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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqoCmWdUFz
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHH5gJMS8u
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHznbeExpf
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNuDSqCeuf
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxStkfDp8jE
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1vfFxrIlf
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn3lgTsWgc
Chrissy immediately recognized him.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNytQ4xQMb
The historian.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaVVNKViko
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKUswgKJ56
For a long second, no one spoke.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXixudcRWo
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GAenennNQ
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZggtdQvTEG
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDLCO7mTf7
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtoInmGkHr
They all watched him go.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrxj4xVzDi
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDncFRYRNR
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6u9BHufPL
⸻149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh5szOmhTE
The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n3dJklD49
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYNnLlVyGB
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUxE3KbTok
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjyzttl2iV
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQVocdgVNO
One stood out immediately.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYYmDtB1dI
James Whitaker.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZzYaxL8my
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ21WzRvD1
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9bF9uFBpL
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuy7ZdhITU
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDfO5SpaJV
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kcpZaKTt8
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7gi3Ju7mp
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSHcGFGcaH
⸻149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH4TviZVH5
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3JFlyXD60
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2ktxuQnOa
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHB5my1bVf
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygy5Z0wGpx
"You interested in that?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV77ZuFPfP
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fEHA9GlT0
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQddmFESAjG
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOpsb8oOx0
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPkHLzr8gx
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz02UVpQ5X
Nathaniel ignored him.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaNkccYwhk
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?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefg9UdtR42
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zyLcuB8Is
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNFFr2zKBZ
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc0R2L0r7t
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhlhLISa7t
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtjEN3iTCH
It was clear the conversation was over.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiaIJ9bTvB
149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG15tWSzQ0g
⸻
The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUS1UAbAMV
"He knows something," Nick muttered.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l7XxF5K5Q
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR64bUwtf9
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZRmtqbyo6
And she was going to find out what.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbOGbjQfWT
149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5lXIdtXlW
⸻
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLe87ldly2
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQkaqCWtML
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvOYIwUaWs
"Just making sure no one followed us."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OGpMqqPpu
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUmVu1wOxO
Then he stopped.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRQc17LsCv
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQndKtW9ha
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV2d4ESyKF
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzjBjaqnqD
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMEGgY6IBi
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeWToqmD5S
Gone.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyBwz7GMLc
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr650KQKRN
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KS7QgLEch
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2qtl22Kv1
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFlRvCzP8J
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV6lgGVU6L
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIgNjHLrRW
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwJke6mpq8
And she had a terrible feeling...149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHW424OW6j
It was only just beginning.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkKAWhKLc2
