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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgAnfNFEUY
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmwDr5JCQM
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFuclzB1sp
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ed1f2GLN
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlyNaA0vTz
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2CorJz6Ap
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZGGIp1hfl
Chrissy immediately recognized him.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1IlVSaj7D
The historian.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07zcWhIDCK
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPHdEtZ9ml
For a long second, no one spoke.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0Tk960apl
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQflhsEEAhL
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4bnQvPiWK
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6DzUwo2nT
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqnJjABZyt
They all watched him go.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXc1nNps6ne
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDUfqGnyl1
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kBdydoPiO
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUVwlY5K6B
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgORXSHK37a
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Uz86uNHHU
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCieKb1P575
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1EDLaRKTw
One stood out immediately.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw075rV00H
James Whitaker.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXgg0krkWD
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF6QqWRbZg
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh5VdSkela
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlfiFU3qSf
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvu5XQkSuA
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDt69SOjtj
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHzwTFq84B
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUcpbZg65o
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oy2hGdE4I
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubB5IelqrG
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc4taXjaEX
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDTsKUVdqj
"You interested in that?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoiCoKakrt
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUyZXs5d6T
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ2cpvCAF9
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkYlXQSHJx
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5XmCgXzhP
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFuZiNT5R2
Nathaniel ignored him.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyKBn5ECa3
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?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt97JjleH1
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeVWSVeuIz
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvcKBKxiTn
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3sx5RdvAJ
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWE9Yw6zC4
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHTRA5MRHF
It was clear the conversation was over.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosxT0yU1oc
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2xKkCV0RQ
"He knows something," Nick muttered.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkiaZcDhxY
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2SYGnXZHe
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJlBf7TJtx
And she was going to find out what.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5zjA0ZStf
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfAcVPmIWr
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66ZAVxNQ7C
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sbEfkB1Rn
"Just making sure no one followed us."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvHGGWqtnM
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Ds4Hx0M8
Then he stopped.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKP9bvPXkf
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfP2OsAlzI
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHI9QbDB00
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCsfLLQ4SW
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVMDuaoDGx
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BUdkZVK5P
Gone.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIa7LAVYPj
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI91kLZrxDz
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCYAUzo764
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1puRFO4yW
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCg1GhefWJ
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVjmuZGvJu
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKn2y04tKK
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBYDa2wxYt
And she had a terrible feeling...196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUiGTvguq3
It was only just beginning.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs0amoHRr1
