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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA63ehJmGT7
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6BOi5rd2z
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd00EUbXTM8
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZnFFQhSAA
She had to go back.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RCdYqjS0Y
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhnpq5Bmzq
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmTaoL9yRa
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC5pBWVOBM
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAOxrAHWf9
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEDg4OM4NH
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMFiEErwO1
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMisJrFbWeV
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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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR0lr3AA22
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT4kW8p2wD
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWIwC4Wnty
His heart stopped.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VcWb8d69p
"Chrissy—"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF98pmvkN1
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnxuVlZNW6
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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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRc5IiVOK8
Deeper.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwSvd5sxcq
More alive.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXmEktAmAx
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6JGfstLWR
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VAZ02nLlE
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUF4j1m3rT
A gemstone.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcMwgf3bOD
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf0wtn1iTd
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmyUFUMIHL
It was the missing piece.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IzFgBz8uR
The empty setting in her necklace.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtwXWi8V4H
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjm35mNttE
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7JHSuUMWD
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44lRoRHEnD
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?"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkowG5lI5NH
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvp01yRGiu
"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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYbWFJIaVB
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKmfFqeoxX
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7eGCMCuB8
She wasn't listening.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusNREFSah4
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIiaMpH0H8
Nick blinked. "What?"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rCzXpdJHv
"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."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgAy1L06LF
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqRLuSA35F
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?"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2XXTJx82I
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpYxGhEeqU
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbg4IKISpF
She was spiraling.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH24YklU4c
"Chrissy."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTVSll4GD6
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EUcbLBuQh
"Chrissy—"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxbVnfVlhD
"I need—"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBKYm8ZN4J
He grabbed her face and kissed her.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1kHHxKMTW
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzJygack7J
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhPgIMxqcv
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2uSwHeKk5
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqaW8Cdr2U
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."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoniKrF3ovy
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONSt9dyFyG
Her heart was pounding.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRWgYasyLn
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN40TFR6Po
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXnlU4DqyY
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H58v9d9wY
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ab9N1ElkJ
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZIn8dTC8y
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZww02iTAh
The moment it clicked into place—173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2pfuBCY14
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEfOk89rp4
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXkPfFjJsp
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1flFBuhUW
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QS01wULzN
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.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByyoBIEiHI
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWDHY9wi6I
Nick didn't say anything.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2wHTpRbKD
And she didn't ask.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiU8zOD8vv
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKppLzLTnCP
Something had changed.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvQDpnbDuf
And there was no going back now.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMqb79OKbK
