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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh89wy9sXM
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0IxYDe9IF
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgHOXAdy5j
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sk5ABOfIe
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YnT1GKVSO
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6ikQTqYsI
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYK418xHWB
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyym2EhoVKm
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6ueVarJZy
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPFFkseOUG
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxXlqN3byB
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkGhatFNIQ
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEdAIZNskt
⸻187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtIliTUVIo
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSxOS5ably
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzMcOOobZv
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMyDvFD03M
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM6EyhkQhe
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAKH1jgMA2
"Why not?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8nXDjfDXw
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80SnwC6PXB
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG8IsJtn2U
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpnNkJWrZW
"Overthinking," Nick warned.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalD4Jpnw3i
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcv93T9HZj
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6p0YwzWuw
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEnsNj1h0f
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVhpVa3DTT
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTQjhTEjFQ
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5anWOTj7ru
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9MUmxAQxT
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD00VPmZh22
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nzC0mTOxz
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDrf4AKx2g
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSUUMzWz2W
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYUXmHgWu0
⸻187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibDASxvsBY
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3ClnpYpSn
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG24rK3Bib
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpw8vlYA94
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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJBfb2nS0g
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuchhWPdGb7
"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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDQ3CL7mms
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?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewGVZDYpfz
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa21zGNEmb
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM7A0UyW88
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyejpFgmma
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZEdiNAt28
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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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt5escDmr9
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR6PsuTCXN
Her breath caught.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYHYiIxZKf
Holloway.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzhcNs4dhE
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.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVoYAcHXD5
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeImDEqFFX
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6HBowbqHE
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsRldgfzxF
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyy0V6P3E6
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdBKsABdDE
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfymth83qi
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."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpauRaRTlOe
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8odJrjewd
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NX7JwOXH4
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbpF5gX3KC
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZyyOPotcG
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