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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pl3TEFtYV
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqT8A9C05E
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWwvppQZeR
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM44fg0DnUJ
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchkkvL3IQ3
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC8qVQ66Wu
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDBWaXWjRv
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1yNmnBDlk
"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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlkvNiNPTW
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHPR9orW2B
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI1FUoCqo3
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87fw8cY26I
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQdOsccxxe
⸻158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVJK2Yr7Hb
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvYlw8rgwA
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESVo7awIuc
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g4Ufl0fnV
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXJX6iB9C3
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79VEUjI48h
"Why not?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gnUqRdCqx
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBcYG7Slvu
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYx72F7WJM
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSu4Gj1gXj
"Overthinking," Nick warned.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUcof8I1B3
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF99ZtWrpDN
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGDIa9gAJu
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1LUptFddd
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2tiLw6z0N
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVBFpmAEBc
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2LJsHbRfb
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1XvX9NaNG
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONmv1SUyl0
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCMVjGASDN
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU86DmTtDpF
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2YJ8YlNPK
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTifYK5nGx
⸻158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQLVD8TR5w
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTz65iahyk
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3SsW1deFU
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9gAB2id33
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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQWJPfB1W8
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoXnBPcxN4
"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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PAfEuOWgr
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?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VxW6QOk3u
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBY2EZBP7P
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzVLYerrQa
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDyQfAlv7D
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2br2hlnV6
⸻158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEHO2tt9no
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ0RuWOJWw
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTFQF30Pel
Her breath caught.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM2ROQ6AHR
Holloway.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBQolN8wMy
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFiB5MxVxQ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfmUpfHS4c
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSiCIONbqR
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNhDMGC1Tg
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQNkYvg9N9
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzZDxyr8hM
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi55ZMsABk
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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpb3CPVwMJ
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb9WAc2EGB
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eTRKdW1js
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHFADrjLaO
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSehD4zb0Fj
