Chapter 6: Whispers of the Ocean
Chrissy woke to the soft sound of the ocean breeze drifting through her window. The sunlight had barely begun to peek through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. As she rubbed her eyes and stretched, she realized the unexpected weight of the past few days was still lingering in her chest. The mystery of the lighthouse, the necklace, the journal—everything was starting to blur together in a way that felt almost overwhelming.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwNrlb0XoT
When she turned to her desk, she saw Nick sitting there, engrossed in the journal they had found the night before. The pages were spread out before him, and he didn't notice her stir at first.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju6auuAXCz
"Nick?" Chrissy's voice broke the silence, quiet but urgent.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSDz58Neyw
He looked up immediately, his face flushed. "Oh, hey, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He rubbed his eyes and closed the journal, but his gaze lingered on the pages for a moment longer. "I stayed up reading it," he confessed. "There's something strange about it. It's like whoever wrote this knew... something. Something important."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvuYKS5tdt
Chrissy sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What do you mean?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHhSgylnL3
Nick shrugged, clearly frustrated. "I don't know yet. It's all so cryptic. But I can't shake the feeling that it's somehow connected to everything happening. To you."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVho3p0A5oQ
Before she could respond, Nick stood up, his eyes flicking back to the journal. "Wanna go for a walk on the beach? I think I need some air."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bZ1ziD2ze
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The walk along the beach was peaceful, but there was an undeniable tension between them. Chrissy had the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. She glanced over at Nick, who was still deep in thought, his brow furrowed as if the pieces of the puzzle were slipping just out of reach.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFzqEbLwKJ
It wasn't long before they noticed him. The same figure from before—the one who had been watching them from the shadows. He stood in the distance, just out of clear view, partially hidden by the dunes.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBxvipyfQa
Nick tensed, his protective instincts flaring. "Who is that?" he muttered.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkWxW40yTt
"I... I don't know," Chrissy whispered. But even as she said it, she felt an unsettling pull toward the figure. Something about him felt familiar.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvg1tyOPCt
Without thinking, Nick began walking toward him, determination in his stride. Chrissy hesitated but followed. Something deep inside her urged her to confront the stranger, to understand why he had been watching them for so long.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM74cp4zImF
"Hey!" Nick called out as they approached. "What do you want? Why have you been following us?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3pgT8b2ys
The man turned slowly, his eyes locking with Chrissy's. There was no surprise in his gaze, just an unsettling calmness. "I'm not following you," he replied quietly, his voice steady. "I'm trying to keep her safe."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2asK82wOH3
"Safe?" Nick repeated, his voice sharp. He stepped forward, his fists clenching. "What do you mean by that? Who are you?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4seCj402hH
The man's eyes didn't leave Chrissy. He seemed to be weighing something, deciding how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke again, his voice quieter, more serious.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKemWyJBGN
"My grandfather... he was involved with the woman you're looking for. The one from the lighthouse. He was there when she... when she disappeared. And after everything that happened to her, I promised I'd protect the next person who came looking for her—someone like her." He paused, his gaze softening. "Someone like you."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXPkHyY6rg
Chrissy felt a chill run down her spine as his words sank in. "You know about her? The woman from the lighthouse?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR7j4DoIKQ
The man nodded, his expression grave. "I do. And I know the danger she was in. The townspeople... they didn't understand. But my grandfather did. And he told me, before he passed, that I had to make sure her story didn't repeat itself. That I had to keep you safe."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5ECa7NfUK
Nick stepped forward, his protective instincts flaring again. "What exactly are you saying?" he demanded.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCop4W8EF8r
The man took a deep breath, clearly choosing his words carefully. "I'm saying that your search, everything you've been doing, it's not just curiosity. It's something deeper. Something dangerous. And I'm here to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHEyE77ElM
Without waiting for a response, the man turned and disappeared into the distance, leaving Chrissy and Nick standing there, stunned.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7lilhqKW6
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Back at Chrissy's house, the weight of the conversation lingered in the air. Chrissy was still processing what the man had said. Who was he? And why had he said she was like the woman from the lighthouse?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgWDdeiKz2
Nick seemed just as confused, but his protective nature was more pronounced than ever. He glanced at Chrissy, his expression softer now. "I don't like this," he said, his voice low. "I don't like what he said. But I won't let anything happen to you, Chrissy. I promise."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEp8aFVpfE
Chrissy nodded, grateful for his reassurance, but deep down, she knew something bigger was happening—something she couldn't fully grasp yet.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMULrYDfOG
To clear her mind, she grabbed her towel and decided to do something that always brought her peace: she went for a swim. The water had always been her escape, the one place where she could forget about everything else. As she waded into the cool ocean, she felt her shoulders relax, the tension easing from her body.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeHI4KJGu8
She dove in, letting the waves carry her. There was something comforting about the rhythm of the water, something that made her feel connected, almost like she was part of it. She swam farther out than usual, losing track of time. She didn't feel the need to surface, as if the ocean was holding her, cradling her in its embrace.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKejglnxYeV
On the shore, Nick watched her, his eyes narrowing with concern as she stayed underwater for too long. The minutes ticked by, and his worry grew. He couldn't see her anymore. Panic set in, and without thinking, he dove into the water, swimming furiously to find her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH4A5NYvmD
"Chrissy!" he called out, his voice panicked.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBespRljuDs
Finally, he spotted her—floating just below the surface, her eyes closed, looking serene and unbothered by the time that had passed. He reached for her, his heart pounding, and pulled her back toward the shore.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoob317U0y
When they finally reached the beach, Chrissy blinked up at him, her face calm, almost serene. "I... I didn't even realize how long I was underwater."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaaQ9RShIs
Nick's heart was still racing as he helped her to her feet. "You scared me," he said, his voice soft but laced with worry. "Don't ever do that again."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T7McfFCNj
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Nick gently rested his forehead against hers, a breathless moment passing between them. He wanted to kiss her. He could feel it. But something held him back. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was something else.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSXGv6zUVH
He pulled away slowly, his breath shaky. "You're okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDxBKjdiUQ
Chrissy smiled softly, her heart fluttering. "Yeah," she said, her voice filled with quiet certainty. "I'm okay."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRkWits0qT
But deep down, both of them knew the storm wasn't over. It was only just beginning.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5A2G9rBDO
{sorry it’s taking forever to upload all the chapters I written!}
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