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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6tBc7CbyK
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvbn1378D6
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcnsDIntg5
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxKeIagBdu
She had to go back.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUqB9poobo
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFfdpKprke
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGmRwz6vVz
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptxfkPQDHV
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR4EC6GOey
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmxkNKLsiO
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmkckhCjHG
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHXeffs1gT
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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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlmPurT47E
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLgrb3JfaU
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4iM1ioLa4
His heart stopped.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh9DQUzEXr
"Chrissy—"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmsEy7Zy9A
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGkJnhBjRg
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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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvvdUt2JpE
Deeper.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7frCswQsgq
More alive.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbW50dcwRb
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hsxzmsnKU
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0DTWjyxvJ
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ699D9rWMQ8
A gemstone.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsreQK89JQv
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYK2GFwKKZ
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWyjxqo0uR
It was the missing piece.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlA1d37LUC
The empty setting in her necklace.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDuPFxCXL4
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxVB76DssE
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfP7UsZwlX
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5Arim3haL
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?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5niDh3kHG
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMDUd7yzoc
"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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarPlbWK2L6
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GiCH3Wk32
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8F6ZTmto7
She wasn't listening.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRxVRm1SAL
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2EIRkq4Ac
Nick blinked. "What?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNvXZnnA0z
"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."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4sqAvfQVv
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYk2IdvjPG
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?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjah5LTWhI
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYl2A2O7gc
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kY0PsCZIc
She was spiraling.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9c4hP3WO2
"Chrissy."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Of1rJ1HFx
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Q2KxYqm8
"Chrissy—"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOeDMeutYh
"I need—"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQbeuKORU5
He grabbed her face and kissed her.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrRCZHvM54
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoVsHKeOLW
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsnnFSydmP
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UnnEEi491
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3s0NrzAwk
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."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx6ohb8UCe
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm2zv5pmaM
Her heart was pounding.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus2gaPMVsw
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRoPP0Z1We
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PokBTIECO
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0UAN9MM6n
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhBcwVpUlN
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlP5sJXvQK
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByTTCGqYTe
The moment it clicked into place—210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcNxEm2y57
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QjNdiRl28
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lIFOkAocd
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCzKm7Kaz1
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ACH9xVz2Z
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.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6oHds7mX9
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaIK1QO8Ms
Nick didn't say anything.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjnbTpMpj4
And she didn't ask.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgk1pLyoJ
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHxRd6yKWi
Something had changed.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWwDqkQp1W
And there was no going back now.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Za1DgZumZ
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