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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hdimp54F4
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcvlSks2Pc
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5vWcqa2IR
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIvbjmOtM4
She had to go back.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGkouHdBoH
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5QrDJ8qQ4
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XbG0G0685
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPWPFYIubI
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEtF24IZMi
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphbDgEieKG
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVdMq5KXFn
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6u65e4fWy
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyt12dpElZ
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96s3g56kRh
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuvn4HnPX3
His heart stopped.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ot55do4Kx
"Chrissy—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1zY81tV9H
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcSSBuV3yc
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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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn50rRWxreA
Deeper.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjewxwGGTp
More alive.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGLPLKklee
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHEbRTPzin
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStsLjSoZNV
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYZQLXsyb1
A gemstone.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWTDwkzeDs
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfdLreVP5l
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8akbSn5fJ
It was the missing piece.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OHxxi5qoM
The empty setting in her necklace.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36MPIwX0Om
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWWhKid5jr
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqWT6G9MZ5
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBhQ2GX7uJ
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?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztO6Day37Z
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KPVRCHw8w
"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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6REaG2pci
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdtR16x3hy
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV2g0NSJfk
She wasn't listening.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71VIILynZI
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiX7GsiIdN
Nick blinked. "What?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2EPHYJOuR
"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."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaJouIIH42
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NDylpeqF6
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?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR8A3lHKQD
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI64Z1UMX4S
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhnJ95bWYe
She was spiraling.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUaeKXQuHJ
"Chrissy."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyO3APPPnH
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIhPChedk9
"Chrissy—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWASVxn1rC
"I need—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ26zDiXrgT
He grabbed her face and kissed her.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqY3FooCkq
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntyUK4QwUq
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli49GSDlT7
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLULeRj19QT
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gTloUdQ8Q
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."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcn8AovRRG
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf3tsXZqn3
Her heart was pounding.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiclMZQkIE
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZjuxmRQ5v
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj25Z0BfQFl
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ6kwQDf8s
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBczmQoxtwO
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVH7DOyuVl
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSXY5cPibG
The moment it clicked into place—38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAgqaf0w6M
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfeUQxpXG4
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9nRrytZJt
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZyy931A8l
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzg1Qdvjri
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP7ZQErSGl
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP7v3llMvk
Nick didn't say anything.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAhGFZ6fVs
And she didn't ask.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yyfZb2YCv
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcFoxHw9rh
Something had changed.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrFdAq60k7
And there was no going back now.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY3qLsVjdt
