The Hidden Girl: (Secret Seekers #1)

By Domenic Leslie

What started as a typical day for five friends takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a new girl. While she seems friendly enough, the new girl seems reluctant to let the others learn anything about herself. Can the girl find out what secrets the newcomer holds? And what will happen when they find out?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781794783652

Book preview

Chapter 1: Days in the Sun

The ocean sparkled under the sun on that gorgeous day as the surf lapped up against the golden sands of the beach. One large wave rose up, and a loud cheer sounded as a girl on a surfboard spun into the air, landing with a large splash as she started slicing through the water.

On the shore, other people tossed their discus to one another, jogged across the surf, built their sandcastles, ate their picnics, or just laid themselves in the sun. From underneath a large umbrella two other girls sat on a blanket. One with a book in her hands, the other watching her friend on the surfboard.

Out in the surf, the girl on the surfboard got some serious air, bent over backwards to grab her board and landed with a splash of rainbows.

Check it out, Rosa. Marilyn’s showin’ off again, one girl said.

The girl with the book looked up and saw what her friend was talking about. As she was surfing, the girl called Marilyn had begun to do a few simple dance moves as she rode her board.

Another girl walked over to the others, watching Marilyn on her board.

What does that girl think she’s doing? She’s as stiff as the board she’s riding on! the new girl said. Anyone who knows anything knows that it goes like this.

The moment she finished speaking, the girl began to repeat the steps her friend on the surfboard was performing. Except that her steps were graceful, elaborate, and refined. The sun caught her rosy pink skin and she began to spin, spreading its light across her body. As she spun, the spiral cut skirt on her swimsuit began to spread out and lent more to her appearance, before she finished with an elegant curtsy.

Thank you, Ariel. We’re very impressed, Rosa said, smirking.

I am. You looked like the world’s prettiest corkscrew by the end there, the other girl said.

Get stuffed, Sylvie! Ariel said, kicking a tiny bit of sand onto Sylvie’s side of the blanket.

Oh, no you didn’t! Sylvie said, baring her fangs at Ariel.

Ariel smiled mischievously. She had done it now, and provoked the wrath of a beastling. And it only got worse when she said, Maybe I did.

Sylvie got up on all fours and charged her friend.

I’m gonna bury you like a bone! Nobody’s gonna find you on this beach! she said.

The second she was upon her friend, Ariel somersaulted over Sylvie’s head and landed behind her.

You’ll have to catch me! Ariel taunted, before running off.

Nearby, their friend, Charlotte, was building a sandcastle. Not for herself, but for any of the tiny animals on the beach that wanted to take cover from the sun or just take a rest from walking all day.

She picked up a yellow duneblossom and gently pressed it into the top of one of her towers, and put a few colorful pebbles on one of her balconies, where a lady crab was waving to her boyfriend on the ground below.

A tiny decopus wriggled its ten arms across the beach and climbed the outside of the castle, where it rested inside a tower window.

Charlotte giggled at the sight of all of the little animals enjoying her sandy condominium. Then she heard heavy steps rapidly approaching her. When she turned around, Charlotte was horrified to see her friends charging toward her.

Heads up, Char!! Ariel called, leaping forth.

Charlotte ducked in cover as her friend went sailing over her and the sandcastle. Just after her, Sylvie kicked up almost a dune’s worth of sand as she skidded to a stop. She nearly crashed into the castle and had to stand upright in order to not barrel into it.

No! Not the castle! Charlotte said, moving quickly to keep Sylvie balanced.

Whoops. Don’t go falling over, Ariel said, lending her hand. I don’t think this castle’s insured for this kind of thing.

The second that she was balanced, Sylvie lashed out and grabbed Ariel around her shoulders.

Gotcha! she shouted.

Augh! Help! Kidnap! Mugging! Murder by bad breath! Ariel yelled.

Charlotte tried her best to protect her castle from Ariel’s flailing legs, and was infinitely relieved when she saw Marilyn coming toward them from the surf.

What’s with the brawl, girls? Marilyn asked, throwing back her ponytail.

I’m gonna feed this nerd to the seagulls is what! Sylvie said, giving Ariel a fierce noogie.