Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjPo1Vu2lc
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatcKnxH0Qb
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS8pmPRZVa
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxC3dy0qBz
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."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNV7utaZJs
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvl3HvT7nF
The Cliffside170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffa21TCRcM
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUBrqnSW0h
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX2aHmZj1w
The path ended at a sheer cliff.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjskcvm9BMr
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxiFpHPBWk
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLftTErrmHd
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsivzFQk7xN
Gone?170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ozLCIYQy6
No. No way.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALjBIWX1tt
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv3LE9vlU5
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEbyEbpovo
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDQSqDQuR3
The Ocean's Secret170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIXkjbw68t
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQof7YJ4SCS
She wasn't running out of air.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeS1ju09zs
Her lungs didn't burn.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TYmyxQvQp
Instead, she felt... at peace.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx0dttkfAJ
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sRMn9Vo4X
A glimmer in the sand below.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQz24lfD60
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HUHsNaSAt
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjuqJjZYls
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI1JP7YoQ8
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfUDDS37KN
The cave.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4knxJilfE
Maddie's Jealousy170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUmOjWn4z0
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zTkrDPD4S
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZVPZdOoAm
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahOOR533Pd
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KHUsJJZIl
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."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2hmiAsW3a
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxnlDgBqda
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.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqqs9YNRFn
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbJOhyXvaE
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQYMFwS374
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCFaTKwgnV
And Maddie was getting sick of it.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpfW9ZikqA
Nick's Realization170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaL9B0EYLx
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPYSF80PBz
His hands curled into fists.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMycRP7cCKe
She was somewhere safe.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XEvDLpCNm
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48JL7MGy3B
His stomach clenched.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UHGDrcJEY
"The cave."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclUyl44exy
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz1KCe1Xk4
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIJpjH542R
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwZGqJ6yMH
Nick hesitated.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3T6wRgXgD
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnD6v64jZH
He didn't let himself finish the thought.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ54VwsZkV
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMGcnC0xq
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4myjuDWoH
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIcqsilUnp
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4YGsAYABe
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN07Nxsal0
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Op4t1bAVC
He didn't stop.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIobEeczOk
Didn't look back.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk74kDcFjZ
Because every second he wasted here...170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hwatS35kj
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqohYUbURN
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d8W33BCPS
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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