Don't Ghost Me

Chapter 10 - The Dream

Tears streamed down Cait’s face as she poured her heart out to Luke and Reggie, sharing the details of her dream. Reggie reached out to take her hand, noticing the tremble in her fingers, a clear sign of her fear.

“Guys, I just don’t know what to do anymore. “We’ve reached a dead end,” Cait said, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and exhaustion as she squeezed Reggie’s hand tightly.

Reggie played with her fingers, his uncertain green eyes reflecting his sadness as he struggled to find the right words. Just like them, he felt the abrupt halt as if they had collided with a brick wall. They were left with nothing but failure in their search for the answer.

“Don’t lose hope just yet, guys,” Luke said, his voice filled with determination as he snapped his fingers and stood up. “Something else will surface and we’ll figure this out.” Luke perched on the coffee table, facing Cait, and gently clasped her hand in his. “Try to get some sleep for the rest of the night. We’ll go around and ask some ghosts a lot of questions. Someone is bound to know something.”

Cait slowly nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope ignite within her as she absorbed Luke’s optimistic words. She offered a smile tinged with fatigue before getting up and preparing to go to sleep. As Reggie clasped her hand, he gently tugged her closer, enveloping her in a heartfelt hug. She pressed her face against his chest, reveling in the familiar scent that brought her a sense of calm, and let out a shaky exhale.

“I hope we can find someone who can help,” Cait said, her voice sounding distant as it echoed against his chest. “I find it strange how I can feel you and smell you.”

Cait’s bluish green eyes locked onto Reggie’s face as she pulled away, desperately seeking a glimpse of his genuine emotions. With a tender touch, he traced his fingers along her cheek, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

“And I find it strange how I feel so alive when we’re together,” he whispered, his words barely audible over the sound of their synchronized breathing. Reggie kissed her again, their mouths melding together in a deeper, more intimate connection. He gritted his teeth and attempted to push past the excruciating jolt of electricity coursing through him.

“We can’t keep doing this,” Cait said, worry in her voice as Reggie winced. “It could end up hurting you more or worse.”

Cait’s eyes flickered downward, fixating on the floor, while her arms lost all strength and fell listlessly. The sight of him in such anguish triggered a flood of emotions, reminding her of the pain she felt when her parents passed away. The idea of losing him tugged at her heart so fiercely that it occasionally felt suffocating. As Reggie’s fingers contacted her cheek, a loving smile formed on his face.

“Every electric surge is worth every taste of you,” he whispered, his words filled with longing, as his forehead rested against hers. Reggie left a gentle, lingering kiss on the tip of her nose before motioning towards the loft. “Get some sleep, Cait. We’ll let you know what we find out in the morning.”

His sweet words made Cait nod, a shy smile tugging at her lips. She climbed up the ladder, feeling each rung beneath her feet, and finally laid her weary head down on the soft mattress. The moment her eyes shut, a vivid dream unfolded in her mind. Before meeting Luke and Alex outside, Reggie made sure she was completely lost in the world of dreams, her rhythmic breathing the only sound in the room.

“How is she doing?” Alex’s eyes locked onto Reggie’s face, desperately searching for any clues in his expression.

“Worried, like all of us,” Reggie said, his voice filled with apprehension as he kept his gaze fixed on his feet.

Luke and Alex joined their friend in a group hug, offering support and solace. Reggie cleared his throat and wiped his face, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he took a step back from the group hug.

“We know you love her,” Alex said, giving Reggie a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “And Luke and I are like your brothers, and we’re going to do everything we can to help with this.”

As Alex spoke, Reggie felt a familiar prickling sensation in his eyes, threatening tears. It finally dawned on him that he was undeniably and irrevocably in love with Cait. Unwilling to vocalize it, he kept his secret hidden deep within. But he knew Luke and

Alex could tell by the way his eyes lit up whenever she entered the room.

“Let’s go find Willie. “Maybe he can help lead us in another direction,” Luke said, his words echoing in the air before he vanished. Alex and Reggie followed him.

With no success in finding any helpful ghosts after several hours, Luke, Reggie, and Alex headed back to the studio. The sun was just rising, casting a warm glow on the trees, while the birds serenaded the morning with their cheerful melodies.

With a sigh, Reggie ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the strands slip through his fingertips. “I guess I’ll check on Cait and let her know we came back with nothing.”

Luke and Alex watched as Reggie sulked into the music room, his shoulders slumped and his footsteps dragging. Uselessness and hopelessness washed over Reggie, leaving him feeling defeated. The memory of what Willie said played on a loop in his mind, the intensity growing with each repetition; If things came easy, would it really be worth fighting for? In the loft, Reggie appeared out of thin air and observed Cait, who appeared to be troubled by a nightmare. Leaning closer, he pressed his lips against her cheek in a tender kiss. In an instant, Cait shot up, her forehead meeting Reggie’s with a slight thud.

“Ouch,” Reggie said, rubbing his forehead, before his gaze shifted to Cait in surprise.

She blinked a few times, momentarily disoriented, before her eyes scanned the area around her bed in search of something. “I need a pencil and some paper, immediately…”

Reggie’s eyes followed her as she rummaged for a notepad and hastily jotted down a few words. He touched his forehead, wincing as he felt the lingering ache from the pain.

“Cait, what’s going…” Reggie began, his voice trailing off as he noticed the paper in Cait’s hands, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes.

Her words hung in the air as she maintained eye contact. “We need to go to this place, you and I.”

He looked at her, his brow furrowed in confusion, but nodded silently as she stood up and hastily grabbed her clothes. Cait disappeared into the bathroom, her muffled voice carrying through the closed door as she animatedly shared the story of her dream.

Cait stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still damp from a refreshing shower, and confidently stated, “I think this person will have the answers we’re looking for.”

As she dried her hair with a towel, Reggie couldn’t help but do a double take and stare at her in awe. He zoned out, his attention solely focused on her, and her voice seemed to fade into a gentle, muffled hum. As he stood there, he could sense his heart doing somersaults in his chest and a ticklish feeling of butterflies in his stomach. Consumed by desire, his thoughts were solely focused on the longing to embrace her, savoring her fragrance and the comforting heat of her touch. The intensity of his longing compelled him to move nearer to her, his fingertips grazing her cheek, prompting her to fall silent.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Cait asked, leaning into his cold touch. “Reggie, I have a feeling that this person can help us.”

Not a word escaped his lips, but his eyes spoke volumes as they explored her face. Reggie’s eyes remained fixated on hers, his attention drifting to her lips, as she whispered repeatedly about the person from her dreams who held the key to their problem. Their lips met, and a sensation of pure bliss, her heart fluttering in her chest, overcame Cait.

Cait pondered whether Reggie, Alex, and Luke would be granted the option to remain on earth or ascend to Heaven once they resolved their unfinished affairs. While she wasn’t typically selfish, deep down, she yearned for him to pick her if he had the chance.

As the surge of electricity ran through him, Reggie winced, instinctively pulling away and gripping his ribs. He collapsed onto the sofa and sank into its soft cushions, finding solace in its support as he centered his attention on his breathing. As Cait knelt before him, her hand tenderly traced the contours of his cheek.

“Let’s get going so we can get answers,” Cait said, her face filled with worry. “Julie and her brother are at school and their dad won’t be home all day. I’ll leave them a note that I’ve gone to the mall.”

Nodding in agreement, Reggie took a deep breath, feeling the tension release from his body. He gave her a smolder and stood up, brushing off the pain and focusing on the bright side of the situation. Cait returned his smolder with a nod and walked out of the music studio, feeling the cool breeze brush against her skin. Outside, Luke and Alex paced back and forth, their voices filled with disappointment as they recounted their unsuccessful attempt to find someone who could provide answers.

“It’s okay, guys,” Cait said, her voice filled with reassurance. “Reggie and I are going to this location to see someone who can help. I’m one hundred percent sure she will be able to give us answers and lead us in the right direction.”

As Luke gazed at the paper with the address, a sense of excitement filled him, causing a smile to form. “Good luck to you both. We’ll see you when you return.”

Cait smiled her thanks and grabbed the bicycle, feeling the cool metal handlebars in her hands. In a blink of an eye, Reggie vanished from sight, assuring her that he would be waiting for her at their designated meeting spot. Her mind was consumed with hope as she pedaled to the location, every rotation of the pedals fueling her determination.