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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2cklJJBrD
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CA2mLxNoE
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jJYVokUQn
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSdFq6oH4r
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU68IKqih9f
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrCuX7O60E
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmGthjltn3
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPna4rHgeMD
"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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAawIqTC4m
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqXVGNVKqz
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1MvAt1gup
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpke5MS21zu
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ14qaBazs2
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTgjMwnwVL
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Z5VUDoNG
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUurs0R8HCg
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTCVLYSdNt
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID4KdENqq1
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHPmGgXrjV
"Why not?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOpWRAl8ba
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf4GrbFJq8
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfu4VY8sZP
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsZAR0WwxK
"Overthinking," Nick warned.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTR9pzi7A2
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhPGrixvwZ
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDp3yiKM8K
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWQOM9rzxq
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ42mUrFDY
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTwrX4MoDe
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszg0R7ga2y
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwoyKRm66l
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUAHQjjJnK
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d8XWra67o
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7UDQOVFar
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqdXRVJm4S
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurjdX91aDk
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2U72j4PNV
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mdxwfo3Ty
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf5qIdxCfn
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLhAE7citR
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIAzwVEq2h
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T23OXQQlC
"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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GEzlflkk9
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?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdUuixmnkl
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rB0R0hgcY
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVF7CmsRyr
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2b07BAdOd
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2L62zLfHX
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhLpExAtON
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNp6boEOcX
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hTNOVjFpT
Her breath caught.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1Jthh91ws
Holloway.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tZhY0umwq
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESdC5c4qEZ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19sWqSosqe
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSvWItJ7QJ
⸻165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf6jir1CD1
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVi81LA4d5
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOSYydYwt8
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUjL8amE3I
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfWMG5piCj
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa1nTqOZsG
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N7u0Y2r0n
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR6Ntjau0P
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVY43Kt26i
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIvBxohRbd
and then Add to home screen.