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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH88uPfh7aO
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukPtxQjIZ8
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3SVCkpmOA
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiE3wddI6d
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArbIv67vOC
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaK2JrrZjt
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3Fjxo2j5J
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHSrFaKtfo
"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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMw8rhIVIB
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2mMYasLPD
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpQNgkXVgI
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbh1E8gZ0y
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1DotJrw2m
⸻183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQVMLYGAVi
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM32kk7SWS
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgnEtLVzzL
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRGjhfbtQn
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhswJHPSqZ
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNz9ZPPr19
"Why not?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNBwjGlz5Z
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQGUq4QuWQ
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsX9qg6mwO
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xPMxfbF5O
"Overthinking," Nick warned.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Aj5JPrW5j
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqbSuqi5aQ
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXonpMlPgyF
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPlblrezeU
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV4q28nnQq
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPPfEnJVuW
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nbz3PxqkF
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbClTbadmP
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIIZTXolrH
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTMAllyINF
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB228ZTS8e
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZrMwV06ym
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz8GJ9W7XH
⸻183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ijWRnPFE
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWrmWiEC8p
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpb3FYWabA
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIBLDBFcGl
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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bCNBalmZR
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccLEvQzv15
"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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOHJiPx9bo
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?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbHMcfFsKW
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RfdaHAzDi
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7c91yFzOd
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpwVDspmXI
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd76b3CxbXX
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM3O6Q3lgj
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDPfM5mbyU
Her breath caught.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD8liIdEdL
Holloway.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UxTr0SYsC
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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJpO3Mpo40
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oP57TOJMB
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2fIK9QmxJ
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrENqzg3Ri
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1XJ1HYVQo
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiPkPbeZ7a
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCeQPWbVQG
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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12zjexpeXR
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2s7a8PRw3
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKG3qEUZJt
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jFTMInVlB
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhy2JITsMS
and then Add to home screen.