Don't Ghost Me

Chapter 11 - Cait, The Dreamer

As Cait kicked out the kickstand on the bike, she scanned her surroundings with wary eyes. The address she had jotted down directed her to a strange part of town. She searched the area where an old white house was standing. As she looked towards the porch of the house, a smile instantly brightened her face upon seeing Reggie standing there. Relief flooded Cait as she realized she could still see him amidst the confusion and uncertainty. Reggie was peeking through one window, his eyes wide with curiosity. When he turned around, he waved at Cait with a grin.

“So this is the place you dreamed about?” Reggie asked, surveying the area with a curious gaze. “It doesn’t look like anyone is here or has been here in years.”

Cait shrugged, walking to the front door and pressing her face against the cool glass, searching for any signs of movement. She rapped her knuckles against the door, and it responded with a rusty creak as it swung open. Locking eyes with Reggie, she mustered up the courage to step inside. The moment they stepped inside, the unmistakable aroma of fresh pine wafted through the air, tickling their senses. It was as if they had crossed into a different dimension when they stepped over the threshold of this house. Once she entered, she was surprised to find that the place didn’t look abandoned on the inside - it was beautifully decorated and well-maintained. They walked down the hallway, and the walls exuded a warm, homely ambiance.

As Reggie and Cait entered the back room of the house, walls adorned with shelves holding a collection of books and figurines greeted them. A desk, elegantly decorated, sat near the door that opened to the outside. Occupying the desk, a woman sat captivated by a book, her gaze fixated on the words, her glasses precariously balanced on the bridge of her nose.

“Pardon me, ma’am,” Cait said politely, her eyes briefly meeting Reggie’s.

As she looked up, a smile instantly spread across the woman’s face as she leaned against the desk. “Hello there, young people. I’ve been expecting you two.”

Reggie and Cait exchanged shocked glances at each other as the woman walked around the desk, her warm embrace wrapping them both in comfort. She walked over to a table where glasses filled with refreshing beverages sat, their cool touch a welcome sensation.

“You can see Reggie?” Confused, Cait asked and took the plastic cup of tea from her. “And how did you know we were coming?”

The woman’s smile remained intact as she nodded and passed Reggie a cup. She shuffled around, the sound of clinking glass echoing as she grabbed small bottles from cabinets and motioned for them to follow her into a dimly lit room. In the middle of the room, a round table took center stage, surrounded by high-back chairs. She gestured for them to take a seat before she exited the room, leaving them in awe-struck silence.

“Did you have a dream about her?” he inquired, eager for any details.

With a dismissive head shake, Cait shrugged her shoulders. “I only had a dream of a woman’s name. Faren Callaway.”

The woman returned, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from them. She adjusted her glasses, feeling them rest comfortably on the bridge of her nose, and interlaced her fingers as she leaned her elbows on the table. “To answer your question, my dear, I knew you were coming because word gets around in the ghost realm. And I can see Reggie because I’m a witch.”

“So you can talk to the dead?” Reggie asked, his intense gaze fixed on her as he rested his arms on the table.

“I talk to ghosts are stuck between the realm of the dead and living. I cannot speak to those who are no longer on earth and if they’ve crossed over,” she said, smiling at Reggie and Cait. “Now, what is the story between a living girl and a ghost boy?”

Cait and Reggie filled her in on the situation, causing her to remove her glasses with a concerned expression. Cait’s nerves heightened as the woman closed her eyes, and a hush enveloped the room.

“You are being tugged back and forth, straddling the line between the world of the living and the ghostly,” she finally said, her words sending shivers down their spines. “The electricity you are feeling is because of that. Something is keeping you in the ghost realm, something dark and powerful.”

As Cait stared at her hands, she could feel the tension in her fingers as she anxiously picked at them. “How can we figure out what’s keeping him here?”

With a gentle smile, she said, “Your dreams, my dear,” and her voice was filled with tenderness. “You are a Dreamer. Let those guide you in the direction you need to go.”

Faren explained how Cait’s dreams are like windows into future events or enigmatic clues, showing the way. A warm smile spread across her face as Reggie’s hand intertwined with Cait’s, creating an instant connection.

“So, once we figure this out and break the curse, Reggie can cross over?” Cait asked, her voice filled with a hint of nervousness and a catch in her throat.

Faren nodded, the gesture barely noticeable but filled with affirmation. “He will have a choice to cross over into Heaven or cross over among the living.”

Faren’s explanation left Cait feeling bewildered, as she tried to process the connection between feeling and touching and Reggie’s desire to cross over. But he could feel the pull of his soul, as if it longed to break free and enter the realm of the living.

Faren’s voice held a gentle tone as she remarked, “By just looking at you, I can tell that you two love each other. Work together in order to figure this out. That is all the information I can give you. Be warned, the journey will become dangerous.”

Cait shook her head in disbelief, but a wave of relief washed over her as she listened to the answers they received from Faren the Witch. As Reggie and Cait prepared to depart, Cait pulled Faren into a tight hug, expressing her gratitude.

“Thank you so much for helping us,” Cait said, her voice trembling and a tear escaping her eye. “I’m still surprised that ghosts spread the word about us.”

Faren’s embrace was warm and comforting, accompanied by a joyful chuckle. “You’ll be surprised at what spirits know here in the spirit realm. Good luck to you both and tread on lightly.”

As Reggie and Cait walked out of the house, they couldn’t help but smile, knowing they had achieved something great. Cait took a moment to pause and reflect on Faren’s words, her mind deep in thought. She reached out and whisked Reggie’s arm, hoping to get his attention.

“What did she mean by ‘here’ in the realm of spirits?” Cait asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Reggie paused, fully engrossed in the sight ahead, and he extended his arm to show the exact spot where her bike stood. “I think that’s what she meant by that…”

Cait’s eyes followed his gaze, and she let out a gasp, moving swiftly towards her bike. Her hand flew to her mouth in disbelief as she gazed down at her lifeless body slumped against the wall. Did Faren suggest Cait was presently existing in the realm of spirits?

“How do I get back into my body?” Cait’s voice trembled with panic as she desperately ran her fingers through her hair. Lost in thought, she paced back and forth, her eyes fixated on her body.

With a firm grip, Reggie clasped her hands and tenderly brushed his fingers against her cheek, trying to captivate her gaze. “Take a deep breath, Cait. It’s okay.”

“But I’m literally standing over my body and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to get back into it,” Cait panicked, her voice trembling. “Maybe Faren can help!”

Reggie pulled her in, their lips meeting in a soft, lingering kiss that made Cait’s heart skip a beat. As he pulled away, their eyes met, and she blinked slowly, a hint of curiosity in her gaze.

“Let’s figure this out together,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination as their foreheads touched.

With a heavy heart, Cait nodded and let out a deep sigh, her gaze fixed on Reggie as he approached her motionless form. Kneeling down, he gently reached out and made contact with her arm, causing her to gasp in surprise.

“I can feel that,” Cait said, her voice filled with astonishment.

Reggie’s smile grew, and he couldn’t resist the urge to touch her face, his fingers brushing against her gently. He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a soft, lingering kiss. Without warning, Cait let out a sharp gasp and sat up, her eyes meeting his in a moment of intense connection, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.

“Talk about an out-of-body experience,” Cait joked with a nervous chuckle, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

“I told we’d figure out how to get you back in your body,” Reggie chuckled, taking her by the hand to help her stand up. “Let’s get back and tell Luke and Alex what we’ve found out.”