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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KRqgnNmvY
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mkbd79O08
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEkIr3mJJq
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xURTEonus
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkut0K275FW
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDPWyRKZ9O
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J4VJOgo6F
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS9f4XKyWr
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwS2WUa6V5
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqJWPaIGkK
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZEnsipbDJ
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQjzUwik1Y
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW33DHr6JcA
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVwW5K91H8
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFo72s46AN
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPl1uwTHKj
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5clHyyESLc
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu8kquhhgr
"Why not?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUzM9kbgQY
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7yzWIC3uN
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7tRbHGoyL
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGZS4UtSdo
"Overthinking," Nick warned.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw89yoKIYqK
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyePE5se1eC
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaUpxK3fba
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQMQgDiaHE
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO5GmgcyaD
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7y43uKIAD
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vjdsoTppm
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQGFU2DWbi
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxXzFYKKGX
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsNfSP1wUN
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuWt00tApd
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME1dKEK8po
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn0r4Kp7WG
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpjeND78WY
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpNuNaYJG1
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQH4MjJzCM
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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfk5Vlj4jB
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3TJBgLx3U
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE8Zn7lDbb
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?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtxcyPcfGB
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHAq5GhOQc
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEQ6EcQRl5
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP43OB3Mhw
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiphabzy6Mm
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgWITETm8c
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM3LQNidbi
Her breath caught.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv5o7gbhbX
Holloway.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgQbz0qBVJ
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj2TDfWkxD
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw5q19Habw
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuj5wLI44s
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7eePQkwnT
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9L2iyTwMe
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOZXHnOA5O
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sgXXjsPlQ
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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMx5dsGREG
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqJzdl6fWV
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJjJyDJEFt
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wrexKt2Zj
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9wfMccBq9
