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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1FHCMdkXY
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBSd6KlvKp
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFupjun0ha
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN8UWuGyhf
She had to go back.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVKJOwQCHm
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfqn4rIgV2
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rM32FFt1l
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdbZ0MM0AF
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdRMMF0rsx
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJJTsXvVZY
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1umTjAbJTe
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTvynN4hXU
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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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDBA8f3sy8
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejdyjprrZR
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VoHzoZ8OM
His heart stopped.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E5vxAi2ZG
"Chrissy—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbITse1XfGZ
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwNDY5fXL2
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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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuXj3QOV1A
Deeper.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1yJkzPhum
More alive.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvQUjIAn4E
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OGkvwK26u
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJZ6tlozLY
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIKHOiK0Fl
A gemstone.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PFTUd4egP
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflANBSKk5Z
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpkmYdafSS
It was the missing piece.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWr0re8ZCK
The empty setting in her necklace.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t4kwGXsOj
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYbLlEKPS2
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAqPEptKN2
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseezGRF6Zs
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?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafPLauSrQF
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq03MClysx
"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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0BFyth4gW
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwQKj3H9jO
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndS6ef1p71
She wasn't listening.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4KEXc7SIz
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EdEPAZIP9
Nick blinked. "What?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqxIZYvs43
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uKVjeqoCJ
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyQHrtT4eV
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?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmovxvRGM4
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrW0Jrdz8s
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBSNqVNCp3
She was spiraling.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtOOTyFIc3
"Chrissy."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmZj5JFBZl
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbQlzVlJMI
"Chrissy—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIsSuTmJTU
"I need—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SSvdgvtgD
He grabbed her face and kissed her.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pPIGkDnic
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0ws6cA3Tz
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0nnZkN2hG
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgqJdAzxf
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE2KGXIymy
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBB6fIAHLr
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WT8vqd7Ge
Her heart was pounding.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeI0DIGtDq
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF9yhaMDyX
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiMcvPuHBO
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui6acA6P7c
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNhnv62PYy
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYw3OH7iF2
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXbu6M2wPG
The moment it clicked into place—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXGpnFxV9T
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnXtK9TSOQ
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVC8jUT82c
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18NX0ovKFZ
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWwupmPBTG
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KKcJFiph5
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLotSG7xd0
Nick didn't say anything.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj2ByEw59L
And she didn't ask.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUGvfoaT9L
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznRkfcgu1a
Something had changed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tDbLYqGLg
And there was no going back now.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRk16N6P7G
