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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUuMY8gbaV
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj790kT5wWB
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUMQWmJ8Ut
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb8E06vAoQ
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPEiZXQ5e7
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIdO0aezwe
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5EEwV0eCh
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9PksMJlZb
"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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexj4QEI2iJ
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJnQ6M2suz
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmkBSwnObV
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXm78RTgmO
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnan4YTpb1T
⸻39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQLhMsFHBH
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNQ9klNeFv
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDloEseX16Q
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KnS2a7DjK
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UP7vgKOoF
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWA6QRVSuE
"Why not?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeQelyhN4c
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1utvCVs68f
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgPIHy6i6S
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQcAq7IaSk
"Overthinking," Nick warned.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G7xwLkHZO
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieT9Wsupts
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwcw4gPGce
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41KQT2XG1c
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiMfKy09hN
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjIbuDOCh1
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauqx2cpBuw
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNDKWwNZw4
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn96QdftXYd
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYwJf8eGef
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTduJdWGuV
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiNTisAELv
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfzL3xSLT4
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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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafTBpc082S
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4JUB6iO2P
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5jpGCaVO6
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpgLzrPQjC
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm9A4nv7af
"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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8hXS5Olyr
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?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUScGuOyqIS
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9MulHiBAf
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcS3PmbVke
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOerbpGX7b
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qISgFIwyf
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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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItzjMpltB2
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZW7Qi6O0i
Her breath caught.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB0xQPsLQG
Holloway.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHEnTkBXIi
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKApwO6tly3
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVdNlBXg0m
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelm5IpGDLp
⸻39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG773IjOQR
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXyronrPWO
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzl3seFcOB
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmIhDvghaa
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOp7dsKTjl
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHKZsvflFK
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0EWHM4IJl
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtHkzp3pQA
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFLQbpyQB3
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQAUP9bY8Q
