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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