Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5iZ52lxx6
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfeng43wvS
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMOacUTJrp
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV4NUiQdGs
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."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5NkB96e2y
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOLbgtbWMs
The Cliffside34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc813f7PN8B
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq2JZtjwQF
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh1lIb8jDY
The path ended at a sheer cliff.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4sG60eikS
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj3DrLj3nh
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xzVg6yzi9
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgjBSEzBMz
Gone?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqXq7gamVi
No. No way.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8snVDHnCJ
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENNzlYENkT
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VV7CyNQrG
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZh1tqZFoH
The Ocean's Secret34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7OD4jE1Sk
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8E7VBN3gJ
She wasn't running out of air.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxxK8ZGGiD
Her lungs didn't burn.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqld1umcQZk
Instead, she felt... at peace.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOd71wGqb0
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUMKeaFAzo
A glimmer in the sand below.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbP6jqla8j
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy6lL3i3Si
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvd1NJ6tVx
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcs8KPSeDU
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8w6EDqMHV
The cave.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8yYM07fLM
Maddie's Jealousy34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8jH46woL1
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FoBadW04C
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3GHflyowb
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MgtaFOctr
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWC9vGbkDP
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."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiJ0HyUho6
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYMvgHIO5V
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9HuxoFSSb
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTxf7bvOA0
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPRr7Ni3Ug
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlvDHZ5hoj
And Maddie was getting sick of it.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeUd4SY8ut
Nick's Realization34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHARBhzA8g
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG29G0Bp6G
His hands curled into fists.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVoAtotnIf
She was somewhere safe.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNpzceqZWC
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuJLhyWPWx
His stomach clenched.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwj1i0Wg4j
"The cave."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfwsRhiZ0B
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdr7LcFu5j
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxCRXwd5qe
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkB3pMtg9u
Nick hesitated.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYH0M6qI4w
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfKynA7igM
He didn't let himself finish the thought.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJbmZWLG35
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowOw7uRzb0
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ykg8OlQcC
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9BXyjF6sK
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ibJR6DcS
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4YNnjNkSA
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Po0YQGMn
He didn't stop.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AEGcQvltG
Didn't look back.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak7NcssWSE
Because every second he wasted here...34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE0O33QLhT
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4jDukqV4e
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47z2EsMMqG
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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