Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzsPaN2Wl5
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDwOedWZdk
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5PuXelryd
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkJJHzEG0L
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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOKwHvNPCk
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMqRsXM2u9
The Cliffside179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iZlzJUhcF
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGV2FbbdBZ
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevshSMU6Hq
The path ended at a sheer cliff.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzQDrpCu9W
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia4kKBUpr7
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUonmo6nd5P
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJaLrn98hz
Gone?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnAxSJsMPQ
No. No way.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxeNNa3re1
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hqcsZ6f14
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp009j2CnT
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E3MpUUymH
The Ocean's Secret179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17BN8RfkDt
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66QUGx6YfQ
She wasn't running out of air.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUOJcamviy
Her lungs didn't burn.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd138N0FSJ
Instead, she felt... at peace.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcMCFymeVH
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAhO9otjBs
A glimmer in the sand below.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkadRxFDgXV
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUIqa5xmz0
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqqGc4EvLw
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJyjQHTYc5
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDBPYoLDAC
The cave.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfOKqQhvFO
Maddie's Jealousy179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTch1eKYTJ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwu5Ndh3EG
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkASbreM6lv
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4MxSc1nPC
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBOgz2GaAW
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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UQ6BuKSFH
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBn8GIIOez
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMifbBYnjB
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbchnOlUPeY
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJDlbn8Sic
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahaaorM4PO
And Maddie was getting sick of it.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N7F8LVFUH
Nick's Realization179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg21FU4ETu
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygC3xGzQ2o
His hands curled into fists.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBYTspwyWs
She was somewhere safe.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIvN6h9VbR
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ME2z4qHzQ
His stomach clenched.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiKLQXVMda
"The cave."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NU1hJqhjx
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoS04V8mht
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rrz36hFfb
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3jVvw64Wj
Nick hesitated.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqJQbw9gyl
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSR3zhYVQ0
He didn't let himself finish the thought.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjZYTNNwHE
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVLy76g8Jw
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBNyYsVjtG
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmgmWOl37n
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vapLxN3ab
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmQO79o9Gu
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuILrpCHOv
He didn't stop.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMsQbtWjmR
Didn't look back.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kpQIhlkrV
Because every second he wasted here...179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheLoklSFI7
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjImmppfzW
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdjjSUPdje
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.216.70da2
and then Add to home screen.