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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2oNxHgWpu
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmqycICMkb
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH72WsTHM3I
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX79Bv74Uc2
She had to go back.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPXfXBMujq
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9ZIA5c96o
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NJKGUWGqE
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jBmOIDfpb
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgn8RQCntQ
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrd35zV4gF
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMwObw7FQL
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhDU6IyywY
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oR8sCn09p
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2Hog1ZVbs
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusQJ4L5Yam
His heart stopped.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjCsV6IwmY
"Chrissy—"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX7ImPQzkk
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlHzseEize
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7eZUkluVO
Deeper.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNLnEQwraT
More alive.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYzEd5pLrI
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY5Jaq1Dez
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OY8PefPq8
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEP5B9eAFH
A gemstone.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAHqqFYwhS
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPBMTNZqxp
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykFPWNFoRr
It was the missing piece.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuvYPCxHyU
The empty setting in her necklace.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Z5fQToEQ
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEGUDiIYpA
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTbsXLgkfJ
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotQbQVVAoJ
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?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCIHC2grHF
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWbfVxAdEK
"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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6TqdFI3Tt
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhxZE9oOOO
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSURfrAafOX
She wasn't listening.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdce2LGcBXd
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16P75Yf4So
Nick blinked. "What?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQkdmZyfwu
"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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxuhGADspq
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y6AepaKKj
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?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruK0qqICmH
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtPxhY5i6R
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdUgesslBq
She was spiraling.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yafQCzsq5
"Chrissy."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdzrEI7Da1
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4hVAYBJXj
"Chrissy—"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2guqcwAEK
"I need—"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o5OthhQox
He grabbed her face and kissed her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAParQuxuR
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbasnhiTJKx
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jII4XkoSu
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9smdphSJu
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1RAud5BKA
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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTdvbW3Inb
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQYo5wZjuz
Her heart was pounding.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhRvt6mweI
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAAamERCSn
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCo7qoitJL
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU8Zncp9JE
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03uTDTuA4y
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrFFS9hs1w
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrj1QVJ7Ou
The moment it clicked into place—202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi3eeX7inO
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk38RhhM94
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAQUxQW4qd
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5BHcz4IhO
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN6uxU5p1r
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ5ID8q1mS
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sNXiRgTau
Nick didn't say anything.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvBuCQG1xG
And she didn't ask.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZFAeIoSiE
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJWs2dMgwD
Something had changed.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5O2CEgxiK
And there was no going back now.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSqXVYYtdR
