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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEFEkg6jl7
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vR86RAadC
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiVGQruWv1
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhL8KyirIb
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhn2wb46tz
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMVJ6bcssT
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCADPehTCCq
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZVGBhPqkF
"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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz8Fm9ljCw
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLt5GF13T6
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22mK3gi85j
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8dlnOQsyE
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjPZpO9RA7
⸻146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtae8iYJdHG
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkRukVrb6O
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62u7Ag6Ybw
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLQprlYySC
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtlFPXTg7i
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd7jqRtldV
"Why not?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3isrKtjvA
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKchqGsdvTn
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGoJRNBvpq
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupoGypqrd6
"Overthinking," Nick warned.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba5Z1Hy2dj
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoimuKLMAuv
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhX2Oz3meY
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4U6GxVWzR
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGq0E1dHpx
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVGo6pE3YB
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuBC83osWB
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Vr2mwxl2
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3XWODfTbV
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29adHDPvNj
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fvrghKC0T
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wQkJZuAu7
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKu05KFXpy
⸻146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXINXYPvRp
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZoswXQZZN
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBzA06aqZM
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMzeM0cAY4
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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXNbnnHxyN
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2MlbqFXJS
"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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuyLvgMFwJ
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?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn55uCkKAR
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyEO1QjExE
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdvUnsmSSv
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYEeYgouVl
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oiPzg0VD6
⸻146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydS38AnwSK
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIffjLwXTW
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Qw9Zwqsf
Her breath caught.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nAfi8pHbH
Holloway.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8ScFJSitd
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcTBXfJ2OH
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e6YXjamnS
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraCTXJBBzY
⸻146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu1vlMoa8T
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVcHzQ6emY
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNDWBdNBSh
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2DIcEpvw4
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsNC0Y2nJc
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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvCOSSlIiH
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUjl0iXBbn
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcwcKhIZmH
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0EKNlIUqw
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqsvAku7Np
