Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KMCOW0SNl
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1hjuqq3Gg
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI57ja5nKjM
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7BTebRd9Q
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCCHLhlz8g
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAgCxkSz4y
The Cliffside197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIjddyujkR
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGCxTyIvUO
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZdbChraRX
The path ended at a sheer cliff.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pUN4HVzGH
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdhGNHkpbQ
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsgkBqqLGK
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNLJ50xJ8z
Gone?197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRhuo3KKjr
No. No way.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dpG8kND5V
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnswxtwH4qN
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrcaJqsKyL
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyhg28kvuB
The Ocean's Secret197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdnP5DXANt
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Qkav9K8n
She wasn't running out of air.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNZIXwRjKq
Her lungs didn't burn.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgFZotA7Zp
Instead, she felt... at peace.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2rx2EcfOW
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3PQp53dfu
A glimmer in the sand below.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5mCLjxzdx
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74upPYS2cd
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPPRy3nLbZ
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroIl8CFUZO
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfam5Fb12j
The cave.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AzMh2wDFn
Maddie's Jealousy197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2eGRTFzor
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnE2cXApvk
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeac2JXrWTu
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG32tJmcnn
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFw73ep50E
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKODr7eCF7
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFmgmaePad
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjwIZUg4im
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYYv3Kzcvw
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvVcrzbRpU
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C8DQQ7Uzu
And Maddie was getting sick of it.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEgqJq7u5u
Nick's Realization197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYA1NpUdHR
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtxricIMU4
His hands curled into fists.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykCo8DrfHz
She was somewhere safe.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq9W3kWKhY
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUE6PVqGGy
His stomach clenched.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLJzcmuC4h
"The cave."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOOMaltQmo
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UnBEb5Fnt
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GfJJPqHT8
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtlYdf1Tw9
Nick hesitated.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX3ahHLVgd
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAtxA9qPvY
He didn't let himself finish the thought.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs8YeahVu5
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vncxCMeRO
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvQSIiyjgf
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3bW5JwyIT
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb191Uy7sgO
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgBJZvHEoE
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HgSjmd5p0
He didn't stop.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbsVhxjk0F
Didn't look back.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XeJMaASVG
Because every second he wasted here...197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wHUff4KXF
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCMdUdMq6S
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H3HJ21Zxa
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.