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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o7MTCufND
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPy9OLgGy8
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq48R3zXyuX
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRwZO131et
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGWUQsTo8w
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kow4tSj6m
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIXpnCK1H5
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH63tidqq8l
"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."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVDfEiaMJd
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tlsjrpTTY
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k3IeYvY9t
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIlx490n9t
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlidrcmSvA
⸻155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt20BknsaPo
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcANl4wg87D
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScpgk3iZ6P
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fGXf3RMk5
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozhEXNCIDT
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8m42gp9Vr
"Why not?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ABZQSCda
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hDB6ubVp1
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi7eIhu363
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhpu1feSHu
"Overthinking," Nick warned.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTi2aCUh3H
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzAa7YXwNS
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yJ89Jbj2P
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNLWe2l5aK
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbGdi3qpvn
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpX5yOrFJL
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXa94TWld1
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss5mu6hS2E
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyecwHVgx4a
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVPkTUUKx1
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO74xYQ01P
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyw0EJ2nDX
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUUixazEZV
⸻155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGMu354Ny4
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibx1LuE0Kw
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH2BJLvo4r
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxVv5t4D1D
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."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFgpwezfof
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyBaXrehv7
"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."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUON4dpU61
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?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACrdRSr00y
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRdoNW9qIV
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Yn0twfRS
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSXK8iTuDr
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfNJ5cTwsR
⸻155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMdhPrugfo
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhr76Hj2ux
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6cx2LQJyU
Her breath caught.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU0A9m5ggP
Holloway.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47cHXdKw0g
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.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvLDuEGoD8
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmJRqHptq4
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEz7lq7xtH
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYLUUmqLkL
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinJeNXzZO1
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG5CBOfBra
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUXhdkiBLS
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."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5KGuV4VxH
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOcg2fnn5b
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW8LKSeWh1
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k9VPdPTSn
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaddgkbXvYi
