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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dFDgm0UQj
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabf6Tu4bBI
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11azecOtyY
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqBUtyjihZ
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmnFpLsmlC
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zga5LXTnK
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYzKDVElgU
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPMsnJRLmj
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPy7KM07SJ
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU2ZS8ZJNW
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhoFjOKLtv
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dRZVB61Ix
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20DSOehCKZ
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4qwbFVgxw
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD40ym3M3WC
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfFtqghkKC
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxs6GkLFBu
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf6VighvyA
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0hfpQ8cqb
"Why not?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9V2TT3P1e
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x4PTuF19o
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0eVtTt06n
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7QrdcHnds
"Overthinking," Nick warned.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZcEJTD2j8
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiB8Dyhw6P
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJwTJOqHxE
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyY1B4hQVe
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvm7L21YsN
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXSAGe9I4T
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhPPaMnuiA
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIHBlAGBJT
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vpxZUzecG
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB33er70ZG
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuiyo82RvC
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvh8fv7Ec
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT5bTyGkLw
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsjW8qq6P1
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup2Bu5mh4G
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswfnTAg9SP
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m4pg4PnxM
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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSGR7mZJcm
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXd4pfjWgL
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiO0kw2ocY
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?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSHDk0Rjwo
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3g7l3ZqcY
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Xxb9wba8
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbZaB9dCtq
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLFVywyw2Y
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtuKY5OzAK
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZpUOxcqJB
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYlRCDDVH1
Her breath caught.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb0RLkGFO3
Holloway.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikqMRFOB3u
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3rNUgj1vl
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vxx9nxT3h
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgXD0WoLKC
⸻141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nwcsgUTff
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycubaR7dLl
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d1NGUhqL5
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hutB0R2pK
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvvZiZ4WbX
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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPDLsforO2
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiBluW8NwM
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg7oBlVoEU
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdjGq8hMGS
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiKQp9lhAo
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