Chapter 2: The Stranger
The man's dark hair gleamed in the fading sunlight, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her shiver.
"Sarah Cooper?" he asked, his voice calm yet edged with urgency.
"Yes," she replied cautiously. "Who are you?"
"My name is Ethan," he said, stepping closer. "I came to warn you."
"Warn me?" Her pulse quickened. "About what?"
Ethan's gaze shifted, scanning the area as though someone might be watching. "It's not safe to talk here. But you need to know—your family isn't what you think it is. There are secrets that someone would kill to keep hidden."
Sarah's breath hitched. Her parents had always been pillars of the community—her father a devoted pastor, her mother a kindhearted volunteer. What could Ethan possibly mean?
"I don't understand," she said.
"You will," Ethan replied. "Start with your father's study. Look for something hidden, something he never wanted you to find. And Sarah…" He hesitated, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Be careful who you trust."
Before she could ask more, Ethan turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her alone by the lighthouse.
Her mind swirled with questions. Who was Ethan, and how did he know her family? And what secrets could her father—a man of unwavering faith—possibly be hiding?