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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmNptfeugL
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob5WSYqbsX
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUvjlV3ZUB
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM1FvZUmR6
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpvpzLPidA
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUUPtJA4xE
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhj9qLEcG7
Chrissy immediately recognized him.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoEltpYK0q
The historian.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wJY5cyJs7
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCqZ3J9WAq
For a long second, no one spoke.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9vI2JjJFI
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ZBYBTCsu
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVJjZYkg08
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbrpCDikmT
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ1Hr2aFiF
They all watched him go.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkS3rO1Dz5
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxEN223SAT
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbXrnOGiRs
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxCXpPd1SR
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCOGaluMRB
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqoMPs9BVZ
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHjo7vn2AQ
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn7zI5OLSU
One stood out immediately.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0WhTGIK8e
James Whitaker.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoPk4MwUK5
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXI1cc1YfZ
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tjjFT7CF0
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfTGARDjRz
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo84rXc5FM
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoAJB87NUr
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjRlz4ZQMB
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklNQT6lMdi
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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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmGgoBmmym
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORXTfIFMdD
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH9ozrZR6T
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVMGzWfTZW
"You interested in that?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPEZPobT9u
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHMQ7xc01U
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsBG1IDPuU
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHWEEyeVPA
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw9XFQDweN
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMixbsp18v
Nathaniel ignored him.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT46i8TeZc
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?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW9eha912r
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCVINCtbDe
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQOf08QKHv
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctzsZe6K5k
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75e4DTXQHB
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."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnUSbQ8AbP
It was clear the conversation was over.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo9CVLZ5NC
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihTMBOkcXn
"He knows something," Nick muttered.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSiAWiFkIY
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59XFhHUWAn
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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi0wlQg6wA
And she was going to find out what.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFOdVEkrCs
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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.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75GK5Vatgo
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKhF1cHvrO
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeYK9nOVAv
"Just making sure no one followed us."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEFC0lKi7i
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bi9E8cQIr
Then he stopped.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBtzDhQ0MU
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW46KDDo4KY
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPkx2itGzC
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRzABkm4OT
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5idfVCPC3e
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk5pWjoGuv
Gone.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM3rWwAA3P
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCCpHkO9sy
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuYN1zsk8X
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbcqLQ8xXM
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlsORT3ZGF
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvmq4F0UBa
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfKptOUdNI
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11F2QF7Zj7
And she had a terrible feeling...156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxY0ucfi2U
It was only just beginning.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxabMfFJUR
