Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NsWlJT0F4
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyKV28zWF0
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp9mr8EAKQ
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGLN0RL2lH
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW4rxpKxxc
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf17TyQ1Me
The Cliffside55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHSX4gmEzn
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jwEiAUQN0
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTSWouEfY7
The path ended at a sheer cliff.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCOluBgaQB
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl9SZbS1XQ
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3CNmc68S1
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oAkrpiX5q
Gone?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LXoEhzvrm
No. No way.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ijacyTh7g
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymruiu8Col
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyZcjyPzJU
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhIUfuPobI
The Ocean's Secret55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAulgqYEGK
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcqdKoj6c2
She wasn't running out of air.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxAjclglg3
Her lungs didn't burn.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHTjaio6tV
Instead, she felt... at peace.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE8Z3hAirb
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigtkgMvyOd
A glimmer in the sand below.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja5DhSXnaR
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q8tm6RYVl
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxkEe7EA9c
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHW2z6J35F
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRBpHn4IkY
The cave.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F0WG5I4pV
Maddie's Jealousy55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqgGaxr32u
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq1iK2uumo
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoeOGKSpTB
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzXhuEeVep
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfnTdSbOVh
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRuel3HwV4
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ZLNJMYes
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUeYx2I0dL
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kzZv6SYgb
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMbxy2WJlq
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNkxP5UJgV
And Maddie was getting sick of it.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdggvXNUml
Nick's Realization55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03951ZYMNo
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ6UMJ5frP
His hands curled into fists.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf5Bc2djMl
She was somewhere safe.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyvwNkqlK5
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMwIlSjQo4
His stomach clenched.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI7rbU99UD
"The cave."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4UQJ4vdaZ
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qwd5ahTrZ
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK7D43kM14
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmiWpA3St6
Nick hesitated.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU58TpVD6D
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWIV6tV7sS
He didn't let himself finish the thought.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPs97hMbjQ
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5eAcpXiXM
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEYdhtd12L
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpuvIg7mVt
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOALNPpqw1e
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8X4NukNcW
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKkx6Z3sAX
He didn't stop.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrxRIYFpMQ
Didn't look back.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGHJAdq5Dq
Because every second he wasted here...55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGlKTO1H9B
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP0TVvxrOW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvcOZBLzGs
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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