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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SzEyndDzv
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOncjIGhfls
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFnORTO5zl
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8wPrsLh1L
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtha6eHlYJ
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr7bIePiYX
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gKantErPV
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVt6fFrkpW
"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."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuZaaSx26R
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPofdQYftd
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs8xqfBgs4
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07XTEfg7t9
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRruPKEjWw3
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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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPOXmRq2f0
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVke0I7XGh
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0xBIaBMlu
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOzouWvT7w
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnA4Vwby6c
"Why not?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ZqX9U9BQ
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutrob2uO4S
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbhiGReYJ5
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyFdQ85UUp
"Overthinking," Nick warned.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwEiAeIIgF
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVZtz3hqEK
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa8eiF3Buj
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBk6S4Lka7
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5983d0i0v
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG38HcI9cx
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZLJrqPyMP
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Kb4sDj00h
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3xzPeRmJ8
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq3wTrmtbr
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjg17FDtsY
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1aJhImh6N
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5x2XX7gGI
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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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNunvAffBz
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeEuyVmVew
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXebp89rNk
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."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVUPKaImuF
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDG4fTlH19
"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."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uWWayxK3z
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?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgIq57dR4R
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Eq29r6yC
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsbGR5GXVG
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmwPW8ET4h
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV6E2BxuCp
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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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIsKy6XHwl
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzPazFiMDN
Her breath caught.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvMOjCWBz0
Holloway.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04ELglCHoL
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.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k6bsyDU7W
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tXUYVtXEY
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3X0Hqoksa
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwBI16kxWl
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLAVkAW3GQ
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSaXsLcwe9
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSNXmG7fi1
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."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2sIJLYzFw
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlfcWcLQju
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN7BOzDYY0
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuiR24nvz0
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsnr8wxJdx
