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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbZrk1axka
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiiG1mQXcS
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxZI4gbBgY
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7tvccVKc8
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKs9cG9DpS
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIubnewJbMw
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAyqC1QHTW
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs36MYXvGwx
"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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G005zxCzA
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4eVqIzsWW
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSaxMZWSeB
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXB4OYQQem
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyJZ0Z7pxT
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX6GCClSHg
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDzFEhBjA0
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTE2AfFXXv
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh8tAh8clF
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J3CEYwvJT
"Why not?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbumsWSM3sj
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlTwt0LRC6
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP3u6pBMpi
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc5YlH0Tqq
"Overthinking," Nick warned.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7QoglghyK
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNhFNJxAwT
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyugXmPFCZA
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9YU7b3VG0
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWyVu6JCsp
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtuWuGo75D
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXqRxNbONg
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziL6NGFkUH
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lUGLQgotB
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOSUXz6PrS
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9pklTod7K
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4Ccsch5Pk
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBociyIfGz
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgACHVFFqvP
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSRBFMERGf
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjyojhifhh
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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYNi9VREbF
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UjRSf64v5
"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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIfzXHLxj0
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?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwGDIK1pvb
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4eKLqDCD8
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK8bAzB9Vy
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFLgdy8YYn
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnsLQ0Z4V3
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeM0itPfNN
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG1QBkNaVz
Her breath caught.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt8nryYrzR
Holloway.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVFICegfDG
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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuhOxhr6WQ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyORa46mFC
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0sX9ah7aK
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfNQrwsqWA
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbEItjvzSh
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTRwiMXdu2
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLOZBN4pnZ
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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux0Zu3mhA2
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp51PNJi9Hu
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEE8GdcCTA
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlP2nyDhcf
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5gfPaVSoV
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