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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn724EdryaV
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcui6AY0cIM
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUJohHo2xD
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRU714jvVK
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk9HMKZS1Z
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8EE7MgeAU
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2T6OwySLv
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC4e3XodEx
"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."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyE30LcGMV
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5KDAwEyL1
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYT0sKqG7e
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAJOXAFyIQ
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4owyVH8zcL
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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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8X6IMOo4e
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2qlzuZQku
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC432vJJVEz
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoligdZJH1T
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn6i2G4QtT
"Why not?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3tio5Op4H
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUJI7K2MU5
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9naPG9Cr2m
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8cmPQLldC
"Overthinking," Nick warned.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0F7K3Jk3u
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3vaIop0tj
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWXUlRPvGn
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyFvuiqymS
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGglVMXi5G0
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhnBmoCF5I
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdB41Uuibs
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fRPZHgLFB
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zSjVSQxcq
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe7pLvOfm7
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gn5s5iZzm
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2A4ncMUXl
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5d2GSaemO
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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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52s55UWzCS
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodWX8v1zOK
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVxeDyRgWI
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."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQzVLf57yK
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQuOGqQoxr
"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."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRov5BqMYG
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?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOsSOiE25r
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoceUKTHLhJ
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTExG9wGDl
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7cSd5W2Tm
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZEwtKc7I3
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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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlwxazwHyi
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXXzxkcrUU
Her breath caught.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k8tHVMNGj
Holloway.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZj1RdRY0c
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf03jURvBzz
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf39N8k9HmX
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNK4GRa96A
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIMMatPvXF
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny18U4k92G
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGq9FkunE4
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiT15Rmfk5
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."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSe9gQWRhX
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckK34gsgx0
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45pM7yxZf6
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5xIo6Qrio
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS4KLt2D4g
