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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5FyXAePwX
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKDybnPhEM
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqnEBhybHU
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5cu184Vvb
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBaujPmh6t
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2UpSC7nga
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhXR84X6u4
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wsd0mgqN3
"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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy2ZJZAPeD
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vTtH7UOHZ
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu8Z9Bt3Lv
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU4L09HYoE
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW2oZjJXS3
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGuH1Zdty8
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJN0ygeGkM
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6wXLvTpxF
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91kr1ZnaE6
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZO9tIoabD
"Why not?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8XgU6K3N5
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qsNS67KIt
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VJNbJcVri
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gblmRL8nM
"Overthinking," Nick warned.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTvhRzeR13
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS363DHUJxB
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7cGuwWdRw
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnAHkJTkCR
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLgyOMYsGT
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrvF24inQI
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfBnbFcYdp
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMzpyq2Sh8
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsH2dBPek2
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUTigAIq8X
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u9d5efkV8
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRVAzSIXE9
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4ipanm44Q
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKmPxjoPjn
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHzzcBvFIE
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiTIhuBG7f
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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbqX3ltRIO
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsrqNdb256
"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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3sZZtoSig
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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMzfI4yQ5k
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHzvpE5npO
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyMWm4KkvG
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGS2tr2hwr
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv4C6t36W4
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVngBPgbjrB
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP3upgxVSD
Her breath caught.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyLCAUWsJo
Holloway.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCBX5Akere
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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSIuzSnOiZ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6rs3xs902
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8il9lRZcjp
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc7qJMUSbJ
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHTXrqxBqb
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4BTrAF11l
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduBzkXuLjn
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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBrurOikJ9
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHylFzYFo3
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1i0MJVqTD
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ds4VNzF2F
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIC58KI5WK
