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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH9wGFYuF4
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cCB1cyhx6
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwItCx3QUWV
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCYFYVArW1
She had to go back.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cRgUV7aUI
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWz2P35SB4
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPwk5ahcTY
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOPMP5uGoU
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFYpVAnqQH
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZKlONIU0H
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNB1MEgT8R
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN63bRvqzZ
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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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ7WJEhaJz
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLf0xeJgVQ
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdNTA3aMuE
His heart stopped.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekbsjhmzwm
"Chrissy—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF253gtO8YQ
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7UTVlAoFd
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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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZeMu7smbw
Deeper.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTyk1FlGjD
More alive.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBXc61oA64
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tzDiDlglh
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBa8mcVdJK
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPCcXNRC9x
A gemstone.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gvugdrxyw
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9oaATptib
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zXGRusBb1
It was the missing piece.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55li1Jok1h
The empty setting in her necklace.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNh3SGFKLa
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMQ72lHkQa
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhxFUatquS
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJLTOA7E4s
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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsKoGfbxM3
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsLIWJc3kU
"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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf45Vo7utA
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaW5G7gPGC
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJsdDETY6P
She wasn't listening.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxhJCWHYUG
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkinjv7H8Sb
Nick blinked. "What?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAhqnJgaog
"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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KFA9g5XZn
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdbWploVWy
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?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kPBJqWa2A
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yJ39zhc7W
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwltDykLWc
She was spiraling.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaqVCbSN4n
"Chrissy."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmezJ20k7Xb
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCCS2RvTTn
"Chrissy—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCfY8v8ZRe
"I need—"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURSt0Ax4ND
He grabbed her face and kissed her.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVG6HB5BFI
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JmuBfS8vT
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCSRWhBw66
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTnNLouJWg
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaXdRi4rNa
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."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWst5DROQOJ
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3CKZDuXqF
Her heart was pounding.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEzqHxLRGp
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YeMk8nTr1
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hsTmA84eH
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHmTVw3y3l
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEoEgFMczn
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHgX6MPY4k
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrgZaer5vk
The moment it clicked into place—174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtHwpBBk4w
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyhb2DhqeR
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKNtI4X640
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZTfhhqqjF
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj97x7xA8tJ
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.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH2BVyqgAC
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGifPQy8RE
Nick didn't say anything.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHtDVzv8FN
And she didn't ask.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg371uJe2wN
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAUWYkOavX
Something had changed.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7z74UYqVf
And there was no going back now.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1pusWHoGc
and then Add to home screen.