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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKlCyHt591
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EVnsiPoUO
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmfaY0RUrT
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu15WHt6hsE
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCddS3bUH0
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMojMvFqMcW
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFkIjsrckS
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi5w4lBzgD
"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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi28fRCxYZ8
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBIOt5geGF
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH1ju63Owu
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRW5Zkh21E
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I0sIJn4X1
⸻40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDYqXdzbwu
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsFYNhAzV7
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vf4IK916A
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmEzP7N0ah
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9sgdNTGgY
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ubptyUTry
"Why not?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMWwofPWRZ
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mfLavCrFV
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IHAhRbfd4
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh73Wv7O3Z
"Overthinking," Nick warned.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAvGIWkun2
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFuN4pVmLh
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz47LsGKZH3
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxWfAb98Cu
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtNlrNfN7r
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgP8jTGACN
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeznhdqNJK4
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lTVaKSSGY
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaX1yUI1bL
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡticivAZ3AN
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMSVwTqwz0
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdJBD1Qz7b
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bZg5NRR3I
⸻40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdO14Y0up7
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRfXmzXulA
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRir5o7hbk
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorcbYT1RV7
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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY0aUKuN0u
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO1ffKlY9b
"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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NmiAq1iLI
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?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYEQvFH1pC
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wkn2VfyWw
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWcHGiUdtC
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWIENLjDQw
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZMNd3JY9n
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojZsWqBMwK
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi37F1ORDPJ
Her breath caught.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9aE0pZIQy
Holloway.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKweG2EB55
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SxQtLZ24I
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTcIyxuvQH
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPGjOP5Hpf
⸻40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcZn1sZSx2
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh97Pmjd8g
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnDDv5VvqX
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiouA04eUUY
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC7AMvxkuX
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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25GvK640G6
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzebv3iy7t2
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7UmjAk9La
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1wpGc25lv
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAnXWjO9lH
