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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkzR7jFXtp
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWttrygioYs
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg8fjcaBeH
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuQdgHRFKg
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuADPhQbrD
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DsjwqFsuS
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2SJy0xpV3
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon5s5nglck
"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."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj2gy47U2A
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSzM7IYL1O
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkiHo5pQrZ
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeMSV1DosJ
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR8edHCNaK
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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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAd2PryeRx
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCTjSr5lkM
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWODMo9jOP
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOUUozkKeo
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxwk6qGJWr
"Why not?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG76sNdhPlP
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPgh9gLRxI
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVlkG7VwQX
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIv0fPPRMY
"Overthinking," Nick warned.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfW27d7vie
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkH66ZLvwW
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ89UOSMNFB
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcVZxt62RQ
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ6duUIpfW
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5FVEShOBH
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQEiMixdZh
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi9hu0jFlp
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEUHo7UAAP
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaJV9aV53S
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwe7I37hMK
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD19ktiXvSd
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstkbrvJuP1
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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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1EJ7gXMdB
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmPMkEb6I4
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMOTTcg1F5
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."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRadSglArHl
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2lp1XDvhU
"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."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2nQwa9IBl
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?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXlaf6ZOLz
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfxq6ORHg4
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuxJUHdS4D
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zCjPiOWtz
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufXgwUkOB6
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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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4iFxN7tDL
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriKIVLaVEZ
Her breath caught.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cXTZFFUWd
Holloway.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB15u6eYlbX
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.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7PzxomR80
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IfS7PTjDV
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDuXWDxeZF
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB701CYUJrf
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpucOiSnBG3
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoB95UaOe6
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJeS82YlHe
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."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1Woo7aWAI
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k7NIvqTDF
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCA5kXxpQt
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmExOUW6uiE
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWOidKSKYN
