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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuoRhXODIL
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDKxvLwisQ
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaZCwC8L8H
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ad5ye0vBT
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVXYgvu7Li
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA38eDgrlQ1
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz9vBCJPqy
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f15I45X4n
"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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTdNMH4C8f
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVDv6QBXTu
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl5Fv6LCfZ
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOgDSseH0I
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNGqtp3NnX
⸻56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TbjKJwoNL
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfjyxz7U44
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtevBXohg8
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDCLW8iJbg
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IIiBnUjol
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ8HFLkxEn
"Why not?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn53vrqVK2H
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnZCsJJuKJ
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WBsfrKzko
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvPmWM0ypP
"Overthinking," Nick warned.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytNyAZC2Li
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ9oXbHjB1
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv28JSWlb9
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9xc28QYC2
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpObC0VQCNz
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGy382jPGO
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIs4zOb2Qx
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYfuXJxoyJ
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaSrQWRj4t
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsDBSJOSmt
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEoTJpfahI
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzDHNiKhk8
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEcn6ZNn86
⸻56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYJnyPFPrx
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zRR2nfGX0
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMuPyIX9n6
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP3w75MgnU
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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI29wtejySW
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu4awjkiTU
"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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ16ufFxQM
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?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDn1yHyHox
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY1l5EP3n2
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LgidND4LV
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0tUBMmLhw
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rIGN3boUe
⸻56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWgmjQRxAb
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQuCfLKOPh
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5KR7yfggd
Her breath caught.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUrUjNNEIA
Holloway.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK77gImNmry
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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HQlvTJhXh
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgx9YUb1Q0
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpJz2MfWK1
⸻56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErUawtRLlz
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tBFMZG7mz
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3hSD3zC0U
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5A7QPtAv7
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvviIf50Ve3
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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAeRZ1U3PL
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjD8vcUqCK
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sVFhJggr1
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYSfaHmmj0
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdNN5JZLnn
