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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomKMmMY55J
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuKPpYKxd9
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WouKKL4ST
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21J34il0J3
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLDzBw44OP
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3RrPIZNDX
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsefGw3Jvd
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8BcK2xOU8
"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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt7A0EG76p
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbotHFJetP9
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mXan3EIeJ
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqS2W3NBp8
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8o8yka22a
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mA8LE8XMU
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWts0hhK6JR
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvymgUrtWLA
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoufW43eUs
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jDR5hktJO
"Why not?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlUrmpXsz7
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv5MHKdFwB
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljDMf64vD3
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuq33SFk07
"Overthinking," Nick warned.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyV0DcuZwC
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPivC5GjwzI
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlMcZn2sAD
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEMbKgCagh
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNi2nMOeZC
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUguvGhyD7R
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAIPJKpMCP
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fM9qQj1mm
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS4dCTjs6q
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQS9fTqZ6N
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2crKOGYJSN
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjTiwOQRlE
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii5KPtXapT
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYEcNToPiW
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5GcutWm6A
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdo5wwrhWe
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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64eNFMtkFg
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuLPZghG6e
"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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcJqf4uYgc
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?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyQfIphaGL
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMyxURccKV
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl77HHuVD0n
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiL0u9GvM0
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLepJJ4R75
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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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Devp7sZrC
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj0kRYljVp
Her breath caught.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz0EFfQuFF
Holloway.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vleo0nrij
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2HkYexNo2
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfANO8PeRP4
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvmKfe33hB
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8QOfyH28b
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92cZwi38Ty
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK9BjsVizI
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvCY7t94ly
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."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Sd3T8zci
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpDHt0R0Ti
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJsG27HIuI
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriYDyAiLY8
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj46tkXUNWr
