Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxuVWb8dW3
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80ZVmyQ5PG
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tqr94Gpx7
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lCUjn4tFJ
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyeJiBxMUa
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cNI3mFq9x
The Cliffside165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyTfunIyvn
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzAG2R9tAK
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtzYET2VDi
The path ended at a sheer cliff.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡini8nC4xUY
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WkyyG2N5L
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wdyCKtq4s
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCZ5J0uuZG
Gone?165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FUkluO1xf
No. No way.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoswwE4CPTj
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgnV3T1m5u
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTKv76eoaV
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHPyFp5fbT
The Ocean's Secret165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3gagUMPlJ
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT19kNw2LF
She wasn't running out of air.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgGy9y8ptG
Her lungs didn't burn.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBVHIVonS0
Instead, she felt... at peace.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv8VnuJR8b
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOQM23PhL5
A glimmer in the sand below.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76IOnxbyIp
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorZURwd2r2
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxPA9vBXww
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8u1S34n8W
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWjBRNuvAh
The cave.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvmBBILGco
Maddie's Jealousy165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXMMjj2jq1
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXShOTWjgNF
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5RD4orH2v
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7krBcQIR2S
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOk44YqutZ
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNI3nKsDsZ
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe3Rou53Xe
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUufCETovRN
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxZxXkTh8N
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE6CJ8s9HD
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqaaoFRzqN
And Maddie was getting sick of it.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVdWIY0f1Y
Nick's Realization165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ga61IRAYg
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe9bLXoykf
His hands curled into fists.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxG8HIpopB
She was somewhere safe.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKvbW9jSKv
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlfjRUSs2i
His stomach clenched.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFl7EK372e
"The cave."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq6rxmUgun
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjVn4imjCJ
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehQiScGnVr
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DRq0jnJ0U
Nick hesitated.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSdHDQSafk
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiqwa6KQEP
He didn't let himself finish the thought.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDUBJzBEnl
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzItXnaP54
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVOrlDg1ls
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zWCg7YhKk
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kiw8udoyH
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf60T4NOJX
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zdgxZGmhj
He didn't stop.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDVx3GiWJR
Didn't look back.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKSEg6wcY1
Because every second he wasted here...165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqpuN5H0E1
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfIkbGcUC5
165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wnATNnyEy
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.216.23da2
