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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSoF2tlVbZ
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zc4dDybU4
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."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWSKNa6QqH
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."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P5EWQLyDE
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45AffeHf1P
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."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCJNLY4qvu
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUV4mHpNsP
Chrissy immediately recognized him.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY95wG4y4m
The historian.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpfwt7YUYz
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYAEk9MgmA
For a long second, no one spoke.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWYAzPF0Id
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9Y7iklZXO
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xSHComzeF
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLm8C8Yd46
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtLy5BO1pJ
They all watched him go.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfLUY4oIrt
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSrz8VRvl4
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3Bfw9h9Zq
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkfbUIe7xi
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPnnig8BHT
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlabGH5Y3zL
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu96WfLnIy
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U8X7f3GEB
One stood out immediately.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKYKzKyHQ6
James Whitaker.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k0Wz5ZFHh
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoOxV4W0h9
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyTf1vVHUY
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMIa0LZsEK
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKLGyzu6o2
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T9WmnpImf
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtOFe3tuoW
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpG1jvxrIh
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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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs4wdQPo7y
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjpe42NGQN
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCQChzv4ev
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzUej7udK3
"You interested in that?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2W0U8664H
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQMMCR0H8c
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFFEAvxmlH
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosmaUd4R0o
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6FUhGKQgx
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CcJQpwTTO
Nathaniel ignored him.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZovzTH0C0
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?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaH3L1phRq
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7OtklfMRW
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZIqMlv7GD
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuKU4KtpjL
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ7bt41GI8
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."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmJhwOe56I
It was clear the conversation was over.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnhqx5wu6n
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqLCe63XVy
"He knows something," Nick muttered.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULvrhjrlIT
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZg8dGQH9h
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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TVR1ZQlVk
And she was going to find out what.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe66QwSHTLT
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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.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin1EK4E2XM
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwMHwNrog3
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0VFDolZS9
"Just making sure no one followed us."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC3ElulOJ0
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EllqnhBsS
Then he stopped.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtbFxgSxz3
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dAETrMXTd
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAKJNF05BU
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe6uKVGapT
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0DuqKTNIn
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bxJfDQO4I
Gone.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA49yqngct
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy1lgi1gDT
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt1EWuOvk8
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsndPNUuHSo
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n8nUeXyp9
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCCCmnqyfF
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63PwWPNaf8
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58GG4jDwjD
And she had a terrible feeling...198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOF18PPMDU
It was only just beginning.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndAKupHUGa
and then Add to home screen.