqDdGW
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVtv15YRF1
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0UUFCpo0Q
She had to go back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcco2VMxPs
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQjJaR2Avc
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCuVnpc9i0
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDR0r0nIjQ
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4HWWXFAwW
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrEmv9OI7F
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP5K6FnXiH
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5Drx3zyJ1
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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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2THsOdUdfn
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vHFPZEn9u
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzIMFR1XQb
His heart stopped.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9aOWyya1v
"Chrissy—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VpOx5AdkZ
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwVrZWnSea
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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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJK1BUx25e
Deeper.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk2RtPD6GF
More alive.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2fMdoGFwW
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE6xJq9K3V
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPlnZPOQYm
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6OSYTRbwb
A gemstone.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgRyZaXtjP
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXCzNTwrzR
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaYBCXZkkC
It was the missing piece.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvho8zfIEy
The empty setting in her necklace.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAOKjYikeF
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoDJ3rysc8
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8r3RdPRry
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4C8Aqs1L1
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?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq4oxjqdW0
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVuQJGeQly
"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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4mGeHD0jy
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPwshXuJsJ
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1FycrGCS9
She wasn't listening.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡropTCHhHke
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOTagmuqPe
Nick blinked. "What?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHdZarqk0O
"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."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloNEcjKlrF
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dKpjb6HlO
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?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJtIThvLGc
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9hUmSXsmI
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofBxiWXFQV
She was spiraling.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiyVqs11RE
"Chrissy."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeOb2XyMql
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLu2gkxNCn
"Chrissy—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb18dJBaMpp
"I need—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFwWdRCCx1
He grabbed her face and kissed her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHisua1Thu4
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeiYqaPvjD
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUbReux7gk
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v5owqMIcp
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUxqxpZeOx
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."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0At4fDAW8
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMp1C0WYssD
Her heart was pounding.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevXYifOXVj
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBIYEKSDYo
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIrQZgV8uF
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA8uJW0pMd
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvHsVxoFcD
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXsE69US2F
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRwmyTj5jr
The moment it clicked into place—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1J4PSQDSz
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlffc0Sn7Zr
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS2ED2Ltj8
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOpm22CsWy
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgtQuDvVbI
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kmHBxPJBA
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwK5hV31x8
Nick didn't say anything.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvS6PdN0CR
And she didn't ask.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLPjWwAiEu
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKJufuHMV3
Something had changed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkG2U573zR
And there was no going back now.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy7IW1rzl6
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