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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXwtrSZEjT
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHQZvI4lMY
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVLgKwdMJS
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FDpSFcJ7p
She had to go back.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDkT53ZKvY
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQe8zaRNT3S
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MPfWYkMQe
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERSBWyaorF
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR0wHy52oM
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5Ljv4Cz6b
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1mRhN6H06
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MKrZXjaY6
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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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8rmIXn5SE
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxbTWQv56S
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdHAoLAdLV
His heart stopped.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7tmwGgc9j
"Chrissy—"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9T5yVYaqU
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ0XVVdTxP
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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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sKhWkgmM9
Deeper.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VxIIQk9F5
More alive.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjcwc05JB7
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrLySjns5G
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqmsV4nBoy
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWYqd9G0ma
A gemstone.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyW79OcwgK
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWi5xQW3as
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeh1pxmSE5
It was the missing piece.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLZP9AnC6Z
The empty setting in her necklace.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWQ84e9N0Z
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LoapFC9ZS
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeLlWZljSD
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFFrkydIRZ
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?"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFihqIGhnZI
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym33iobolP
"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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe07MGBTfJ
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJScWxYtgtY
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY1LKrYuCE
She wasn't listening.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTPxJHpcaw
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8sX2kJ1WD
Nick blinked. "What?"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCWwaUhdAk
"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."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfqrsrzu5F
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoUqiwgZgz
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?"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pYgT0vAlA
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTPCi9qMgZ
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxRQjuZ9G7
She was spiraling.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXzFLugItN
"Chrissy."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQkiNTJ9nT
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymhvzVtza0
"Chrissy—"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzQZdMhsSG
"I need—"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRNwztw3H8
He grabbed her face and kissed her.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ8VkB6YWk
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqDf7XQaKc
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KiYIiVmRW
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdtPdlpCJ5
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MuIpf457V
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."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyDowctb49
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJZbMRl0Co
Her heart was pounding.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKodTubdKsO
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq6jbIA33t
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT8HQEID2i
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJQpVJLYh5
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxPvlPdQtc
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC68DUmuYa
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouGBnzktFc
The moment it clicked into place—214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZWyrUjLRC
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1fwZfvgYM
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAInE4vn5u
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03QTJE6yPa
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dc7W47ML7
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3lxJq31w0
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8eYoHGJNF
Nick didn't say anything.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBXZqVMMDV
And she didn't ask.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwVW9lqDC1
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EyleAwwrH
Something had changed.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCB2j7pVwh
And there was no going back now.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82bNelaKpV
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