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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSw2CZpErE
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitvKH3df65
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiAHYcy49Y
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4ZFjuW3HR
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTolWTXZKQ
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R1SiF3sR9
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZSm8PETRA
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtOjv8MpbE
"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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqSubGLMvH
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInpzUCw7IG
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLpurVhFqr
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82vHwji0Iq
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm6UI7PqYy
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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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCJAK1iYKz
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwOUWIg9Tp
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8se9z96vDn
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uPp86w7xw
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwUuZmBKct
"Why not?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSpgoxYN0U
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJo4CjJMGa
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLi3XdWGYZ
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk2YjsmcQ7
"Overthinking," Nick warned.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbqV4GlewP
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK72KRyzpV
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDXToRRX7z
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCGHMwSvV7
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4x2ZoSSmc
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ213Ngx7ZRG
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbrmUS5SRB
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstSzVFV9Mb
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1n0gLfKwa
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSLUyAiCSE
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93u0LZm5BB
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MSd5gzwj1
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Pjd8Ca5r
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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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2OBac8n7m
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOsQy5SXQV
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOS287azx5
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HtYFwJIEu
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50MK92vYkO
"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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DwF4iXlyA
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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNBEjgCqUI
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3n4P3nGTK
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZBk9FM1Z7
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWtfPYSL6N
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JJV3HgD3Y
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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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4U5QamWFe
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6P3WYKNSZ
Her breath caught.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMomRi9FJI
Holloway.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2BKSW3Fu3
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn2wFbErf6
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzzntsJ5UE
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeHuVY9FWF
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95IfZBHvQK
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25GSUiDZpZ
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaZvBXZN78
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVh5pym8tY
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhetQEGgIIf
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakornh4YwS
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1uDUm0FSN
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozEdUpXpKZ
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzgEqtPYRr
and then Add to home screen.