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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBZ5fOMR7p
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUaJy0d8qf
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAH3rwoXNo
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH947VhCTh
She had to go back.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7zZEYfIcV
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2UQYfIgLZ
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n2szAwu8R
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTjJ1Cx8wf
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTuD2BK4Ol
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2smVzgVbT
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEq0JVkIe3
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLGLEDrvKm
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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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqnPwqcH9v
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxr2NOOtF9
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiVFBeZj0F
His heart stopped.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5og1WMPMm
"Chrissy—"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CJQf3p5w7
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3LUg7ph8S
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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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfocnqGNuS
Deeper.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrP8NWQwPo
More alive.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza8x9HRd0H
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErm5ec1c7l
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17RWxe5YcC
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtpr1pU08Z
A gemstone.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbMZP0bGKq
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmswG1ni9cM
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sgkFnUTMn
It was the missing piece.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLtuTCBaRl
The empty setting in her necklace.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrMO6iz7Ig
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhvMAp0Xhf
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdemhFU9Ov5
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvLoTM5K2g
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?"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPg7bT45Ol
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD9EM0zU0z
"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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoH6VTHro5
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL4T72DXQL
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOtPerft6I
She wasn't listening.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uNOiueJWX
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXuFbnCRof
Nick blinked. "What?"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgvXswXib6
"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."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6qP6XgqEs
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZuYqRzlH1
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?"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2SIIMhh8d
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOHxs7Q9xm
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDZALN5Gui
She was spiraling.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ysjw297JJ
"Chrissy."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7uhP3eVJR
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFSV5ULDt4
"Chrissy—"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01bEtE0xwF
"I need—"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTklCMTAke
He grabbed her face and kissed her.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztmvZUmiXb
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLx3mlJS11
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXTSoBBX7p
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR0qB9xqlG
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQwvYUNchn
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."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03mZVkzPhx
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XaxlsbaS6
Her heart was pounding.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQcBMzCCrQ
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtPFOKNGLQ
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxssKVrYSCR
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPleo0m9JO
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKOfmIUCvj
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UyFFVuV7Q
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOFEPNAck7
The moment it clicked into place—217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozfxfWRzCE
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjhCQLgf6W
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQlvD7uR7X
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3cmt7le2T
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mh5DgUJxU
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.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRDFv5OhXT
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAgiQlTYER
Nick didn't say anything.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp83wq4aSUg
And she didn't ask.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uEj8sazRH
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1gPrtRdSY
Something had changed.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzox7SoIyP
And there was no going back now.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cLvqaiaAU
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