out of touch || a luke patterson story

2. prologue

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CASSIDY VANWINKLE never intended for a life of utter boredom. when she had been alive, she had dreams of being a star. i mean, who didn't? that is, of course, if she had had the time to turn her life around.

the year was 1995, and just turned 17 year old cassidy, had tragically passed away from an apparent drug overdose. only 17, and life was already beating her up. and before she knew it, it was taken away. the beauty of living was no longer hers, and she hated herself for it everyday.

she had heard stories of near death experiences. and each one without fail, was completely different than the next. but she knew that when it was her time, hers would be even more stranger than the rest.

moments after she had realized her life had been snatched away from her, she found herself backstage at some, venue. it only took seconds for it all to fall into view and for the realization to come crashing down on her.

"darling!" he emerged from thin air and into cassidy's frame of view. stammering, she managed, "dad?".

"dad it is, haven't you missed me? it's only been years". the man rolled his eyes and shot a look to his now ghostly daughter, who for one herself, was looking awfully pale at the sight of her father. one she hadn't seen in just like he said, years.

it was none other than caleb covington. the man who ran the words most successful ghost club, the hollywood ghost club.

the relation between the two was a strange one, but he was in fact her biological father. having met her mother at a magic show 17 years before cassidy's death, the two became infatuated with each other, and eloped in secret. when cassidy came along, caleb panicked, and ran off before she was even a day old, leaving her to take her mother's last name and try to forget his existence.

now, moments after cassidy's passing, here he was. looking as youthful as he did the day he passed away doing a dangerous magic trick.

"i don't understand-" she had spoke, but was cut off by an overly eager caleb.

"well let me break it down for you dear. you died, not even 20 minutes ago from a drug overdose. and now you're here! with me."

creeping onto his face was that eerily smile she knew all too well. she had seen him in the papers, through the tabloids, old family pictures and always seethed with the same rage. knowing he didn't care about her enough to be there when she needed a father figure.

"why am i here. with you."

her arms found themselves folded tightly to her chest and he pulse accelerated at the thought of an answer she didn't want to hear.

"you died too young. there's something left here that you need to accomplish in order for you to crossover."

her eyes widened at the thought of being stuck here forever.

"but!-", she quickly threw her hands out in front of her at the sight of caleb starting to walk away, "no i don't know what my unfinished business is!"

her voice was rising about as high as her frustrations.

"dear that is not sadly not my problem. the only thing i can do for you is lend you a place to stay here at the club with me until you figure it out. your life hasn't ended. it's only just beginning."

and with that, he looked at her, head tilting as a slow smile formed on his face. but in seconds, it was gone, for as he poofed out of sight.

sighing, cassidy sat back down. dumbfounded at what she was just told. unfinished business? having to stay here? and i don't even know what i have to do? her head was swarming with possible outcomes to the situation she was in and sooner than later, she would know exactly what she needed to do.