Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Waves
Chrissy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lighthouse. The storm. The woman plunging into the sea. Kyle's words echoed in her head.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNMJoxY7ys
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2QKEP7pSO
Her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. She had spent her whole life feeling like something was missing. A part of her that she could never quite name. But now, with every new discovery, she felt herself being pulled closer to a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWEhXAFJT4
With a quiet breath, she sat up and pushed back her blankets. Her room was dark, the soft glow of the streetlight outside casting shadows across her floor. She moved quickly, slipping on her jacket and sneakers before easing the window open.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qNA4fXTUC
She had to go back.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk4jsLpksk
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pv4j2Nuzv
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5YrPqqiNK
Nick had been parked outside her house for hours, arms crossed over his chest, attempting to rest but never quite letting himself fall asleep. He had been on edge ever since the hurricane. Ever since he'd nearly lost her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFYwXAZUfC
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjZE1qC0KI
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvFV7OXUOS
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIihe14OYzF
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWHyIT1AjM
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Chrissy reached the shoreline quickly, the waves crashing gently against the sand. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light illuminating the water. She didn't stop to think.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1il9acQcD
She stepped into the surf, the cold biting at her skin as she waded in deeper, her breath hitching as the current tugged at her. But she didn't fight it. She let it pull her forward, her body cutting through the water as she swam toward the hidden cave.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG56Mebv5aV
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWodCDSo7U
His heart stopped.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQoYtuZJ9z
"Chrissy—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJolPlsKhY3
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiRzeUeo95
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Chrissy surfaced inside the cave, gasping as she pulled herself onto the rocky ledge. Water dripped from her clothes, her breath uneven. The cave felt different this time.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4psy3YtlG
Deeper.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzShnvsXho
More alive.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeG76gxMNd
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WZm6g4I5b
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde0zmEQOAK
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Kz8OMvT9
A gemstone.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcwgdmnvbY
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsDaiAPWPn
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJKwiFpPt6
It was the missing piece.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXahD2RlXb
The empty setting in her necklace.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yllfRYpMW
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWUMfdVaom
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy2hQ0AFt0
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLfKQppWVW
He was soaked, his hair a mess, his eyes burning with frustration. "Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "You just—just vanished into the ocean! Do you even know what could've happened to you?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwKcdxTAL4
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoeBzCfPXN
"In the middle of the night?" His voice was rising, his hands running through his wet hair in exasperation. "Do you even think about what you put me through? I thought you—" He broke off, shaking his head.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2sMrliLjp
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSMhxaGCpI
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz96m4Tzpx
She wasn't listening.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yK8ZcCcdl
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO2OtQNYFE
Nick blinked. "What?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs8O4ORdwB
"The woman in the lighthouse. The one who disappeared. I think she was my mother. And the lighthouse keeper—" She swallowed hard. "I think he was my father."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIyF6rXSES
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAaRkq6TQS
She took a shaky breath, the words pouring out of her like a flood. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Why else would I be so drawn to this place? Why do I look like her? Why is my necklace connected to all of this?" Her voice cracked. "And what if my adoptive family knew? What if they knew the truth this whole time and never told me?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnjjD23S3A
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RNe7VJUeN
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling. He could see the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once—the questions, the doubt, the fear of what it all meant.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs2T9AyqaZ
She was spiraling.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32vKeZJhQM
"Chrissy."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1xolHo7xd
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAPC79h0i1
"Chrissy—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JJ2YA40Fh
"I need—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIO8l3wm0Z
He grabbed her face and kissed her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm2cNmiG52
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uuJitKwSQ
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSgcb3MAso
Nick felt her stiffen, but then—slowly—she melted into him. Her hands clenched the front of his damp shirt as she let herself fall into the moment, into him.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTQ1pEDfSo
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2IPoPgwDB
Nick rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. "I need you to breathe, okay?" His voice was soft now. Steady. "Just breathe."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeMYLkz4en
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFito6rhO9x
Her heart was pounding.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3rHmj8h2k
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWxDwOffPm
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmRkWsY1Yp
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUbseZ68kT
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8H9QNvUiH
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBlYm9JOvu
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNn4dVvjYi
The moment it clicked into place—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eqDVg0PDr
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g1WD8w5Cw
Chrissy gasped as the light wrapped around her skin, sinking into her like a pulse. Nick flinched, shielding his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVZmcL85kT
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xpFLuy4Bp
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbAzyq32dS
Chrissy's fingers trembled against the now-cool metal. She looked up at him, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, but one stood out above the rest.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8syCWmB7ZZ
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacWvjHl7Qw
Nick didn't say anything.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VRLwXmjUr
And she didn't ask.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyDzlvR3SP
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLHgf3BOkr
Something had changed.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWzdLjL5fX
And there was no going back now.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ114j7najcP
