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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ogixh6SyM
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShbs1uCjJX
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrfIS1YA8I
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6HFWWru4E
She had to go back.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTrF82n78l
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo2tErSMxf
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXLbnN3v4t
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK14Mqc9f7e
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tcCWG6rR3
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeizBk4DbHY
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoNUGjkv89
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZITh0zfB9z
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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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq6wtoVjPn
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g4FVF8CUd
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtxw3tMhFn
His heart stopped.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60uc49aliB
"Chrissy—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpxl137Ocy
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVmfuo5Xid
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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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xu87eI34J
Deeper.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGV57vPYzs
More alive.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33PzClVwDD
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4Un2XS4u8
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAModMQprH
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyGsYuU9au
A gemstone.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkQmiAhOkj
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBpUpsSy07
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLFO6g8nH6
It was the missing piece.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuZH99x7Ad
The empty setting in her necklace.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIh5w0eGuH
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CyilShE6P
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpBCQ47J9i
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNvQY0gU2M
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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pZB6SDUpS
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowhI5zlQDa
"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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB97dVjdUT
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAZglu1o5V
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiqzCxFsZu
She wasn't listening.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWa3v1MfC0
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBakWlga2PJ
Nick blinked. "What?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufoCxUAqmn
"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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdGljxWofH
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB35FzatRg
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?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKr6EQgQNS
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlfsHKNiJr
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZtZwDXGyP
She was spiraling.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJu4x5amXk
"Chrissy."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrttywLRTF
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uwAT4SIx3
"Chrissy—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYdhaXfvoJ
"I need—"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFkPfkOfj3
He grabbed her face and kissed her.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Je4d5dcX2
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLn6WNRtyq
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk73ZxWvym
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifbvDOgMLr
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfp6o7p6F0
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."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT36B9FEIYF
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzXPrxNTZy
Her heart was pounding.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI0dGdSDl8
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYW3VYs1z3
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEqnCJIQWB
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG60NeF60Y
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERinHetOf0
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m4WoWI1te
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45b2HvTOrE
The moment it clicked into place—188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2prboVDiXS
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiLzxKMMWf
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ANZNkEnW1
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOk7hUWgoY
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcj0FanUYJ
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.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsPKzWDWKo
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1GI25iOIr
Nick didn't say anything.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqGoTqJXh5
And she didn't ask.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbYspBncqj
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI9tfAYPT0
Something had changed.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIY6XMOT73
And there was no going back now.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0EXepv6H7
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