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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bXWeKCKCW
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0bIiQ5l5w
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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW7MFH9nrW
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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmdyRERYdC
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkfhq41nir
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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ap47p2h8
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTa6ZgOS9N
Chrissy immediately recognized him.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwzjcayNCX
The historian.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs0vpeZ4RT
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFis2vDF5e
For a long second, no one spoke.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd20K8IK68
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtVFzNH2Qa
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwsb1nepdl
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBBb4VSlJ0
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGqoNRuOiR
They all watched him go.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS4rQKMI0F
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzZ4WAiJy1
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0grHfikMT4
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yYcM8o8aK
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYp6mnoXPB
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwEpk14dLh
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKnpcJWXpF
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D1vFvxiYs
One stood out immediately.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kHVdI5aav
James Whitaker.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkd5ibJnht
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q4A0w3b6Q
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZOw6H5lUf
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46fYSnLkK7
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHtGzpguwy
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu6pvJ2zjF
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEgOXpRUFv
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvfG2a7Jkv
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRjdHD3wD4
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCqka8dr1l
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7JSUsRn4A
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssk9ainYWq
"You interested in that?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZbJXx145p
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhuuyCJ4VV
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E9OC2bEfM
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ771KM09KtH
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kiLR7l3yp
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pEN0ZlTwf
Nathaniel ignored him.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsJiJVmENm
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?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUcCiogsIu
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDLnuM877S
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXD88ySx41
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaNzpnRZTn
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGMjJJzDQo
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."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgqYZMm46C
It was clear the conversation was over.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr6Z0ymern
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71CPlPfIQ3
"He knows something," Nick muttered.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmex2tsM8S
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVszOAyJztp
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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy311wibIsa
And she was going to find out what.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFLkNrIjxf
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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.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzEQidR8XC
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYgDRM2VOb
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHNpkhHchz
"Just making sure no one followed us."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScFX2bB2Q5
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnhK02GprP
Then he stopped.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJnR9c9jJT
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfyBYkKxk0
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwHJRXU7Xz
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T1Rugs3ha
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k7h1qxqvC
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXMmdwyIGV
Gone.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN11IXp2Vng
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jni18Quj9
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqJGhLZK0z
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUylQbeS1k
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXLp9uT626
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWtJ5vjFe5
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9te3CEZY3t
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24IBr8xsmR
And she had a terrible feeling...220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncmUl2kfea
It was only just beginning.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSa5eGB0oi
