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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWf3WlNFaa
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJA7NZT2vM
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurPnojMUny
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWYeOfpE3V
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rHrDksnPm
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYofD4Jbck
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCxsYLFqdQ
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXFdu7Ashk
"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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqpXJISFKX
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgMbrYTWAv
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunANsYO8X1
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2K0OPjEU6
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWgXkSLyWx
⸻167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK5BofBGjt
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTfhsBdIf9
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXHE02buja
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17rCvH2bJk
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z2tY72AEz
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmUMKk2jaT
"Why not?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh34XKppJ0
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTyJ2q94j5
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MZLzBAvi1
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOPUBhqaSE
"Overthinking," Nick warned.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWrcJrZgCE
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep0scxxnDk
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3KDmXIXBd
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurjv3seCSf
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwYi37icaV
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi16zYD4gL
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoqaFVXDqP
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydFtzwm0fx
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6oKoMqboF
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyztoCgrI7g
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMj1IjS4Os
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a8pCrdqin
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5cBut9U9x
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOroKBMvpxd
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4IF37gBlH
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdalfWErgWN
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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1W5Whhf0d
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjhiv9l2VD
"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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd6sK79U6k
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?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuj5MRG37d
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8PrZArAQa
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraM0lb8SSE
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQq5aNI26B
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEmDFw3lNs
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPvA2RTRC1
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs9qHOIm5Z
Her breath caught.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulT9P8epFE
Holloway.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVPv7liDle
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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvK6gSm57b
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaryE7dH1j
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dWjBKHXTK
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFqrbaFoUA
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FmMCv61U5
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEr5NUWTFu
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrie5rYWKz
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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvyGPGsBYD
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX19WYqy2m
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ikReeayAn
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OX2j9bGKw
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8JPj1G5Pr
