In the quaint little bakery on the outskirts of town, Lisa and Sarah chatted as they sipped their coffee. "You know," Sarah said, swirling her spoon in her cup, "I've heard some strange things about that new antique store that just opened up." "Oh really?" Lisa leaned forward, her eyebrows raised. "Like what?" Sarah lowered her voice, casting a furtive glance around the almost empty bakery. "Well, some people say they've seen apparitions roaming the aisles in the middle of the night." Lisa chuckled. "Really? That's quite the story. But I think it's all just gossip. There's no such thing as ghosts." Sarah shrugged. "Maybe. But those who've seen it swear it's true. I'm curious, though. Have you been there yet?" Lisa shook her head. "Nope. Not my kind of place. Antiques aren't really my thing. But it does sound intriguing." Just then, the bakery door swung open, and the owner, Mr. Thompson, walked in, carrying a box of fresh pastries. "Good afternoon, ladies," he greeted them with a warm smile. The two friends returned the greeting and continued their conversation, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched from the shadows by a figure dressed in old-fashioned clothing. The figure seemed to be listening intently to their every word, a look of intense interest on its face. As they talked, the figure slowly crept closer to them, its presence unnoticed until it was almost upon them. But before it could make its move, Mr. Thompson cleared his throat loudly, startling the figure and causing it to disappear into the shadows once more. Lisa and Sarah turned to look at the owner, puzzled by the sudden interruption. "Everything alright, Mr. Thompson?" Lisa asked, concern etched on her face. Mr. Thompson hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes, yes. Everything's fine here." But the two women could tell that something was off, and they resolved to investigate the antique store further to uncover the truth behind the eerie rumors.