Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1z7dyS7jo
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAic7ryrO0
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD45JMLbxAc
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNk4ik4HA9
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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U6mq59Nae
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaM0YN0AU5
The Cliffside122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bnyn1oUE4
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA60Wnxj8Q
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhU5ahhORe
The path ended at a sheer cliff.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejpAvJoCLM
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1nePjsJEt
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYRoo0qJMK
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo7UZ1KqP4
Gone?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLMtl6che0
No. No way.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9zdlTNnRJ
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0htZiNpOq
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bEvn79hkZ
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1HIFwmDIX
The Ocean's Secret122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XotXR1uxS
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa0Cebv4JA
She wasn't running out of air.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspi0Ks8YeL
Her lungs didn't burn.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYnXPenymr
Instead, she felt... at peace.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNbBmEAo9A
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOzVhmoFUV
A glimmer in the sand below.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIBRViVEbs
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fpBupous9
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM2DMl75mp
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0EzEKyQ94
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMs3CilaDQ
The cave.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbYEiZIWSD
Maddie's Jealousy122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX4MoYWetE
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLxPcUJ77g
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAejI61xyQT
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMXV5yhb4w
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2C00oMbl1
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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GWkSNvavm
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNuhOmzJOS
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgiAHHeXBt
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dSiihIKtn
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijASJdVdPS
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeiol05Ycw
And Maddie was getting sick of it.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy6fmCRJa4
Nick's Realization122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGvT7MmFzm
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT1WmQylrL
His hands curled into fists.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnswwZ0qasH
She was somewhere safe.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhQcLnttNz
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe7O6hKveH
His stomach clenched.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jOtCoVfEM
"The cave."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLHGRlufZ2
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWznjMNEvfb
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7Z2S4d5fZ
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSTv5tiflH
Nick hesitated.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGjvuf0vuL
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDS2K5Uohu
He didn't let himself finish the thought.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKcyj2ZfPD
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwqnkQjnBL
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4niqogxsL
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNR152bN0a
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqpULi4JBe
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Ks9YyUuM
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfRydrjnZT
He didn't stop.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlGq02Idzk
Didn't look back.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OjIsXDxvf
Because every second he wasted here...122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofWTycAsit
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeIHPoxKyr
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXFG3fm75Z
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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