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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlA6DNm3X3
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjCCiBWivj
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirwn2GzeCT
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlso9nKTKMN
She had to go back.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJuHzubnK
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j7ITogdMO
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjhuBUhT4p
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lg6Ge4865
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTxFGjLHKz
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hhCKudk35
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUIfhHB4Nh
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJYdEbQ29x
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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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bLBDCwfUQ
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkv3tFkeFn
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF7RVMcwCr
His heart stopped.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqsdUHySax
"Chrissy—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbIUnT6sNH
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETjBJR1kVV
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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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnROLb70j1
Deeper.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktf0ILbeVV
More alive.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwwcEMbuJp
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLDbFtzuWv
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnpJfrVaVA
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenLM8OBAHA
A gemstone.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAc3yJDzRJ
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lkoTHpXGC
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmtF0jyWzn
It was the missing piece.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUOawEn2nb
The empty setting in her necklace.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOVQ25PVm6
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAEeFkTnjn
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA6xMpu0rV
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54Txh1pHpv
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?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a96ITTWSc
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sijh3rQSX
"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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ831ssm8pcx
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmB7GPOW0b
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcckZHM5yJ7
She wasn't listening.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMTsJzm1on
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p3GzpS7yS
Nick blinked. "What?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8kOAsqJ6R
"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."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXFLLrpON3
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0of3y4yWA
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?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pbsMPs7VN
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQNNFsKOOj
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yOSDhrCmB
She was spiraling.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNbHtho9dA
"Chrissy."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrehxXwXlSv
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ry8IkObZ2
"Chrissy—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNrdBX5kCy
"I need—"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqoK7viBln
He grabbed her face and kissed her.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwIG8wymcm
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDruMaZCNF
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAp16VLpnx
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6a1kwmdKI
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWCL8M508A
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."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTmCgak9hr
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvVcdHj5iw
Her heart was pounding.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWDJXVFCk6
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg2j5ptGaN
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazPfHM8dXh
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VY876LJ69
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0f4cG8p9K
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasVatNTR9l
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiNQa3sr3F
The moment it clicked into place—172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KwVavJAm3
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXXVkobzRu
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY9wLW5ywx
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPRlHI4awB
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBbFiIx2ta
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.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs2Y5vdE1r
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UY55yjMhj
Nick didn't say anything.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ovHN3fwQp
And she didn't ask.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBxKPBfxBW
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jDBIfzrQi
Something had changed.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi2T5z9Gge
And there was no going back now.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC0THB1tL4
