Chapter 6: Whispers of the Ocean
Chrissy woke to the soft sound of the ocean breeze drifting through her window. The sunlight had barely begun to peek through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. As she rubbed her eyes and stretched, she realized the unexpected weight of the past few days was still lingering in her chest. The mystery of the lighthouse, the necklace, the journal—everything was starting to blur together in a way that felt almost overwhelming.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSubrQkTRWM
When she turned to her desk, she saw Nick sitting there, engrossed in the journal they had found the night before. The pages were spread out before him, and he didn't notice her stir at first.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbceVQJ5fu
"Nick?" Chrissy's voice broke the silence, quiet but urgent.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdALEryPIp
He looked up immediately, his face flushed. "Oh, hey, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He rubbed his eyes and closed the journal, but his gaze lingered on the pages for a moment longer. "I stayed up reading it," he confessed. "There's something strange about it. It's like whoever wrote this knew... something. Something important."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW47OD43aoS
Chrissy sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What do you mean?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWvubm1W6n
Nick shrugged, clearly frustrated. "I don't know yet. It's all so cryptic. But I can't shake the feeling that it's somehow connected to everything happening. To you."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqnOjRp8JC
Before she could respond, Nick stood up, his eyes flicking back to the journal. "Wanna go for a walk on the beach? I think I need some air."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFtX8Ptm39
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The walk along the beach was peaceful, but there was an undeniable tension between them. Chrissy had the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. She glanced over at Nick, who was still deep in thought, his brow furrowed as if the pieces of the puzzle were slipping just out of reach.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQnjw6lpbg
It wasn't long before they noticed him. The same figure from before—the one who had been watching them from the shadows. He stood in the distance, just out of clear view, partially hidden by the dunes.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScWSSrIuWl
Nick tensed, his protective instincts flaring. "Who is that?" he muttered.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfSGTyMWem
"I... I don't know," Chrissy whispered. But even as she said it, she felt an unsettling pull toward the figure. Something about him felt familiar.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA0vCj9j7y
Without thinking, Nick began walking toward him, determination in his stride. Chrissy hesitated but followed. Something deep inside her urged her to confront the stranger, to understand why he had been watching them for so long.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIPeCEOf8O
"Hey!" Nick called out as they approached. "What do you want? Why have you been following us?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5rhcmeAHk
The man turned slowly, his eyes locking with Chrissy's. There was no surprise in his gaze, just an unsettling calmness. "I'm not following you," he replied quietly, his voice steady. "I'm trying to keep her safe."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBSfhZ1bMm
"Safe?" Nick repeated, his voice sharp. He stepped forward, his fists clenching. "What do you mean by that? Who are you?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC6ddH73Ep
The man's eyes didn't leave Chrissy. He seemed to be weighing something, deciding how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke again, his voice quieter, more serious.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvQQXupsJJ
"My grandfather... he was involved with the woman you're looking for. The one from the lighthouse. He was there when she... when she disappeared. And after everything that happened to her, I promised I'd protect the next person who came looking for her—someone like her." He paused, his gaze softening. "Someone like you."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbPBgQscWP
Chrissy felt a chill run down her spine as his words sank in. "You know about her? The woman from the lighthouse?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wJt7lvOMu
The man nodded, his expression grave. "I do. And I know the danger she was in. The townspeople... they didn't understand. But my grandfather did. And he told me, before he passed, that I had to make sure her story didn't repeat itself. That I had to keep you safe."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcTR2asiHo
Nick stepped forward, his protective instincts flaring again. "What exactly are you saying?" he demanded.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7FX9KMNi5
The man took a deep breath, clearly choosing his words carefully. "I'm saying that your search, everything you've been doing, it's not just curiosity. It's something deeper. Something dangerous. And I'm here to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJkJahe8iS
Without waiting for a response, the man turned and disappeared into the distance, leaving Chrissy and Nick standing there, stunned.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSRgjWpBLp
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Back at Chrissy's house, the weight of the conversation lingered in the air. Chrissy was still processing what the man had said. Who was he? And why had he said she was like the woman from the lighthouse?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKMwcSExna
Nick seemed just as confused, but his protective nature was more pronounced than ever. He glanced at Chrissy, his expression softer now. "I don't like this," he said, his voice low. "I don't like what he said. But I won't let anything happen to you, Chrissy. I promise."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRspJjqoft
Chrissy nodded, grateful for his reassurance, but deep down, she knew something bigger was happening—something she couldn't fully grasp yet.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttXq7J8nrv
To clear her mind, she grabbed her towel and decided to do something that always brought her peace: she went for a swim. The water had always been her escape, the one place where she could forget about everything else. As she waded into the cool ocean, she felt her shoulders relax, the tension easing from her body.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXtjhNWLan
She dove in, letting the waves carry her. There was something comforting about the rhythm of the water, something that made her feel connected, almost like she was part of it. She swam farther out than usual, losing track of time. She didn't feel the need to surface, as if the ocean was holding her, cradling her in its embrace.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5GCdO13jl
On the shore, Nick watched her, his eyes narrowing with concern as she stayed underwater for too long. The minutes ticked by, and his worry grew. He couldn't see her anymore. Panic set in, and without thinking, he dove into the water, swimming furiously to find her.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8JpuTGQYn
"Chrissy!" he called out, his voice panicked.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgGjNwj7Tj
Finally, he spotted her—floating just below the surface, her eyes closed, looking serene and unbothered by the time that had passed. He reached for her, his heart pounding, and pulled her back toward the shore.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6nmpNaT9Q
When they finally reached the beach, Chrissy blinked up at him, her face calm, almost serene. "I... I didn't even realize how long I was underwater."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZsdjgW7SA
Nick's heart was still racing as he helped her to her feet. "You scared me," he said, his voice soft but laced with worry. "Don't ever do that again."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5jTPNC5Xi
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Nick gently rested his forehead against hers, a breathless moment passing between them. He wanted to kiss her. He could feel it. But something held him back. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was something else.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKqYq2c6MH
He pulled away slowly, his breath shaky. "You're okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YnfDrm8CH
Chrissy smiled softly, her heart fluttering. "Yeah," she said, her voice filled with quiet certainty. "I'm okay."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQIuCGnnOq
But deep down, both of them knew the storm wasn't over. It was only just beginning.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqT2ELU4Mw
{sorry it’s taking forever to upload all the chapters I written!}
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