Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq5d0co4jG
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzonVKqUqP
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFrJsd1aRC
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aAsiaEosu
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."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2QPPwMe09
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOTzaCQa4A
The Cliffside182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknkZiWaCZY
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtBDSWrvr1
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmWuICDyRa
The path ended at a sheer cliff.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MJkivx05a
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAstDqpcto
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDmtXyrV9M
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eh0VSbg3i
Gone?182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc6tcuNi0z
No. No way.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLb5ZmKy0K
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7KE5VFlrw
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67mNmaZup3
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwre7ChhpFn
The Ocean's Secret182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VYEuXSOPa
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl9EIzRh0L
She wasn't running out of air.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9pBUAxd9n
Her lungs didn't burn.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1tq3beJ0o
Instead, she felt... at peace.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm8mPje1pP
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhjQ6GR1V6
A glimmer in the sand below.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuOpRrj1no
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZPTih2a3g
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BHeLpCjkN
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyikGzEdT2
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNo61lirHj
The cave.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYW9o8GwsB
Maddie's Jealousy182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPm0J6RVWcF
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41OdDuiI7
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ2ETjJflg
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTKCxGsLuD
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOntJLC2Ya
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."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJUQUyRJ9z
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNASaI60Uu
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjnLRWBLEh
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8TQn8pwqu
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowZihnte1F
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSAlq92n18
And Maddie was getting sick of it.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4oqCvfYgr
Nick's Realization182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oafIZdhYu
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuA74GQUxt
His hands curled into fists.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlCDVgnnBK
She was somewhere safe.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnar9fieGB
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8hTDCe7uE
His stomach clenched.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8vWOM8z82
"The cave."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXWNvzq0Sp
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6QOahqRMB
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FvUUrEuUa
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGupccs6wE
Nick hesitated.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxffMD2RBLq
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI9wUckB7B
He didn't let himself finish the thought.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWTS9NznAI
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSWP05cwD3
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUTfRMimeN
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pQswoTfQt
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZVlXYMhAY
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxB4HVkibr
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHpRhvZaAj
He didn't stop.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIjHzi6avI
Didn't look back.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBW22CWxQk
Because every second he wasted here...182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO9Q2j0c0a
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuavgd5M7Z
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1X9YxueZX
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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