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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOYiUIVpKY
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4V2x7zyHc
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh9KpTwCAZ
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfwlErplFg
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mWkTplabx
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifeXcrWFd4
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZTetlBMMn
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj7WBb0Cce
"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."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrSg0hBMZw
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8TkxEV62m
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XU08ZxtkS
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI5u4pyXXf
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkm64ZZPEF
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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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj4wcTz7tb
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7kJtSbEnb
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hV7pdSmqK
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6dyaWqiho
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhGs6g0gGz
"Why not?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrYSResnCg
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB77mUeX8Mh
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryXWBqqAQQ
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKUpUAr5qV
"Overthinking," Nick warned.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ACskFIXBx
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstWeIgpQe0
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtgLJq12Td
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8a3avN8Gp
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnhqKkuGL9
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIVB2Mxq91
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K0NCUR2PH
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAChcEGee6
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa21atpHcVR
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Ay6SHC99
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6j9tYoyLI
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpcXehADHs
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDwmMX3l61
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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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvWd842gPM
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzQu8GbXxV
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFlDKc1C1y
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."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0FNoTbGfO
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16zshQBFWL
"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."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN94uZcW0U
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?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oiuB6pFK3
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tKTcIHb4e
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv0EOS2Bqm
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KjZpN8ggw
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAvmz6szos
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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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvsApT3KFR
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA57mBsF4f
Her breath caught.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLAIsRgBLe
Holloway.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco0fGeTZtQ
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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCPk1m5ziA
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqHGaFId8K
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMNOolRM8A
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLFaW4iuIV
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyzAYEXYk4
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1khSfJivM
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoQ0NCHSTA
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."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJTHACQCcA
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrkNlKkeD8
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRILmWj6j4
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYcm4h5iUs
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwZ9OU7zcH
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