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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigmHH5stWe
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbqCrL1Ehd
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx032O3YGi7
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgwEyhLogb
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxaJNcUgMZ
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOvpwl1619
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJg1rsZzTU
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ2utoByx1
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxF8i6bF6a
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyoPBS6qVE
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDztNvM3mY
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxJF9jEPZn
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzueojo9jj
⸻168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yOpTz2jLH
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELuCoLz8i8
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp4N4laN1X
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrSBtPJPr0
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2nkwnE48l
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr3GRifmLW
"Why not?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FFdP4Krq6
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qPdB3xLWy
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoxe7jVAXt
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSPkwGS1bK
"Overthinking," Nick warned.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzNLZZkluh
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3itgTY4OWl
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLrpXqIRyQ
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuhl1yIfmd
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKbD7muukg
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kvrPIA2lq
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvENxW1su7x
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsLIGLRY13
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqiOaTtr5d
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4HuSF6a1k
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwpj3wwR5f
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FXKxUaB8b
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB0AElrlus
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7dbdviA7S
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPXP3afoez
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXQFIhI15C
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGzugDyXVE
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M2PJjTzZy
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrGrt5ZTXq
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBx7wST1o8
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7Jc2Vwxzu
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvrJByYsWi
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz0LkeaCF3
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Wu4bTjOi
⸻168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Zt7UloRx
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mYRxs6R1B
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOEw3hAUWW
Her breath caught.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolEk2cEyt1
Holloway.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRV38S03EM
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvaycjMn2i
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu3wRvuVS6
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLjNP0NNW8
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4iGBWRiXw
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXRiMVxXk2
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKYBVa42ll
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MDmj1ZRlQ
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxAClMVEm5
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhL6QrbqzG
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgsSw06VaT
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwhlrQt8MY
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzagsQLfMc
and then Add to home screen.