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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkmwVVIsEy
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2dxBTuVNh
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsdbRFLHmd
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6yJhVJt7L
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYPrdo562V
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEMJbKeVcA
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I53khxLXw
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRcuxJx3iX
"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."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6wmfCz4fO
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf31LCKMjff
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnOml6LEc3
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyjH0CQNAH
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXCZyqVUso
⸻55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q8gHcJX5B
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoXcXVTdDV
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vuu07F2O3
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAsFP7BBhw
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodCxcuZ56I
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmlDozR6fz
"Why not?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuEryQYHNR
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ikP3pDjrL
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qk3tZAGRG
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTvP65HgaI
"Overthinking," Nick warned.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDtp9o35AI
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgCrku4Iid
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8vB13KxTt
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYeiOrs4CJ
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX28GEUIRjA
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLu7lnGwIC
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyEIyPCmfm
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZQNvKnTNn
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOpG1e6jys
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCGoE6gph8
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg1GL4L8pi
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcaXqB40Ct
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0CNLxuHUD
⸻55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnQY228pu4
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXYlEnko4x
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM7y4doUW8
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgEGW958Lo
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."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjkE0Esdb2
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCUx6m6lrm
"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."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRskYnrnrE
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?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC5jLmpQfg
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7MCKBIkVG
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tfaRMalXy
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvTAWcX3sQ
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOnJbrmE7S
⸻55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLY2uCXQUl
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinTAiwEgjU
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVxattwzAS
Her breath caught.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDraYrZqOS
Holloway.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ9fkw6ADK
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.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqwcjI7vjD
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgDa926mM9
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRpKAU7VqZ
⸻55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6YH9Ok9Ov
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6kM5YK21d
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNr42QLiIb
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcob83prcc
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUsKHSvu01
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."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuN3mcyMO1
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5IVmw5x45
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCJagYsMJk
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrawgnxA5G2
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlKnIaEejr
