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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9Ffm0q3lM
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqjfdzs6we
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirkq5Bw19W
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpOFzoqUk0
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfe8a4EK0d
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVWZWuAcEt
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54KNPPLX1f
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ393keiJrFM
"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."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcCsUuxqvc
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLsvOR9usZ
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJfqQ8CrZ8
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0YpVdgKHm
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRJuJDIlkB
⸻19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kv1A6q4RK
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtJ8WBgNS0
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmWryA6aAF
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4lko0Mo8b
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3jBt759pu
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHutfLiDdir
"Why not?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyOUthW5dR
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R4mR4skjX
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoiZZF4mC9
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r1B47dKaC
"Overthinking," Nick warned.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtV2rOI3Qg
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lfnBzuRSL
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmjfX48WL9
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXj792hSRR
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFejN2k74xo
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoJXb54GWj
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYpfTKVtNJ
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2oGAK1tPy
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaimopHvPH
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QfkUAJBl4
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqpqOtRw3m
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3Og8hVcYZ
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7rhkqR9Hj
⸻19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHgfCJuv32
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboK46yQ0wL
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiBHmk9nBX
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ0Cmlvj1N
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."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1rYvUfzHs
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJZs4tF7Mj
"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."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusauqFhG9y
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?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipoKIbE7Yr
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0FlC1iMdN
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6qg25lc8L
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eojMfTgZi
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J5tNnMY7M
⸻19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BuuNesrQx
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTm9hpsnkW
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQqPdS5W4Q
Her breath caught.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ216df0pHlu
Holloway.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJN43YjSTU
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B0dPhWv0k
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSVZNf1yr4
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGWyI8zb7j
⸻19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCmxLmkoCA
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsWDXBTyO2
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivJjgL2rmZ
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YKDAy4aU7
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKtnSCeqV4
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."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9nDKm4NPg
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91ysKAfmdf
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErt7v1LZTD
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytklkTJc2v
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1AkWaou0t
