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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlwNj1ozAI
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl3X5mXP6L
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN4yDG44Yc
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCA661Aw1l
She had to go back.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlqrVg6f5R
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd3faf9JlA
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOQlizlXev
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvcJsT4KtD
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWjvsWcuo4
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn3YXjegyA
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWa1XwbsN5
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRv2Agptk4
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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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfK5F7GklI
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAYgXzfB5I
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWVLjbVXsW
His heart stopped.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEtxmH0zWB
"Chrissy—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhKEIl3TcX
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq0haDBIgh
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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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO5hoaozlD
Deeper.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzcUbRLAfG
More alive.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2YrWLm6a9
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2BSQOshW4
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4wZH7CRSC
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPHQBbPZ7L
A gemstone.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jc29evOyh
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIHgmXNgsY
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ez2teWuvr
It was the missing piece.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UeTNIb6vb
The empty setting in her necklace.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6gXnk3zHQ
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc92TZ4Lnw
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqeQAgXb7s
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMz75Kum7j
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?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBcqmHVINf
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG55Kpa288S
"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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCyKLn97Gp
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyWh7pRvpB
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCJvjhhmI6
She wasn't listening.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobL7Z7rl5V
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs5dgLsiL4
Nick blinked. "What?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC87TQpzf5I
"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."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzVJQxbda9
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRawx5IvY2
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?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMBwLJWTkv
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5j5kEJNVj
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm9EZjBa7v
She was spiraling.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz9LwJ6dxz
"Chrissy."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxbthfrXCv
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hwIqKdiZ8
"Chrissy—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL4oiterdo
"I need—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAvprq0OUG
He grabbed her face and kissed her.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6JKKMkSIN
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKybfu3YLUd
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkyl8V8Ajh
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbFrYcJ1xY
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSC0q9fFlO
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."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XJv3nTn1u
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNHjZ7MgZ
Her heart was pounding.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedOS8PEUn1
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXi7kHReuz
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0GFyJKbpe
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfw9Sw3MRA
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVPGJS6EKA
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY0JkiiBEa
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr8VwkX8Li
The moment it clicked into place—124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuNQ8TTnFj
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyeRE4Ly61
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FFvTMJsnn
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6okcEGg3T
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCHcsI1sT7
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTtLUbW8Kw
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhPYk2XxsT
Nick didn't say anything.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m14XosQKJ
And she didn't ask.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImvOFuImO7
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4g51gHf3d
Something had changed.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76d1iVvbDg
And there was no going back now.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdo9F7y7rK
