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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn973KdUZq
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEjmrkdAil
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QaSJzcIAN
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqpI52vH9S
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CCm5cRPzJ
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4I5PprqLL
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUD2wUn1Jp
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJnNi4iuOH
"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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpPQtfCrct
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h6ZEn21VM
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi35jJH7HBn
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCrH36GHwS
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWEZ4WE09r
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmMaATorTB
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SeN9kWdQ1
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO6v9IRnDo
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtgSLl4L5P
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjEHyXFGIY
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30ShuRQKkm
"Why not?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUDoSurbPw
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCunLBVtOMN
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeTP8Kr0Jz
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfz88GCXCR
"Overthinking," Nick warned.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOSbM8GG6l
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraxRLuxVli
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0FzeVeApg
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNw4tEOClt
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGN9L47XJo
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gO7VVwId4
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI7nzM7YRD
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7TixlxXpR
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG7aMpYHgG
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYouDyxspD
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Bz6wMXHg
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlDbON49ju
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4li6s9dMz
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN2Y9HvjlU
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV7QCGi6xb
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gjId1xJgz
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIRQgoePnn
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd6WhNzLyg
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiPMvxIZd1
"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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEevvpTD1DR
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?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaKsysvaS2
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFGs6vcbBf
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM2PATr06t
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0FIf71u5b
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEkTX5vzyr
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFuXuyvJ9W
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEUZ5HE04x
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDBV0GuJ61
Her breath caught.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qNRlKDr64
Holloway.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWpQhABjI3
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG72mupWAux
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQetEVNx8W
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MOHGZs4s2
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR301CytHx
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwndAKGGIL4
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65MS9djnN0
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJILJrYqAh
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXBHTpdbC9
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1OSv8sF8a
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQPqUGq5P3
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvFBL2EcfA
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuUvuwOtnI
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMbxrJFBqn
