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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL8OS9Ca6E
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t9Z9qdwun
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5P3Rszkrf
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1bKMMxIz7
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyneO2GvQj
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z85aINPxk
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp0RRWgFw3
Chrissy immediately recognized him.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGbKZ3RWuz
The historian.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY2M7okgJQ
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRF0KZ4mI9
For a long second, no one spoke.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYGxkDOAMd
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDNo2K6Qkm
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG1CkM4w8L
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgPiFO1ajj
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BEBekdDWH
They all watched him go.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGYhwvuVFA
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll3ESFGUDV
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU06Foj2A0
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dBgPbBIB
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9Gd5arMuE
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZxRL00V4Y
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzRnxuLYRc
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsOicpKDVW
One stood out immediately.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOY1uMO3U4
James Whitaker.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSaTl4ih72
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwGeA56KTC
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn8j7q3uR0
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXuJ5hudmB
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSClmAkfXfp
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj44CvTHNi
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sgG3iYpz6
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4SKTTXuYz
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxSXxPVwIT
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DSSE0oJtQ
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZN7XDgkco
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyE7OxmjVx
"You interested in that?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16p4e6OFFq
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6VaHpfBUz
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ636VEu7MnT
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9IwdnwCaW
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPoPNybjAr
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVPYwush3c
Nathaniel ignored him.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvtzwYenmn
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?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmrDJaRAEI
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfEyYKleuU
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgUxNxe3zj
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lRjfndYdT
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQmC2LcVd0
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMYbzARJDG
It was clear the conversation was over.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45voV4WdR8
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYTNLw53oR
"He knows something," Nick muttered.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdLbddTNpa
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PJM6RQ6Wy
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv8cQ4Kwa3
And she was going to find out what.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoat7Ir0qXi
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOQ7oW7whC
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjxBcRYHfA
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQdF07rYQM
"Just making sure no one followed us."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IgEl7C2YY
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0DuauiH4U
Then he stopped.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuakRNhbwS
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNpswIXAIA
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFALC0TpP7
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudM1J4SwV6
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfaD3n1MAI
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX7Myqb9yD
Gone.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEryNWumIaB
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrDnh2D8VF
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddAkQjgiME
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2DhwvRrPe
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zfaHcsdc5
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYapoxnbee
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcYWJKmIId
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKoIAfh8uc
And she had a terrible feeling...163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71DRpdT0Aq
It was only just beginning.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGwippU9nj
