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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa1sP8SWk0
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKL79a4L5Q
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlQVFmMjxy
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFOOchv6TE
She had to go back.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauAzB1V8ch
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcnQP4DZdB
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1R4ENIyjJ
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RlaUYOnsl
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6ZgAL5BpX
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoBQTFqunN
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgdg4y8zEU
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11AWUX5VhA
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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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtutOZFqxjU
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuYnsSUadu
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4ozANj1PC
His heart stopped.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3IGMSGddz
"Chrissy—"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BwtfKl0R6
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vnHWN6REK
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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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWSJNcV44s
Deeper.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gV3RmWbR7
More alive.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByRhd6Tn4S
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVSKyKWR9j
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNrWiOllcm
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RyLs1pWU9
A gemstone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDJqGcXgOL
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dXFxCmuBr
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhT7RNMxJD
It was the missing piece.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dmClQsAYj
The empty setting in her necklace.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQEPnkcvO6
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT13mu9Tfy6
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOcSuTD3dY
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YW9E33VMr
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?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv7gtFcvzm
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUMW70aJyz
"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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnrh4ylnIQ
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYduac5hp6c
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e3CzeC4jn
She wasn't listening.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO65abVVnMX
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dyJdxv6ae
Nick blinked. "What?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLqK49Ls9q
"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."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIDSrvL8rK
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LbX3sjnve
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?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc98Vxk6QrO
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFGHZ55CVR
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DlHdTPTNV
She was spiraling.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVDpKLXDxB
"Chrissy."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRWWZ1Lmww
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLLwEWZPyV
"Chrissy—"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCGoWLruc4
"I need—"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDkG3sg0fq
He grabbed her face and kissed her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGaMATEZq5
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU5s33W8Qd
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAVdDEtS2q
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V4Hndo2bR
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSyJQLnEkZ
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."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u9Kcvlmfb
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLkbcsdRLk
Her heart was pounding.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcKeNRuLTX
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9DQZX1kqf
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpm5YfbSfF
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqjXWnLcsQ
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FtRok4N3t
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg5qYH1tYB
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vIOzynA3X
The moment it clicked into place—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUxT8mnieF
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZErH36pMeT
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR6SvciLIH
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9meFgxv5k
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIZXieBdW2
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHOmMDKWHx
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtshtnQcvY
Nick didn't say anything.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSXb5zTuyg
And she didn't ask.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat7G4x7miK
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhZfjeA28k
Something had changed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakrf5HCO2g
And there was no going back now.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkacXcsKqiD
