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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9knjjubDF
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5AptNzJXF
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrKqRpVWWH
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd4KRQrV5o
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf0F9YRSgj
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpwAnyD8dv
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ785ZApynNZ
Chrissy immediately recognized him.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmwGCjjbMO
The historian.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5IU2Q0CpI
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzqReZPIr8
For a long second, no one spoke.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg9sw67LMa
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgat0SXjyO
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi9yoM5W1B
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWSdxc42TN
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mis62TErp
They all watched him go.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYPjzUyS7P
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo7LhmwQQg
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS8uW5gxwE
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTjWQZ992o
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWTYlaA9zX
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgC7ORs0GV
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FDwoLvcOZ
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHXdZyVA1c
One stood out immediately.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19f8OBTtWB
James Whitaker.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAK1qWNSqe
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgB86SlcQ7
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HbN1gapx0
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGmYt6iUni
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUgOXExWAM
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfljSyHDRjn
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxHeYR2LBV
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dGin5QM8R
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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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLhlLAX4pd
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rwb5mBjaS
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaGAWfXpPB
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Vy1i9KUH
"You interested in that?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iordkcj7R
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB4ShbPsjN
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8tZZcN39v
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z4Swi87hr
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBi1341pxu
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNmfSVqc7p
Nathaniel ignored him.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFXdbWcZDi
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?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhBfpU1pbi
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrayjOpc9z0
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcR79SDFnF
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs98TSqax89
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFv5eJV1SJ
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Do5eVL4p
It was clear the conversation was over.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMZ5SIfPK7
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulm0zs1aAN
"He knows something," Nick muttered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw4uG5Z5I4
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlCvL8Kkk8
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP8COfwJs3
And she was going to find out what.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBewFv5mfy
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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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT2zfem5ft
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyi4wVgMJE
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDNbWrDn9G
"Just making sure no one followed us."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPeEkGZPG7
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsk4rXnkuO
Then he stopped.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVYQnbkD5P
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCsZSMex5O
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6umqVYAAW
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoAH1sVBnt
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2OyukPjwM
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qMr0kf7ks
Gone.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcya8FePjc
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn13cNOCTw
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIdurv7h3C
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH89j9lAx90
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZyGYgfleq
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsGnMtTaR2
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXcqAO8cUh
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaKUu7YROB
And she had a terrible feeling...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmm8Xv5Tq3
It was only just beginning.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotwjmtfuuV
