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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QJPpH7xT9
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG6kt1Bg2b
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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVYabtWBSu
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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPbsSnIpCh
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpus0IflKB
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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBZk9e83X3
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6FJGqFTq6
Chrissy immediately recognized him.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssspoZbx0j
The historian.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHaOM7TJ1b
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTna5mERgz3
For a long second, no one spoke.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1Usai66uO
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkDfJox5lH
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DMz358Iu0
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn63UOyWeUy
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT3UvcCUVQ
They all watched him go.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4QR52WvJC
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkphwmXh4K
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07GpGLbBLW
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7DjlOEVYS
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctzRavqP0O
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpPgKrlSYA
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk3wpVFKVN
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyM7wwPzT
One stood out immediately.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPeZ8mlhki
James Whitaker.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WUpSB7PTy
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjtd8W89YN
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPeNbwYK0u
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg3JkZ0M5n
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyHxBMaqXD
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VG9ALcNpR
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GXtfBi6vJ
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEc3mbs23C
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLqnUrLlbV
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAWbR3JUAX
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8JUBXxJae
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmtxa84Zdh
"You interested in that?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvTDjpaAKp
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPy0BWkd6e
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIfJwJ243X
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuKy3slJjY
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kjB4C5oQm
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLibuoamkC
Nathaniel ignored him.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRwdeg0Sdw
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?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ye6XmgLqd
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyOeTa8QAm
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjfAgcBapE
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjtsZ8D7iY
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUogz7iVJ8I
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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2vkjGrq7r
It was clear the conversation was over.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSU5sGiADl
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF8v0cYpmr
"He knows something," Nick muttered.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnappL5J4U
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ0k1FiKZF
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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz5ciuFCy7
And she was going to find out what.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhYouXKnuS
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlYDMRCr7H
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc71JMkEsgu
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe8ENp9eMW
"Just making sure no one followed us."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVx2gHoZPc
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDe1XKMt82
Then he stopped.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kYbDxSTmB
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREqWP9KDfc
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37QATnQI67
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQIOUJB2o9
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdfVSHoFgO
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ2ctK6nLY
Gone.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fEr67pgPI
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNISykIXFo
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMKRAXio5s
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6isJlRHAmP
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAIwb9IG0B
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwTywFbFD1
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8QaNvzzqb
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXmlR2RRbg
And she had a terrible feeling...98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVICMr3cWM
It was only just beginning.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L68sYHRpI
