Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp1cKJ7Awn
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoUDbZetcv
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5RvKqAXgO
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gmgsZTZUi
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISQYzKyxqy
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog2iEG7mXv
The Cliffside156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSQKxhhlXK
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP1bWiF96d
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnSz5qjcHl
The path ended at a sheer cliff.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39c6oGxdmz
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtSVGec0ka
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXGJWzQWrV
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrGDoAopSq
Gone?156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Eo3ly6Qng
No. No way.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKqIMjfn5t
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2xmpexuT0
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdpsiBK5qI
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AOITuoU9K
The Ocean's Secret156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaD2zwzXib
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo90A963bzT
She wasn't running out of air.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF05rJtXqG0
Her lungs didn't burn.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvW4RXI4TX
Instead, she felt... at peace.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0aCETkhZC
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDB85pLhOm
A glimmer in the sand below.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOlfyTPkJc
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvpOHKkYDs
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4hAMFWkHv
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaqnBTX9VM
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDTniKubC9
The cave.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszjpjiArbe
Maddie's Jealousy156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUIq6TwuIS
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQt27D6xiV
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7YHl2BSiS
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aiIXtqtXD
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nLgjynQZZ
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zXRtmV6QH
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ll2zf3PXs
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59MEHIgAyF
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNK6US6Bbt
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFOMLU5Dqr
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG7aWBkvS8
And Maddie was getting sick of it.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV7bpQXsN2
Nick's Realization156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPNxR3qG7K
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIJUhg4rYb
His hands curled into fists.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYxPCCRG1T
She was somewhere safe.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni88WGk91m
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmwnH1IXwU
His stomach clenched.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOiIr3EucP
"The cave."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGQ77CidoF
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugPndYFIYu
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT92PkI2e5
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztLy5BPDNI
Nick hesitated.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTJmqWHnSU
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IU1OWykLv
He didn't let himself finish the thought.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwxwFH4V82
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d8fE4xFwX
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNIDJjrzkE
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp1gyYslru
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsexfBCUaqk
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvH7kIxYEP
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBS6nicfvd
He didn't stop.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8zf6Eu602
Didn't look back.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQMrOuhkCF
Because every second he wasted here...156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5NWysdpuc
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomdSDUNuSU
156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvfRcGn4vR
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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