Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qwLWvxbrQ
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ2AQ19Pmq
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0ZZRAi7Gi
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hAB10fGmN
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."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqH7wMantM
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmZT7dTvZP
The Cliffside25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxF4GMb512
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wHrMmIIn2
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T9CsepkRf
The path ended at a sheer cliff.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGmzjf64Ty
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaw6f4KbDs
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz355shxMb
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdtKCX1jQX
Gone?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgpbBWsLcE
No. No way.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEoLmlq7kR
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHVval3gNM
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNzminPssc
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPvMFYValE
The Ocean's Secret25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsqxJ7Cg9d
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc18bb4NR3
She wasn't running out of air.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXdBdn0Fy4
Her lungs didn't burn.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2T18QLmvJ
Instead, she felt... at peace.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1DLm3e4Dy
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvnwUNnjXb
A glimmer in the sand below.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9y1zzddqw
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BK7lE7Mih
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sbSvEnyfW
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx7MvLMciT
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwLKJw2RLP
The cave.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCubwI8fnzy
Maddie's Jealousy25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdSn0gqpjd
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09is4bF8H0
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFlOCYnzLH
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjehw6oxVM
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w1VZ9e9cy
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."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0xTEi2ziD
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKNTiTXvjr
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqo6SoSbJD
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXJPTwaq0O
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacdVUhPSLy
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdlj4HmBFp
And Maddie was getting sick of it.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv8pCOseN7
Nick's Realization25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikVoRpIwj3
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Lw1H8wJq
His hands curled into fists.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusdOMGGn2d
She was somewhere safe.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtblrdVP5cR
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGkdVIYU1N
His stomach clenched.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwctCEWQdK
"The cave."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzeRON2fKn
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ki6A1xOw2
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0i0AIHir0
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yJ1hq306a
Nick hesitated.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2MOfjwwyK
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUytHRotu2B
He didn't let himself finish the thought.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPFGC5IkXk
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PgZiQNnB6
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtzUc0IKSb
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87fzfmN4Dl
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFcSTMfYL9
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeS5LllrM0
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHkPnNeKGs
He didn't stop.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEahOx29oU
Didn't look back.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG86aduIF1
Because every second he wasted here...25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMG5cc5e9Z
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKRPgv9b62
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNivWgP8P9l
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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