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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKayEJPY24
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcwzY0mAth
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TbMcI4vxP
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlESoaiBL5r
She had to go back.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmIgD2ZJzx
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN1DPyCqRM
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYcXGqfw61
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwQDDdeXzi
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsWv5ZcldF
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxvrID3NYu
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK9yQcuGN9
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtVPmWmLXQ
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV97Sp2DyCe
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZMFYJV3nM
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae10MTdbmY
His heart stopped.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTP08SomCX
"Chrissy—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7zcCAAtd3
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT7VCyOxAg
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYm8aVaM1a
Deeper.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnsYMS0Mju
More alive.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ511HLu72IT
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIIUeHVX2X
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelJjw9QDIb
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11uPscExiB
A gemstone.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEipLvteN0T
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmFylOerqA
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgw5UaDU6P
It was the missing piece.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3egx6PLd2
The empty setting in her necklace.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWTEp4fGbG
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHJ2u3J6NC
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs3SPW8JLl
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgFoTBu1UM
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?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfhW9FvF8p
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQZ8bR2DnC
"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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXiJPJXNfo
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkwBywXFC7
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsuOykfDWj
She wasn't listening.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TwkC0xaQ5
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1JH3s64OE
Nick blinked. "What?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yGJrPHtry
"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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapxndj85Mp
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlBTHkOqHI
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?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4q0jeAnOz
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhILNN5BpA
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vuf1oU8XB
She was spiraling.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYn0m0guqK
"Chrissy."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxgGAzjz9F
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4CJH7XevT
"Chrissy—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXGIw5AzYP
"I need—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXMH3UHhNC
He grabbed her face and kissed her.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOZIyrBLBN
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZAQZfUygj
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwjZQKrFja
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX2aEpsXtK
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84JObfl2TE
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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr32sAJ7RR
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeUFaqvXtl
Her heart was pounding.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIgWw8ZqO6
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxlL4pSRoB
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvQsp9cunk
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuNCFW1efU
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH35YWVzEc
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlSA1CKICP
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLfouAU1CF
The moment it clicked into place—194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuDytmfbYz
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDpUm7jCbm
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3jINggFdf
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtepQzKIeh
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55EuqROlgd
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDn7OivOGs
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbfqxcryDA
Nick didn't say anything.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8MnPNqsrx
And she didn't ask.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd696nZrTjF
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFwc3eyISU
Something had changed.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jEh0KFTJG
And there was no going back now.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uhVkRyqmP
and then Add to home screen.