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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopGjzc9fjD
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6cgQjgZ08
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvefriLOuPJ
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqRYRTmg9m
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsa1S5137I
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSLigUSR3A
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftOK7RjqJg
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tbzdsdoYV
"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."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rItWHVPD9
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vFv6MPwA7
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXbz09zLKG
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zKhOCyR3K
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q7Ae9vOc4
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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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeRKCz5n45
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK74dwriCw1
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBwyFoXRLx
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojzc4lymqj
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpMHQWyWgf
"Why not?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ppeACa8uK
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdjFIxbZ60
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUTrae8d8a
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6beMnEDNg
"Overthinking," Nick warned.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3tCdufQx0
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ305Q3IR529
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamLrH2yGWQ
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9cMu4IZj0
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ1lG66x2U
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS8ncX6KRZ
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhhK3b9w6G
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbpWY9PNKF
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucKJRxJx3t
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2kpW15jWh
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT3epUpMiS
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9ykNcQgfh
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQMV8fVHiZ
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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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZUkGFZdGE
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJgcloiT9U
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o5JcuU4Cj
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."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IgdKihgfY
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK972L96yU
"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."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHETU9AiE
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?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL24gOFl5d
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVfGY49Pk1
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOrBGjhNvq
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX2hxkWfhs
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1MGmJuP0K
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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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h3kdiQOo6
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D8oMTG9FC
Her breath caught.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwU3EOR7VE
Holloway.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWxXrNKUGf
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPtcxWXUXo
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu89l4AvWU
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7EFGQOCvf
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMT6OnG6GJ
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjbcK5RqJG
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98oAo564U4
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxsQ8A3eJ2
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."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FXF4LT2eZ
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRhIn7h8dn
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjq7RgtvMD
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQeQj7jw6N
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAQCDANVc2
