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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFGaage5lF
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QGWdQgjQJ
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyHSjSrPP7
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENSYEO4NVL
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiUm4U8HRe
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX6h27v3du
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVseR5fib1
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EOBdxEPuG
"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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCdYJ6Fkxp
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqgEhmHwKH
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPjPSMKBV1
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhUAZCrH73
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAelzclQGz
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtjnn6bxKq
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHMQp4Svhc
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Twlbj7CC9
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxggvJVYwbe
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGZKc1jyVk
"Why not?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YnS6LBVY3
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy6mGjwLTa
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSRxYwdCGW
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r3JvtOVvN
"Overthinking," Nick warned.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpco4513FhJ
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrdWMfMloS
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpZw6gLdZI
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZBwD1ayck
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6dsZH5J9y
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsYH3jVABn
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oDCmaT5pE
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDSjP17bgC
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRKzIPGkiF
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQQL0pXQ7L
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUortNTwVnK
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQkYP4Q1Bp
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeMXsyIQeJ
⸻158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ1FxAyV2b
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Vjlqtw6U
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRMUFELZiD
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRWwt9TIpW
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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYASxJVzl8
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2ZUNROfWu
"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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDQXYmn2YX
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?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYxImIRHwJ
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpgwGFRau6
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs6srzJ6MV
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNxC0REVIj
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoMphgeykV
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vG4n6ycqx
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTbHcezKfX
Her breath caught.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvTSGVmIL0
Holloway.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhcce4qb0p
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SADAKLa7C
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66KPlmQ3g0
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspb6gAmGNa
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpDP0r6s0n
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDtN0k45ac
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgNwoDaWSB
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWvRbJryQJ
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."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsnBrDO6Bj
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3p1BEcqEK
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjasy8G2UV
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDFZgCOQSX
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxwFOe3nDO
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