Chapter 13: Secrets Beneath the Surface
Lacy ran her fingers along the worn book spines, inhaling the scent of aged paper as she wandered the quiet aisles of the Book Nook. The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Lacy barely glanced up, too absorbed in her search for something—anything—that might help them understand the strange things happening in Calypso Bay.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVlJZxxaMt
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKThjBitH63
Lacy turned, startled by the presence of a woman she hadn't noticed before. She had long, dark waves of hair with hints of blue when the light caught it just right, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold an entire ocean's worth of secrets. The woman's presence was oddly calming, yet something about her felt ancient, as if she had existed long before Calypso Bay itself.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALpLA7HBkf
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcBvkqEnSC
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxtIntEqXC
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaKNQjSUx1
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAjBXpg1NY
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5XwvgUEMI
"Be careful who you trust, Lacy," Thalassa said, her voice lowering. "Maddie Holloway isn't who she pretends to be. If you want to protect Chrissy, stay away from her."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6hur8qqEA
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJBH5dgKNp
Thalassa didn't answer. Instead, she took Lacy's wrist, gently fastening a bracelet around it. The centerpiece was an aquamarine gemstone, encased by iridescent cowrie shells that shimmered in the dim light. The moment it touched Lacy's skin, a strange warmth spread up her arm.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGamzD7rQO
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtrTdQPFCQ
Before Lacy could ask another question, Thalassa gave her one last look and slipped out the door, disappearing as if she had never been there at all.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLALSJYJ6K
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Kyle sat cross-legged on the beach, frowning at the assortment of waterproof bags spread out in front of him. Nick stood nearby, arms crossed.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe0AfemoRm
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK3JUJhpgY
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizyHCoMqGQ
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHQHrpVm9M
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPav6zV292w
"Why not?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nrFwN35wN
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerEEaZeCIS
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEZd6PES8D
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBhkD3Cezg
"Overthinking," Nick warned.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAUDL6sBiU
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotvCiS3N1N
As they debated the best way to waterproof Chrissy's food, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see a woman standing at the edge of the beach, watching them with amusement.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C7upJLzjI
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rilTQoFgs
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXtUb3zBG2
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhguYNxHEaR
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRBdtlxlfg
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2pLaVGngu
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJwGpphFlE
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vzANMmusJ
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMaSUi5YwV
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H8AGkOyk8
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xmUcsguTU
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Nick entered the Book Nook, brushing sand off his hands. He barely had time to register the quiet atmosphere before Lacy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the back of the store.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0SKN19XV
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnrAMhkO2I
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXbVkMF5K2
Lacy glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "A woman—Thalassa—came in earlier. She knew about Chrissy, Nick. And she warned me about Maddie."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX5Z4kKv60
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dxuthc2CK
"She told me Maddie isn't who she pretends to be," Lacy said. "And then she gave me this." She lifted her wrist, revealing the bracelet with the aquamarine gemstone. "She said Chrissy needs it."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3xLiUDpyP
Nick stared at it, his mind racing. It looked eerily similar to the compass-like artifact Chrissy had found. "You're sure she just gave it to you?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3fOy0HW5R
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3SbbeNzur
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJE3pii39o
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50Kc0iaNhb
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ygUtaB27R
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Later that evening, Lacy found herself in the upstairs section of the Book Nook, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Something caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume titled The Genealogical Trees of the Founding Families of Calypso Bay.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNTgbug8gz
Curious, she pulled it from the shelf and flipped through its pages. The names were neatly arranged in alphabetical order. She skimmed through them until she reached the "H" section.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSbKtLi36g
Her breath caught.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCqWxD8scf
Holloway.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0KX7jSusZ
Her stomach twisted. Maddie had sworn her family was new to town. But if her last name was in this book, that meant her family had been part of Calypso Bay for generations.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mkBfTWmF2
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkfuGkCEmP
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPptd588TPD
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qH6w7mmpw
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWP4gTleqa
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Au9tsX0Dj
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV9PY4iPdD
Nick's mind clicked into place, the realization hitting him like a wave. "It's her. Thalassa. The same woman who warned Lacy about Maddie."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJvkYKdW9u
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXDazBDBSc
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9cUSnOnXP
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocvWi3taOf
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqi4o9j6hZ
and then Add to home screen.