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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy48jh0ogg
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2312WUStxW
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaMBYabb6c
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOllENAtx7I
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFhonodZ75
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgLUkfOIu9
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN1zQQxN1R
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZD67dxBVh
"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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp13bvbNjp
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd11B1IV5lr
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyFu7QbSBb
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0kQM20HOc
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaZ39HtefL
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDOXzgdrUp
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wlYcOSLao
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4MaV4bLrQ
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxJEVuXBWe
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tO9r5J8sI
"Why not?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsogohtX7Bi
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwflGG6H8Z
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fH69H7fkJ
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXkGB3SLmW
"Overthinking," Nick warned.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8AYVnFyaK
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbwNM0ScT9
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NJD872etb
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOrX460gZN
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XFGWlCNCm
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK3TKS2OIo
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWYuahBv99
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDCrRIVG14
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65kplEtRRp
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxFkba0E6c
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu1l3N6j8B
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVNTnylJtO
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSK0SoTSNa
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZymiTGYbo
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtGuqF0i00
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqk6Vj366g
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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPAv1iINb3
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuXlrr78yI
"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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYLW2CIb1J
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?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30LshXStwe
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUhyCdQOxg
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jfITxTV3r
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1V4PYHa3w
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOmrNuHrqu
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqj2Ib7Cmf
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO1fxVWhz3
Her breath caught.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PbrnxKzqn
Holloway.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuclBqpEhNA
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHHISOvQhd
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJUgHyOjI0
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7YASKNlc9
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3VkNhDb7N
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCnuMzyqZa
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAZ5ZZrCha
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25whIIf5OK
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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDpDQ4GAg2
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DgZrMdARV
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT2tNGXzfD
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQElWwkiWqH
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYBFHiwxcn
