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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFguzoSQ5l
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkZdhgZLP0
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rSshwuWie
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrqmec0Rd5
She had to go back.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowMQXDJGIO
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aNCXAL5zX
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vZ8ierifG
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvaWfdKQfg
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH4lszO9nC
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc72sQ9wfi3
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVNlx96ZEJ
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVUacIzuoS
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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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPcPV7q9Ty
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P6mrCZFWF
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOPHPbMhIV
His heart stopped.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j16mUKLXd
"Chrissy—"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY2m9nntKq
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9OgeVKq5h
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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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKB3YUSmtv
Deeper.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEAmZnwspf
More alive.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq8JAGok0t
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRKLa6deoa
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MW5PoNtNg
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeVjyQraJq
A gemstone.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAaHPxOZeC
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VQlssmThG
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVyjwOqY4j
It was the missing piece.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRNQP6SckH
The empty setting in her necklace.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSojBI1JWh
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY4Cn7QHJx
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbP0hXdFOC
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2CfsqEupf
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?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5TuFdkNtc
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtTsP1Ia7O
"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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96zbUPDHbM
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ189i5OgjEG
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjB832aPVL
She wasn't listening.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNuZ3Pbu88
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoObwbKDT2d
Nick blinked. "What?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p6bOHz9ar
"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."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi3tdHsum2
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt7Fh2CZBd
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?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKWbh3GUQT
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVIEyNqnfe
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy17DreJUQ
She was spiraling.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwDa86SGKI
"Chrissy."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zgbnCUyFt
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz820nJIbzq
"Chrissy—"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid3qKVgs6Z
"I need—"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZNetbC18P
He grabbed her face and kissed her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNcoJufc0n
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XDX8y0NTz
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzimYlBAYl
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Io34o6l31
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxewlsK5JG
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."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHejDgiz2W
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfzBp2C3J5
Her heart was pounding.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEw2YCc9UL
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2TB7qTRzS
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjsGq43FF2
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7raRQDZbdt
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuDIi7HFeN
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEMSakMgg2
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbVHecJLgJ
The moment it clicked into place—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSuGHZGhs5
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIhsQCHyA7
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqMDBSrKj7
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsDnVDBSd
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEniMH8Xzd8
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7C3XnLWgJ
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpegxuzwSYJ
Nick didn't say anything.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl8M5NweJf
And she didn't ask.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9weKlPOb9O
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sBgWBg4Sl
Something had changed.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNQxlPXruW
And there was no going back now.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAbSqN7Lb6
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