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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxXDvdsaqX
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAbYjv1Pd0
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iDATw6Res
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz7GdNDUHE
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAMygvWhoA
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3Ae9Khg2S
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1tdaYmLux
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pgO8aGKPi
"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."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW6ItzJQLy
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcSjiByZ0z
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kTtC89CU5
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtFJD1Cgbt
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWrqkFlECj
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKmykslH1E
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkMoRLRS28
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtElLeMWWMT
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs2B8gOJmF
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv4vch1FC0
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0hI5tHtHU
"Why not?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgf7Ss7hUj
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP2HqvUVkJ
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM96CwOc1C
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKxWzRO5Lm
"Overthinking," Nick warned.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39ykqfyGe2
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs4kcYTcqW
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL5P9rG86a
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRIyIDPRDl
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCK1Blq94v
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYcmqz0YV1
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyeJNELRVD
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqjgPofHkG
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWtmNMibun
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p2XlpolKX
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k1EpdFFPm
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoHPd6WjQE
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuro9MEJlEZ
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaaycfcTt3
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1gndC5mvs
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0ZNv4CgvO
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwQ0ME2C73
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."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11JNWOwRWg
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EkFPkEe3u
"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."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaKsDjo0wS
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?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZtSh2sm4w
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOpLmsz774
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeogBwVLGMs
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRGAKsR68d
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Nl7F7f8H
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEErKyuJKf
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB5wJalGah
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0bSwabd5w
Her breath caught.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe6FSAtHib
Holloway.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k2LR5fwVv
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.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIy2x3D05Y
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAg6KOvaUK
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CnU6BLoAb
⸻21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJVa6CIX8e
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcRbDRFBWm
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA1BybzpDV
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5z4MB1nDP
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlvWhhNKq8
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."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeUlgsmTNW
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctU9h0GuvI
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVy5p0aU9n
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW4lFO0tap
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTDEhWGscR
and then Add to home screen.