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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjEBPeLUFu
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq80W0WSd6
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3C9RHdXLB
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV093okcaz
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFmsgh8cp6
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl7rPcLw7U
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgXVoE44pJ
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN00s5Ehhqb
"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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgckFIOrIv
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc4kaWDvFY
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hc8pQpwwZ
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAe4uW3LA5
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzExvLxbBhG
⸻16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpCzK5fyZL
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsnWS1a7tm
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5Vqm0hYlv
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0fxsHw7PJ
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodO0n4w9SE
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuYyCR8iKJ
"Why not?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxuIxEqHS8
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOfIr5zzfP
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ2DINVj7v
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpBrgRg7wK
"Overthinking," Nick warned.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkvBckOqoO
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPj4KDZD9D
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkxnCVDhHO
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNwwXDkj7I
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTftYD5Q0I
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOidE0hAAA
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfPb1KgP50
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxluPe3jYz
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLQc1gHVxG
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowAqfKgFOz
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsy81WCyGM
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaOXIoQrrT
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMvPHTZgQH
⸻16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaBFgDtrsj
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOOe0TXsJ6
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq205ktv41U
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6S2U8b4My
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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8yTmbJZb0
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhllCgeyN3Q
"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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklg5ok1D4a
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?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1QyvaADNO
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3iawTLQCN
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWjNpP6hy5
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUonQ5sen3
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ5mIJjVeh
⸻16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEm37lE801
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2B98wuRn1
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva5elxwbGE
Her breath caught.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pE2MtE6S5
Holloway.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy5zOT0Hlp
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis56pUiivp
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN4OkbxxRx
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLVioewtEB
⸻16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRhrqsIUGh
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGU0rpvwKG
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pwHgD9qCG
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcXTLLXcwL
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcdqKGs8Wi
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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZn89jd35Z
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK6Ldlj7jl
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITbpfd5MHa
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9N74owjY8
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuV1CZllxn
