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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwqfVtV4Wo
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuEePmhQGA
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcJ13dybL9
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4P97k5Ra0
She had to go back.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMBPxv6r0C
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunLr1ZpA7f
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUjO4QRuUt
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClh2Gdcvlp
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiGlBnfK6q
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz1e18BAL8
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsyDDOqiRq
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3OVWMbhG9
⸻17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVtHYLLwdW
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvZqdDxlbY
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4ihP4DrxS
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQLlWQyFiM
His heart stopped.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9RZSaPtqL
"Chrissy—"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6A4jXeTrP
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GmDr0PnA4
⸻17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFUaOFW7dM
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrySfq5JubN
Deeper.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwcQKJVrIb
More alive.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr97SjnZY6n
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf7zfya5jT
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSceIuWp0XD
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy5rpwD9hp
A gemstone.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXL7USGqPJ
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tzfUBh7Iy
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7cCEETk3s
It was the missing piece.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpV6aiiq0t
The empty setting in her necklace.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndT7N4qFWa
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmLPXgllXd
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAMjd81kSq
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVWTVQOJqP
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?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjsgEeRoyP
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYEPMUUeId
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsen5RP5FB
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8XNO2o1Rr
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheEW0sqsQr
She wasn't listening.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh66WiOU3it
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBR8SZA7IR
Nick blinked. "What?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhk9znpJje
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkfdjYDZYF
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblX7luEMwP
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?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcz90titod
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hfM7uOyeN
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHG9ykHFYJ
She was spiraling.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbvdVHPzLw
"Chrissy."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTQRSsb3gd
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP7aLbqo1R
"Chrissy—"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fQ8PvW5Qx
"I need—"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERCyF1znuN
He grabbed her face and kissed her.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOlIiaxPQV
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGrVIqIkO2
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiyqhcRLRR
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff75CDYESa
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr4TxdrZ4n
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNMuklrYOr
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLKZzHOxhv
Her heart was pounding.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBjA9Gwpzx
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDt7A5jfl
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpUL2QZuJ5
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp9NeTFfOK
⸻17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9uia3RpPq
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmplCUVToYp
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ0Kvwv2lC
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCcJKQVsXa
The moment it clicked into place—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWuI9x2Reg
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dpaolKJuF
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkYmZkWD13
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuPjVaxje8
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQStTwGZkO1
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7maidAVZ6T
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcMfmNm87z
Nick didn't say anything.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7QcSJwZUY
And she didn't ask.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWlFF66RXt
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhISQbi9Ix
Something had changed.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIH74LwvnQ
And there was no going back now.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhks6exLjY7
