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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uQBfc9b2O
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSgQZazpsX
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzbg3dZBBN
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P7a2bNPX1
She had to go back.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLifEk5irbw
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSMeZKAbj5
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypjWi4Vki0
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxRRKQszY4
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2j5j33XIK
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eYUS1OIdW
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hMbIAL2v5
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGopQtqrOF
⸻52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhuNdirGPI
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv1d9SgFzl
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAKe0xj0YI
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQefjNVNyP7
His heart stopped.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5ksy1dgJS
"Chrissy—"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7KWNvmx2E
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY3kCRFonf
⸻52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkMC1y1yM1
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc7tCElIN1
Deeper.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTISgl5ayBo
More alive.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3eBpilLY0
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKRSI5ZXAc
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr8hA6D3re
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNq7aTLNn6
A gemstone.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyNTlFdxMZ
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSqTfyi5bd
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWCFz646g9
It was the missing piece.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n4ZWguSob
The empty setting in her necklace.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cC7zveKlL
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNaR2Xgsuh
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh1ovmO3xC
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYZXHJ58A0
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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDgkpoTuW9
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbViY7DAuCc
"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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtFQUq5EFW
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlB3DxNyQp
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VoISmmf2q
She wasn't listening.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ayAo71Ueu
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmX6meQhtz
Nick blinked. "What?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQyWLdgfHP
"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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEVex2Dyd
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB5IAPnUZr
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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRDkEI88zn
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjQLXl5jXX
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7monrN9un
She was spiraling.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8mqACTt7M
"Chrissy."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5PeEMed8u
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1ZvpwlBB9
"Chrissy—"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr4HCxXXGM
"I need—"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI82iCN7S1N
He grabbed her face and kissed her.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RGwm45s2A
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJuLtTuCqH
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGZkffqOyi
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KKNuWAsOL
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk11tkxnf30
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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHMNajeHEV
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzIFuGA4il
Her heart was pounding.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz53LElxVJ
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7homhUuUT
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuAfkuwANn
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44VTfRnBsJ
⸻52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbiIcMcPYX
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFZC3t7Dxe
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwphZ7SLNu5
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcerNMrsgj
The moment it clicked into place—52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQtmK8ZW0h
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d596DIelp
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ44SoJOiW
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptQ3c9serV
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pTytOfcI2
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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA26Ge1Cby
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kHLyq0GZT
Nick didn't say anything.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR7YQpYqmo
And she didn't ask.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SQ9HkRBEM
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILgsMCeHpv
Something had changed.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelGdcv4Mgp
And there was no going back now.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRNcx2Xmfp
