Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrnKlk1lbT
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEvgSqYQmQ
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcbOwP0B9O
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE8UIiuHoR
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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGNDHdr1Pl
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5JtPa26Nh
The Cliffside26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fSZK3nHT7
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY9oFQrSiO
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczD5iOf7zp
The path ended at a sheer cliff.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTB6XHln9H
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYriqVE6t8f
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaz04Dd9dp
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvdXWO1ucb
Gone?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf1pn18zCU
No. No way.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq9772lehB
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgP2fpoBjd
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVOJUQGBSW
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQSos6jR1s
The Ocean's Secret26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhjlS3rZC5
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xCQRC3lef
She wasn't running out of air.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvIZvNTssU
Her lungs didn't burn.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJwLlyHHpX
Instead, she felt... at peace.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmAJF7vmFt
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ622aBAwE8M
A glimmer in the sand below.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdkCjcD4kY
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjipHBmGGg
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiYOZyArAb
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVT8aMkjoN
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bn2Oqb60N
The cave.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJbWl001SQ
Maddie's Jealousy26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrutHmqzqY
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvpqWTGoVx
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOZzPxAuGe
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdpMT68ev3
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cqHuq53sA
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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGvnTCneVs
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd3hNFzOlo
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6b6vlu9dm
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRmSSBtmch
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMAlG14KEb
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2xgfeqK0Y
And Maddie was getting sick of it.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zM9rNieqC
Nick's Realization26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOazhj3LQE
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6AiW89wMj
His hands curled into fists.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFZnidNV8A
She was somewhere safe.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMykhqKD30
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBrCQ0Tlit
His stomach clenched.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3XJVKwC1i
"The cave."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiReXwBPQEj
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFEa3ZdOyn
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZICMZS8nH
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3LUIRpBkc
Nick hesitated.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBghB2ImdIh
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcH4WZOa9L
He didn't let himself finish the thought.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATq4hysCqu
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18r5fL52Vn
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S6Q7Qw3zd
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s8mwTJV58
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rmBmU3FO1
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DUgRyFgyV
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ539ZL9kq5S
He didn't stop.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1SzSeyMDH
Didn't look back.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRZYk0DbG9
Because every second he wasted here...26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICcBqjbK3Q
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhX4ddw2PP
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV24jUUSuM
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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