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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKCRepJuoT
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83arq1Kw8p
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."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis6o8BkAeA
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."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVup6Pyj5Pv
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0Y3rvygKU
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."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgu8vzWNSd
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrsQBwe1Bj
Chrissy immediately recognized him.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFpPwLGMug
The historian.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgb7F6q0Xf
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5JiDoIkj9
For a long second, no one spoke.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQjOfny8dL
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN4eQZ2KIu
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZFzb0IkXb
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSKSvjElNT
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPfX8cSSYF
They all watched him go.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G50jX8tWF
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhH6bCn3cL
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQXJ6nsv5M
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez0kTsBit9
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l4FuXkj1g
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg1vZxCTgI
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFefvWmWbb
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlzROm9ak6
One stood out immediately.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygfO1mpGAh
James Whitaker.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1lhfYhOlR
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMJs3JPQFm
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O4M53ApiA
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXQVBkAQs0
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEJaf7QxGI
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRPv52GAwO
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIigBw1O4xF
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7xxUcXN60
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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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gEbkPIP5K
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiYg5351L8
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLX6lXRUHr
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDqvLvVdQf
"You interested in that?"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLJ2fDk61r
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURW6lJNhrk
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YX5H6haao
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xOBiQp61n
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ReGS7nvr7
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUROUDvmYS
Nathaniel ignored him.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB9lkq9XZG
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?"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1bRHNxXpS
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo6dzdbk5U
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKuH9Hauv0
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm9ZVJikd0
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1AQTxU4pU
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."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3HbuLI5L2
It was clear the conversation was over.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3bxoPKJnN
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjia505Q2j
"He knows something," Nick muttered.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe2U3eAfk7
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgEnHy6nrl
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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQC0N0Vlps
And she was going to find out what.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnJ7YdHu3n
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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.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebLJBppSnq
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCg1VTBcil
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFmV8opxbl
"Just making sure no one followed us."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzx9hd2dep
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrUTyZtxvw
Then he stopped.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl37feofU57
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTqNPQJ0nf
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72u9Dv8fdV
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0lARxIxxR
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5XhD6gQks
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19QI89XWXX
Gone.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjHk28wZNo
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5pygTA4sT
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBhE2SN5cp
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF94UeP4GEI
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWrA9Qr9sK
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99UMnGMNLT
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScCRBZkRUt
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6DimTciuc
And she had a terrible feeling...203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeDVZRW2Mp
It was only just beginning.203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGkQfz8S0I
