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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHK5NRwJdc
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhxIS2Z3kz
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokIh9tJev5
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R7nc76FQT
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlvRqU76dN
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYv1lkqU10
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS59HCesjb
Chrissy immediately recognized him.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3foW7Mn3J
The historian.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQJNiDTWCd
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrkYqLfPUW
For a long second, no one spoke.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKSLsOmtrR
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1rKkI10gm
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRbmR5IkGA
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sYYVU1PTT
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSOuhwJ6nW
They all watched him go.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOvAnzgaZB
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFmhiUd5rK
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYebrgFxZvm
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PgzXtikTk
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKjXnbyhOg
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDS7JACIyC
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9gVMlzuih
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPLFK5vhtp
One stood out immediately.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypB99BgK2u
James Whitaker.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakFnO2BHbi
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRHEIzjW2S
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mcVB4atGh
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF5GWSMnKl
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmBKWSDN68
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnwv7kKpuA
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaleVis7Xn
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3YCDTOxhi
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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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYkZr6oH14
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMxd2HIe2S
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM8LHSP0wA
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N2ZQ9uJ47
"You interested in that?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDjonzogpZ
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCLNMbvx9Y
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC1uWwoRTe
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkGWQEBPOl
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgEPKjsQsc
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgC5aIre3a
Nathaniel ignored him.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM6CG2hF7d
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?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS3r8uliqM
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTisv8H7cCC
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7UcjakpXu
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdguDmc0OSQ
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LuaNE3rZD
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpj50YDOuw
It was clear the conversation was over.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpLykbyqLi
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79mWzcqT8l
"He knows something," Nick muttered.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjiMbaX6qh
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff3FkOiVbd
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxgi99KBFz
And she was going to find out what.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KjL7taZKf
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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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGh1sTVize
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQGGkaUxch
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9r9ZPz8Bl
"Just making sure no one followed us."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bHqADVEGH
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZIywsrCIy
Then he stopped.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74LTaLAmbO
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZgVibOcEu
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXNVWc4KJV
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjcSv5fgKx
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pyCJgNQEx
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcanleGQO15
Gone.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTcR5xfZwo
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG2S8MKyz0
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4Fu6stnkD
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG2JYkK0iA
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hYiAsDcUr
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRipfCJC4jJ
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZfqECSIpt
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKU2CCT7Te
And she had a terrible feeling...39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP7AehH6qn
It was only just beginning.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo053nvQtD2
