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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcMDu5aoWP
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX0xJikjwQ
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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuhW9nzgbi
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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerl1SXuT2q
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmLHphXsJq
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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK6fNu2Jo9
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXWoWOy1mo
Chrissy immediately recognized him.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRjWZdvQPD
The historian.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnak98pCe7
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCSkT8EWsP
For a long second, no one spoke.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiVY9mglGH
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1k4jnE764
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gL6Dudc1F
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmV6iiVOIm
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XkBUpcWQP
They all watched him go.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxOKJdFjC7
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFAaTcsWUh
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWpydLXCgX
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAklTJC4juM
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKGjUHSU6J
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmAVnVk2np
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uNkeh0MTn
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg0Ao2tjET
One stood out immediately.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6xW1DGMEs
James Whitaker.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dvZQDEOTw
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmnz0SimXA
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bfgAQi6DM
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ692yLO1nI2
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUj9suxffr
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoqWlrXjGV
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCIYHq3SOF
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cdQiu0LWF
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJfBJrqg90
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiAisE7h4X
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWPjwqgL8b
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJEmNsZTuG
"You interested in that?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtelD0undI
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr2nd2nW8W
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF41hBtK87
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEhCb9hIOe
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r5SPxIS0w
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbuZXKZyWZ
Nathaniel ignored him.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomOJRLWVJ4
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?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8hJkyMsDn
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHeTZ6U4fn
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluhuRr9eGR
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFA1Pcsf8k
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmTPlOkiSW
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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JtEsuOsF7
It was clear the conversation was over.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32afEAAi1u
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8kT4or4yt
"He knows something," Nick muttered.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWDhGNDtgl
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzek3RJhr7Z
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4tbyYFkvI
And she was going to find out what.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPITwfVjwo
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9f4ujVuzx
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYItNNE3fR
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHENDdDians
"Just making sure no one followed us."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbQ10gevKu
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObGOZ2UO4k
Then he stopped.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2L1LRK0Dd
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJOR7yPxbq
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFJzA8Szas
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK6TJ76Q7m
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnexLlKYDMC
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52G16ozdat
Gone.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2hcTrecLN
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7l1p1oz36
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyo4Q8BSE4
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC1qSKFITE
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpafhAzBFS
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpybva6QUe
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyNTgfGqFa
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPbeQ8l5jp
And she had a terrible feeling...221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROOpGJy6w6
It was only just beginning.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqCdRMa1q1
and then Add to home screen.