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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlf4fLfGLc
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SaorbsTZA
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAhexMIVeo
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM49z3xGe42
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEnzCWJpB3
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s1vC1u0q2
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6dBTAJ30m
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ApPdrMzAD
"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."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsdXNvFNMY
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdbScY1tfU
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgQfKK9ZZp
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ1ymyIS5F
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZORHW4t0p
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDzrjckyOV
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjWEHmdsjV
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvkjb0gzMD
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoJjm1zFDR
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFxvX8qu2z
"Why not?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb4ggx92to
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzheAwGb0C
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAk1Rr2vyQ
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrU69kG0Cr
"Overthinking," Nick warned.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lRhVfLu6b
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhYDcFdlhI
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSWMr7UWCM
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLitaWREuOe
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCtFyO4wwk
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryftFc4BDC
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwPnVkmvD9
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgwayYehCq
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3THO6aYDe
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3ufuwl3hR
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmbIeE8Z2b
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN82oSA5ho
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19gLdiQ8ZA
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6qn4Az4s2
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcn9hltYin
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCuKdnvkIB
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."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEsUp4deCn
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiixtx4dtSk
"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."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrabGx5V2K3
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?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4daGeSrr5
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzQuTxsmkO
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQPzCr0wC1
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8HDwt5KXb
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb4h0CMunK
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPrQdajbi5
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vJhPQO3od
Her breath caught.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExeBnRzY5T
Holloway.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6pfrjT2SO
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde5hhuCS4V
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtXInMlsLx
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIcBAKgifZ
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrfPBDn8WI
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH9Vn9K0VQ
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPudcl72Ke
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYpF2dgr3w
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."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnn2xfcrrS
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxBJe0furS
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVNLVu9hr8
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZV8aE99MB
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJbUkFLmEG
and then Add to home screen.