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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsxc7Rb85B
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoZ4daEcOM
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUcI06oWKF
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t2xqBgsba
She had to go back.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlnUYakV1j
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNJpyqQC4Q
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkax03J0Bu2
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59mR5kh5vN
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3ibyFm6QB
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWwuSNQEDU
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlRrMmXlsy
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VNBnF7Ya0
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRazT3anRRk
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDjV4Tj94c
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eRSMligEk
His heart stopped.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsIdRRKd28
"Chrissy—"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuUoglLyMc
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0rG6xqD68
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX9ueTJ5ZW
Deeper.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDMtNwUUIn
More alive.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDJoJQh72D
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jz7lbpgAV
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjzDf1mtfE
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdJT3nwqaU
A gemstone.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ykaTiDEw
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQuxgXHSPl
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAr2dQ3MUG
It was the missing piece.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvsmNC4AvC
The empty setting in her necklace.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOCpiAatbC
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuFXivOVEl
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kc1mSbYUt
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlbYgu49vf
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?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV5Mv3w3nX
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLkGZ0tppB
"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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbIq7N3s79
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3QVcenmo0
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnDEKclwVL
She wasn't listening.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7vD9nuREu
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpjtFWD0Wf
Nick blinked. "What?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXLIjane3a
"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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxkJErCpd1
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K2BfBTEQB
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?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADW8bgo0FE
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQiALEdmYb
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwGmcu5HVc
She was spiraling.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBgulxUROA
"Chrissy."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85v60uHLlU
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bP0R4DKfE
"Chrissy—"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPTl9zGjg1
"I need—"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2l2TwPew6
He grabbed her face and kissed her.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SMRJCajue
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2UGjwIxcy
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PacQCHgSg
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1jbTa6VCX
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRHN3dQF8j
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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5BWCZYflG
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB43UCtEhea
Her heart was pounding.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVaTTY0Hvf
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKdO2UlSMh
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6h5xdwQQg
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0U35bhKie
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX965ObhaAV
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauc5AsFyFz
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68kIdcnWBa
The moment it clicked into place—101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjXPtgDOlt
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGn1rvI3Uo
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrqBHQ6Na3
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHllBUZ9rgW
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfpRQkHelL
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrX8BL6pVG
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEouwPmU8e
Nick didn't say anything.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQDDuXy93R
And she didn't ask.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpKlgThZ89
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogQ2RjerwF
Something had changed.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3Nt7ApyzP
And there was no going back now.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmORgsv03N
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