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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCdus7P9Z1
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSugAaKpJdQ
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueUAY0BqOq
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHUlOwLrkS
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQorMHW2SEK
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxuqM9k6YJ
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrarZCoLG22
Chrissy immediately recognized him.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIRK2d4FIP
The historian.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6bOeBUTwG
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy2PJVkFYb
For a long second, no one spoke.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4uR8C0UCr
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNNuKmWUsZ
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVm6YmD5OG
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwKlBPEQ1P
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABrcZYReul
They all watched him go.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8v68tKPNc
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifXbp9kTwY
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUwVRvy2Ws
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0ihrH6mSb
The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aVUA5ftBW
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWAZNvAP9h
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZGZscvReP
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoDId0Fx4F
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdttTKSbYJ
One stood out immediately.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPdBJoVZqS
James Whitaker.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLeSUzbQag
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbDL6SeBnI
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPrdB5zZgK
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7YzWap1Pc
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwyiva2LOm
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNT7WA715i
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i55EAdwVP
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDimCTgRouA
⸻31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnrqPix7R7
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAizJ7mqBl
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b9shWipKL
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeBHZf4RIZ
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgaCIvqwFa
"You interested in that?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1njrrwuaAM
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07IoBl98mi
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQEnMvpk2t
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LinIVXu5e
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa31X62R62
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qGu3v5Sxx
Nathaniel ignored him.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIroGPwIVnO
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?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4vRmwmron
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gtxAFBCjq
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu9kLD8F3R
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImwCGnf7Fa
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXtGaOnJQu
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."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SMQp4ZarR
It was clear the conversation was over.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vDzDaLcOw
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOlN1vYqii
⸻
The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gSUeetpZr
"He knows something," Nick muttered.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIQn27oymi
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMxLk3l6Ou
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdKYp4DEbZ
And she was going to find out what.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr4ACgzrHv
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxVdNKbFPf
⸻
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7yBUKAI7c
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLY2rF9vCL
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuncHexcbsR
"Just making sure no one followed us."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUFVCgoDfH
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUEIgTWSef
Then he stopped.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwovmVViqz
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTei8yvrdyv
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGxhsvzx1B
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzR9jdm2aU
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNNys910Mt
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqznYSAJb0
Gone.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DM6WwTjGo
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAdWOmK32Y
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5wSSHrnvX
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpUuCMIsFa
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z0ziJchTS
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tqo3yj8aM
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKdlfwtT37
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6sdPyMF2u
And she had a terrible feeling...31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi2qWd3KAG
It was only just beginning.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAZLTnhYPX
