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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqKW7Sm5GJ
"Alright," Maddie said, leaning forward as Chrissy slid into the seat. "What happened last night? You said you felt like you were being watched?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvkcRQ5pXk
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyBo128fQy
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmKjKVhlPm
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkTtOLbShD
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASrRMWW0JJ
Before Maddie could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and an older man stepped inside, carrying a small stack of books.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY8WNk2sYe
Chrissy immediately recognized him.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIgUrlPrGF
The historian.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN4kbbKw80
She barely had time to process his presence before he turned—and froze. His eyes locked onto her, his grip on the books tightening.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3uHsZoLEq
For a long second, no one spoke.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAKDDBTISn
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2Yio5skLk
Maddie immediately jumped up to help, bending down to pick up the scattered books. "Here, let me—"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9nTVVkpFy
"I've got it," the historian snapped, snatching them up before she could touch them. His voice was tight, his movements stiff.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguNdnnoU5J
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlMG1gYDIm
They all watched him go.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoMElaNUmT
"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Maddie muttered, brushing dust from her hands.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RqsdKvBjU
Chrissy stayed quiet, replaying the way he had looked at her—like he had seen a ghost.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBASo5CaUj2
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The encounter with the historian left Chrissy restless. She needed answers.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvATKHUdU0
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs2gzOzhDP
Flipping through a yearbook from decades ago, Maddie suddenly stopped. "Wait."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpNzEQ8EQb
Chrissy and Nick leaned in.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZp1Lsl23g
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqPEqs8PDy
One stood out immediately.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz9wbTxnGL
James Whitaker.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt05MKEJzEq
Nick's eyes widened. "That's the lighthouse keeper."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC4hTGHhkp
But it was the boy next to him that sent a chill down Chrissy's spine. He was younger, but the resemblance was clear.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7YDGJP3VV
"That's him," she whispered. "That's the historian."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMG9izSvIc
The name beneath the boy's image read: Nathaniel Whitaker.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiecTeEPrwv
"They're brothers," Maddie murmured.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eIo1EktIu
Chrissy leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The historian—Nathaniel—was directly connected to the lighthouse. He had to know something.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm9FqxF2en
"We need to talk to him," Nick said.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMm69fnjr8H
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rK9pY67Z6
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaMGkSvFuz
But it was the centerpiece that caught Chrissy's attention.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplhd0ZhJKy
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzTsspW7V1
"You interested in that?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOffsvFd0te
Chrissy turned to find Nathaniel standing behind the counter, watching her. His voice was unreadable, carefully neutral.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbo29mknrq
Chrissy hesitated, then pointed to the lighthouse replica. "That belonged to your brother, didn't it?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9PrzQdJYG
A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGud4VznKx
"I restore antiques," he said curtly. "It's just an old piece."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2BWmFDGhZ
Nick crossed his arms. "It looks exactly like the lighthouse James worked at."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaCbAGPHxZ
Nathaniel ignored him.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTRH3q7hAv
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?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48BZDd5avR
Nathaniel barely looked at it before replying, "No."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6q2naCJQ9
Chrissy narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even—"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiRUEQXFzL
"I said no." His tone was sharp now, final.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKYUSxAfc7
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You look like you've seen that necklace before."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoYXhKOyfy
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpcSYshx2O
It was clear the conversation was over.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP2oo9tTBW
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The three of them left the shop, frustration heavy in the air.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmtpRVYqzC
"He knows something," Nick muttered.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvMtoydkKn
"Obviously," Maddie said. "But he's not going to just tell us."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxXx6VRrvU
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi968PXeTgO
And she was going to find out what.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyZjaoosod
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUCSeEvZUF
Nick was still tense from earlier, his eyes scanning the area.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHAiKcrJXu
"You okay?" Chrissy asked.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyregsNCxP2
"Just making sure no one followed us."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzT8LwkYZ5
Chrissy rolled her eyes. "Nick, I don't think—"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XWMHZL9Lk
Then he stopped.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIg89EYDcF
His hand instinctively reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Wait."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ8l5heBf9
Chrissy froze, following his gaze toward the trees lining the road.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8XQ0rHOSV
There, just beyond the treeline, a shadow moved. A figure—just barely visible in the darkness.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF5OpLBT60
Nick took a step forward, his body shifting slightly in front of Chrissy. "Hey!" he called out.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG0SLgi2Gf
But before he could get any closer, the shadow disappeared.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwDMjkwo6y
Gone.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHboWpoKQp
Nick didn't move for a long moment, his jaw clenched.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UpDvPOADZ
Chrissy swallowed hard. "Did you see who it was?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclnjsEcT8M
"No," he admitted, his voice low. "But someone was there."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w3hHiaKPC
A shiver ran down Chrissy's spine.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rWUq5Lfel
Nick exhaled sharply. "Let's get you inside."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXZJjfLdf9
As they reached her front door, Chrissy cast one last glance at the woods.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2bZYZMklX
The feeling of being watched hadn't gone away.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxnJLehRQJ
And she had a terrible feeling...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xah9fVdyQ
It was only just beginning.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ959O2YWDig
and then Add to home screen.