Chapter 4: Echoes of the Past
The scent of fresh coffee and baked muffins filled the air as Chrissy stepped into the Book Nook. The cozy shop was quiet this morning, a few locals scattered at tables flipping through books. At a corner booth near the window, Maddie and Lacy were already waiting, a steaming cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin set out for Chrissy.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FJHGnvZs6
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHPn7Xh2QX
Chrissy wrapped her hands around the warm coffee cup, her fingers tightening slightly. "I don't know if I was just imagining things, but after I got home, I kept looking at that photograph." She hesitated, her voice lowering. "And I swear... I felt something. Like someone was there, watching me."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzwIxwUNiD
Lacy's eyes lit up with intrigue. "That's classic ghost story material. A connection to the past, an old legend, mysterious signs—it all fits."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vC4eUMAOg
Nick, who had arrived just as she said that, scoffed. "Or someone's actually watching her, and that's a real problem." His tone was serious, and he glanced out the shop window like he expected to see someone lurking.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRyMk86r3u
Chrissy sighed. "I don't know what to think. But I know one thing—there's something more to that lighthouse, to this whole legend."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5ucFpcItg
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmbyqEzPX7
Chrissy immediately recognized him.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOTTvvAENR
The historian.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCAagK5AAP
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzPbjwbU0K
For a long second, no one spoke.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCYKZJk3Wa
Then, as if snapping out of a daze, the historian spun toward the counter, but in his rush, he dropped the books. The sound echoed through the quiet shop.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xpS6F4qrt
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj1cXz1hQc
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAhsk1wx1R
Maddie frowned, taken aback by his rudeness, but before anyone could say anything else, he muttered a hurried "Excuse me" and strode out the door, nearly knocking into a display on his way out.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLi2G6qKSJ
They all watched him go.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa6XfMGtFj
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Lli14Sdl
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvwq2MZO85
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54TFo3Na8o
Lacy helped them gather a stack of old newspapers, genealogy records, and even a few yearbooks from the town's archives, hoping they could find anything related to the lighthouse keeper, the historian, or the mysterious woman in the photograph.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtq1dOnrYK
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOuGcGI3kW
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVw1VfHlI
Maddie pointed to a black-and-white photo of a group of boys sitting at a long table in what looked like a school library. Underneath the image, a caption listed their names.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsBrZ7EQc5
One stood out immediately.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O1dTBzG3u
James Whitaker.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdtfCXxsf1
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToft1PTxYT
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRyfpz6ytT
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYodjSGAJP
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpILWRTaPRV
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8V6rRMSuJ
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04BAa8OFRp
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclH7yidCuH
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Tracking Nathaniel down wasn't difficult. After asking around town, they learned he worked at an antique shop near the harbor, one that specialized in shipwreck artifacts.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamXohzcP3j
When they arrived, the shop was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of salt and old wood. Glass cases displayed rusted coins, compasses crusted with years of sea decay, and delicate shells that looked almost too perfect to be real.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSdJZy04tL
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0iRzVGnHT
A small, metal replica of the lighthouse. Rusted and aged, it sat on a wooden shelf, standing no taller than a foot. But despite its worn condition, there was something strikingly familiar about it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmzd65KEAo
"You interested in that?"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9OEVgol0a
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQoKUFicF6
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6I1k8W4Bp
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lFM2KKmST
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAyicWHgja
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK0uYIe9Hx
Nathaniel ignored him.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDxMyR8U0L
Chrissy reached into her bag, pulling out the photograph from the lighthouse. She turned it toward him, pointing at the necklace around the woman's neck. "Do you know anything about this?"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutNlE32FfB
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsL9ofV5XO
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZal9Q8jUCz
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFtZvs8xgx
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhomXoYsP0X
Nathaniel's jaw tightened. For a long moment, it looked like he might say something else—but then he turned away. "If that's all, I have work to do."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4X0PqjaQO
It was clear the conversation was over.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd15pJqq5tc
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPrs0NaqVZ
"He knows something," Nick muttered.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3GX6eI1i0
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms8BrGwM8b
Chrissy was quiet. She could still see the flicker of recognition in Nathaniel's expression when he looked at the photo. He knew more than he was letting on.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7l0SEfQzg
And she was going to find out what.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD65YIxJoSv
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That evening, Nick walked Chrissy home, the quiet sounds of the ocean in the distance. The night air was cool, carrying the salty breeze through the trees.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUPDzwR964
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3CkjIBJVR
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CR3QJ3Slm
"Just making sure no one followed us."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdAmOx89Vs
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhVPclR63e
Then he stopped.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWLuQwikWO
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlLTijZJ38
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1keGVPSAH
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqUBDGD4zO
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYWMF4BucL
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj68zB6rWNM
Gone.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx8aluDdzE
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ10mEg05T
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCY93tgAQc
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo4f0ME3LD
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jt6u5wQZY
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewt1g5FtJO
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lsIWNz0C8
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrT1CWBvnQ
And she had a terrible feeling...265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6316vbNdn6
It was only just beginning.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAEbRMUnl8
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