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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4SBd0joIq
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSlPOT1pTD
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFUHbVzfgo
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDltnasqOY3
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHwIMJEWJ4
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoPrSffC77
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCoXe8YuMi
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AmlE7git0
"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."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fN5K5i24T
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53SBP7WtHk
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxbJbK4blj
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzINgIluTj4
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsIMEa4B6y
⸻33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwERk0oxNr
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhbOvCxCYi
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt1GBCupB8
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIBREKYpxI
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedKUAVaDz9
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ef93TAQvX
"Why not?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV4svF19K5
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe60hupvA4o
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91jK2TgAyA
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnM58iY52q
"Overthinking," Nick warned.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUjDdlj5n1
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEm1N9pvAX
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0rvQxflvA
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWMCkYNCtk
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFae2ANn9R
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wXR0DxE1k
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lNtknLfEG
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eQ9unS0cB
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WbdSrjkAt
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ2cp8H8tG
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCCgr86pQX
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SC3lQUHrM
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFObbInDeEu
⸻33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSm1tRwfqI
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLBueBPXFR
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYHBiHdKXC
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoSeuFr7mI
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."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1glPKVVUZG
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mrJwSBEXR
"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."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ZrDrzacq
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?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u1QD6c9vI
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb1GzyqdGZ
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWN0CpgJvn
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILMfIAF9D8
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy4aRhXbwU
⸻33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcOP3UMHlr
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtJT0txpga
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKocs4ssVZ
Her breath caught.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoCeqPjdfg
Holloway.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmDpN0J32M
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.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprCO8ryRyC
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9C2Vd88bs
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rVHCkLrWH
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6npTa2Sul
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKUbZWiQMC
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwleCoibCos
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAfNikpvhl
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."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeGhTK5oK2
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTKkpJWwim
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn1lE3m23w
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjRXqkgR5P
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pHGHSONnz
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