Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House103Please respect copyright.PENANA6uC462yaRk
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANATqnhwhFT6d
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.103Please respect copyright.PENANAZMgqQwCvxn
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAOcmLzqbRv0
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."103Please respect copyright.PENANAEEroTvismr
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.103Please respect copyright.PENANAdm5X0SWLf2
The Cliffside103Please respect copyright.PENANAcFulpKEcHU
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAIPZVw6e7TM
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.103Please respect copyright.PENANAnr4E4zFltQ
The path ended at a sheer cliff.103Please respect copyright.PENANAWuCwZQ8qoW
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAkTlKDRrFGf
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."103Please respect copyright.PENANAA0Hy9imE0b
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."103Please respect copyright.PENANAOiGXNmyIiA
Gone?103Please respect copyright.PENANA4nsitZThbk
No. No way.103Please respect copyright.PENANAHpHmrSAO4l
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."103Please respect copyright.PENANAwK1AU6OCBB
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.103Please respect copyright.PENANAW7oylHw3ft
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?103Please respect copyright.PENANAVBFTSwsm4i
The Ocean's Secret103Please respect copyright.PENANAS4CsDSryrY
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAGD9QZTWcq1
She wasn't running out of air.103Please respect copyright.PENANApOtCn3Z7TL
Her lungs didn't burn.103Please respect copyright.PENANAN8wUiPao8K
Instead, she felt... at peace.103Please respect copyright.PENANAJdOsWIORil
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.103Please respect copyright.PENANAvfliaEr6i0
A glimmer in the sand below.103Please respect copyright.PENANAFCfnqxc94K
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAY9hx5T8ar4
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.103Please respect copyright.PENANAlgIgnf67hd
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.103Please respect copyright.PENANAWtYlNnnJtv
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.103Please respect copyright.PENANAbYZ9IaHVbU
The cave.103Please respect copyright.PENANANnlcSCmbEY
Maddie's Jealousy103Please respect copyright.PENANANKkpC2yXzu
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANAByYKgih3zN
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."103Please respect copyright.PENANAnFbYrtPZAR
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"103Please respect copyright.PENANApPgZzvdhaT
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.103Please respect copyright.PENANAuzI32Nauzb
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."103Please respect copyright.PENANApasniwSWYU
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.103Please respect copyright.PENANAOHqLY68sqW
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.103Please respect copyright.PENANApKK5qd6rzf
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.103Please respect copyright.PENANA4UOk1Y6mvK
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.103Please respect copyright.PENANAFfcV9hgdsD
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.103Please respect copyright.PENANAGzyn2SnJJk
And Maddie was getting sick of it.103Please respect copyright.PENANAf40OVE5aej
Nick's Realization103Please respect copyright.PENANAxLhMTH1Ppj
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...103Please respect copyright.PENANAdAZh6RBZIQ
His hands curled into fists.103Please respect copyright.PENANAKSoxfkvpGE
She was somewhere safe.103Please respect copyright.PENANA4OkMT217sW
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.103Please respect copyright.PENANAdVQM75Z233
His stomach clenched.103Please respect copyright.PENANAydKoQ1pVVb
"The cave."103Please respect copyright.PENANA8GJ8k4qBT0
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAICUUkv9dWD
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."103Please respect copyright.PENANAg3lY4lARcS
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."103Please respect copyright.PENANAWJQG5ASnpN
Nick hesitated.103Please respect copyright.PENANAjnd4J0UCfx
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...103Please respect copyright.PENANAgpGYNW9kv6
He didn't let himself finish the thought.103Please respect copyright.PENANAyDVwiQgtUv
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.103Please respect copyright.PENANAvNfXPrJQUN
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"103Please respect copyright.PENANA6rKxoaTYLq
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.103Please respect copyright.PENANA9idAKJPLT3
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."103Please respect copyright.PENANA9tYfYCj8s1
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAJPMGKFnez7
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.103Please respect copyright.PENANA82CvP5WV0n
He didn't stop.103Please respect copyright.PENANA5sEn52V7IW
Didn't look back.103Please respect copyright.PENANAWi4PG9PuUz
Because every second he wasted here...103Please respect copyright.PENANAXVtinNMRMB
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.103Please respect copyright.PENANAFOxNKTPIN1
103Please respect copyright.PENANA7mvrBrYQEG
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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