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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHKWEmVb0e
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSDxBWVvCE
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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6vbLLKOzK
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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxmJTnUNI1
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaYz4M3HKX
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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3qs8iNvI6
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDayGlMEpbp
Chrissy immediately recognized him.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oYhzoCdNr
The historian.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ZIIQ6HBH
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtAzJ5igWh
For a long second, no one spoke.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yQxrJiy98
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9M9Yds1Ng
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90TMF1xy8J
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaX1FiVcRM
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR90ROQ5s4b
They all watched him go.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uaPACccOb
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQBzt8n5fp
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdskBA5rwgl
⸻180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9eWqhSEzR
The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaCoGE9Db4
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4adsXJQnH
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4TGqoskbG
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fWfFj40UB
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ6GpEg1kA
One stood out immediately.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKJaRB12Oc
James Whitaker.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DF3SCkHD8
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCsJ0PcwWh
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybDpFdaGc8
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpimnndh9r
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zNN8rz4TV
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4f6RYyArz
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT357Dy8Tt
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N0dHNq4SX
⸻180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdwWXZBGHc
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoJ9s2dDhM
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uv8Vybc2u
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspzr9holps
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShln1C6EC0
"You interested in that?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xTPl1dcie
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTgHWesVJH
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCEcpn6pMC
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFrzqAxNnU
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VZHNChofh
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwBMrhd0Fl
Nathaniel ignored him.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhLzRUs2SB
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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vkMajP40P
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm80vrw0Xpc
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBAbeMcGSv
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Gt5IvfxA
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9k9DsfY4u
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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA4m1xErfJ
It was clear the conversation was over.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq7pKzOgBV
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKScB5Vkl1z
⸻
The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9yyQVxnyQ
"He knows something," Nick muttered.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGnMR2GJpU
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxauhfa5xZQ
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAMnFPUtLM
And she was going to find out what.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad4q8eUVQf
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNEEMKX8NJ
⸻
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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY3My9WrLY
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagWmGugEZb
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDOn5th0dU
"Just making sure no one followed us."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbZtl8561B
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicVvJS9RWS
Then he stopped.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvny09sj1T
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNKuIUl7jy
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4dAWG5Jdj
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IFx8eFiwf
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkaUT8vEiP
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9QmJlYDVK
Gone.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eyqggDw5C
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDKRxtF0lp
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97kaAyXuyS
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlupesupJM
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH7NisFJUn
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BvZeyhk62
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYfDxjVQYo
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iXoFoSL59
And she had a terrible feeling...180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRfw4D7KDT
It was only just beginning.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHI1qYwAW9
