Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4kMrefjaR
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY7UQJmQwh
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQiEUvabmN
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd26vmB5gp
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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7bUbiyRoF
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR0TnELw5E
The Cliffside136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX0wrd9KtL
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4s5eV2DK9
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpxnZjra6P
The path ended at a sheer cliff.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7yRcdGw18
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQY29jdVUv
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nf0g82weP
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFOB7B65i7
Gone?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRcsgw4e9E
No. No way.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGldIa2oj3
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQAnKB86nS
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8jlkN7Wcv
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqvfED6umM
The Ocean's Secret136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblVcCDh78t
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml654Q4U9f
She wasn't running out of air.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Iti8fBOs
Her lungs didn't burn.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg24loIZoL
Instead, she felt... at peace.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75kWDRfVYl
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yx7FNz6lw
A glimmer in the sand below.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yb64FlZSg
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtMD7ZgYUF
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kgybzpc9L
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGcXt5gIFY
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT9YrFni4P
The cave.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QIpkZPvx8
Maddie's Jealousy136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IryYP0MXy
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm2VPGdoxX
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgljJt1dHsZ
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55amoZuiTh
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgxpUY4b8i
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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNXLWMYzUE
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQzfcR1jpO
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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4nnXDCbM2
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVACHmnfw6o
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPW1b5lnvw
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRW4Zw4eKL
And Maddie was getting sick of it.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAavp5Ervxf
Nick's Realization136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAzMkb3rPW
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F6TAxDl6Y
His hands curled into fists.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPX25cBHsb
She was somewhere safe.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2lWPnFGmC
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYE4Fe0HbC
His stomach clenched.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxCLjRmyMF
"The cave."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBK2Qm3yMh
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit519olQTO
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0pmmHwMb8
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X0yjHZZpk
Nick hesitated.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jDAQc0Z6X
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sKSztDbK1
He didn't let himself finish the thought.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN2ltGyDxf
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxgfFzrOeZ
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W3fzjZtOv
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7YjylkR6F
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUqlbeqgOe
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrcY7rR7DZ
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkJ7c0tz9o
He didn't stop.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QRvhVeCKx
Didn't look back.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPdG5kqybX
Because every second he wasted here...136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedaCiH6Yjs
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyYFDxGv6q
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S3BYQUXbM
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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