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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk3WaPSeyp
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfabySNybkl
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ4u5UnxYZ
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSPtWbh8Sx
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwpmUD6oIo
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBcqjaOZkw
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPFYTtHpV2
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52265lIyzP
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ7Kd8Blav
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHdQ1pHRwT
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE84OgYe0P
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wy7MpEK80
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCyv8Abm8Q
⸻41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrFU9VJccm
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjLXweceMe
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq49Jb9Koa
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLESs4O1Wh
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRsx85nOmC
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy6N2Z50oV
"Why not?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zd8Qxgc7w
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0iwbC7uJ6
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIrWEYypXM
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPYLtTJ5zh
"Overthinking," Nick warned.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuUs9Rgtmo
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY3WjRi0rP
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmzchXYNjB
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7PAMpNqn2
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJpMUBJxgr
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuYviBsqzs
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTBzP7ztsA
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ8wgcJsHf
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1reiGHkjgq
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfoxbNB3Hn
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8qmBfk4PN
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx6JRuM4JW
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqt0GuhHK7
⸻41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIlZRMACcs
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3YbCAtU3o
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FPRsZg3ED
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNC6ZogDz6
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9IOwwlL6C
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU86VpnFFX3
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzKFXYxcFb
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?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8aTBrCDDb
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0W7qEtXym
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb27uCmDwp4
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZwMliG2jZ
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFI0eku50F
⸻41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w4WbNI11W
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RYi5E9raU
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoCC0tkSnn
Her breath caught.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd5doxKiHH
Holloway.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElah2f3gXP
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ3JaXPCx3
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gv5yWBGD2
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWnzL7DBA4
⸻41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YOzJR9bHf
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3DuFNDhpk
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UpJKWxTGO
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TQEXUhfOB
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrunN30VFoF
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStbIx09c2D
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6qEmvPl2M
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxG3ha4CDg
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZtlyDYLIh
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbIhwN4awh
