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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEXe3lWgg5
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjKIvKBMdm
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6aAOmlC0q
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWKToHWxVY
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZdLO9wVWp
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wSnCGOFwX
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1nNEFUV0e
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxTQIeX2QG
"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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo5ZipZ1yn
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIxrnJ6KD0
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwvN6Je9sx
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSTv9VmlJf
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIINTH2HT9
⸻14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6SMQJSMzq
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeGGVW8gcF
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKws4tNyLmu
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BBrbwZLN1
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzqXqCCzm5
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HiWbXHbCa
"Why not?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol808oeo9q
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jVLzJ5nuN
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYUUJfYTEF
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNRiA8Bbmy
"Overthinking," Nick warned.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSyPxZSJuK
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSJuwH9Gh5
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6KaEfqpFd
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LvfsOkXq8
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUt5M8KvTN
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgRDHdQSFY
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJDdzzjAW1
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl59eulIM8
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzghbykjCy
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfhCWaiWG5
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWLKvJJreI
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c3d1zePMm
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbHgpMxZYo
⸻14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg98NDYejUt
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58rA3K8nR5
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQObdCLB3EK
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ507tnMWwDR
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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjmU3XgId9
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZxKrvq173
"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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Bk96idp2
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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wVlaEX0ND
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYpIksv9wE
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzREPhL4Ip
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekQRU1yvEu
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VZ4rRHjB5
⸻14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVhPsWXSE2
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWFCWaOzGO
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrvTxYA6xS
Her breath caught.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBZlOBvLm8
Holloway.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6fJYmrQ59
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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajwZXBLmMh
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLw4pjEujA
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvssEqvT2B
⸻14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7yfpt56LK
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyCNWCuZfF
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpbSBE8Yn9
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopv1YwxHpN
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvzWuvo922
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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NVY3T6lJf
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE6zPIhLYi
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2jOCQDgK8
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYyNIuoI3N
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgF0r94rj2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.