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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BMoPTGxb3
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy8tzBDR1L
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgqTb9zgQ2
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMUq3yzPUk
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGHBKppRiu
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ9kWZ2XOn
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG9glgjAwB
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWK2ndIbl0m
"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."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpkwDam2Oy
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcw1MxBCae
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLsIi4NbIt
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xy5kpSKU1
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg7CuCquGK
⸻54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlNcPrGEo5
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbcyjzyT4G
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUNx6GBVPg
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7nCT3082t
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZHGnuv8i7
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1vsNT3Qz9
"Why not?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTKC3H7kSn
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3QZ8Z03Co
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKD2fpWVJc
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpnx4EAOBH
"Overthinking," Nick warned.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVKL9GSdJh
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCilncQ86IG
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAdAajFsIY
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM0OYdq2ui
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w5v0Tea2a
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvfWZD0zD8
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4BdGg83zm
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2O0BbmLEJ
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfINUyNebm4
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7J2OVk2YB
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOr8Snc6HJ
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EavO0tpJU
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjJPC9lIMi
⸻54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhwj3c0APR
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKT71sOc1Z
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs9eHngITt
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsmhy8Saxq
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."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOc63AfcBZ
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCLjeVSr8x
"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."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaFDMqhzP9
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?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Ep7vuFIz
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW6lcgS8SJ
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtaJxOb3UY
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjndb1LHd4Y
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHktI5YWfd
⸻54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMNbvdyg8a
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JaHUePwe3
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq48ym9wnt
Her breath caught.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rJSKzDbbV
Holloway.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUhCUgI2cX
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4E7LJxINg
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv81GyLMOR7
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRGHMkx04C
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOnmcUlfZH
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZ6dHsvIy
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaHp5JBjTa
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mUoQLO00b
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."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i3BKGS1uO
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcV3bferNW
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayaNjqDVTr
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEtGkdsnxo
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3gDrvu5jo
