Don't Ghost Me

Chapter 14 - The Truth About Her Parents

It made sense in theory, yet there was an underlying sense of contradiction. What could motivate the wizard spirit to inflict sorrow and pain upon Cait? She racked her brain, but couldn't come up with a single person she had encountered who would hold any disdain for her. In the town where she grew up, Cait was known for her friendly and sociable nature. Thoughts of her parents consumed her, but she couldn't conjure up any individuals who might have a negative opinion of them.

As she laid on Reggie's chest, her eyelids grew heavy, and she could feel the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat. As Cait squeezed him lightly, a chuckle bubbled up from deep within him.

"You have a heartbeat," Cait murmured, her voice fading into the distance as she succumbed to sleep.

As her body went limp, her breathing grew heavy, and small snores could be heard escaping her lips. Reggie's smile brightened, and he tenderly kissed the top of her head when Luke and Alex came into view. Reggie motioned for someone to hand them a throw blanket, the faint scent of laundry detergent wafting from its freshly washed fibers.

As he shared Cait's dream and her thoughts about a wizard spirit, Luke and Alex exchanged knowing glances, convinced she was onto something.

"Do you think her parents might have been involved in something she wasn't aware of?" Luke asked, making himself comfortable on the coffee table. "What do you think Julie knows about Cait's parents?"

As if a light bulb had suddenly switched on in his brain, Reggie's eyes shot up to Luke. The thought crossed his mind that there could be a buried truth about Cait's parents, waiting to be uncovered. The dark spirit's desire to take everything from Cait is likely connected to her parents. Deep in thought, Reggie absentmindedly stroked his chin, lost in contemplation. If Julie didn't know anything, maybe her dad would. He had to figure out a way to find out if Julie's dad might know something.

Reggie's voice broke the silence as he uttered, "We need to talk to Julie." His eyes focused on something far away. He watched over Cait as she slept, his fingers gently caressing her hair, soothing her into a deeper slumber. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair.

Reggie gently settled Cait on the floor in front of the couch, ensuring she had a pillow to rest her head on and feel supported. He stood up and started walking towards the closed studio doors, the weight of anticipation heavy in the air. Luke stopped him by calling out his name, the urgency in his voice halting him in his tracks.

"I'm sure Julie is fast asleep," Luke said, his voice filled with certainty. "Why don't we catch her before she goes to school in the morning?"

Reggie nodded slowly, his mind elsewhere, unaware of how quickly time was slipping away. His gaze fell on Cait, and he sat down in front of her on the floor, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. With a soft smile, he took in every detail, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. Despite her challenging situation, Reggie held her in high regard and admired her greatly. Apart from Julie, she was the strongest person he had ever encountered. As he thought about going on dates with Cait, he let out a wistful sigh. Reggie couldn't help but wonder how others would react to seeing him and her together.

With a comforting touch on his friend's shoulder, Luke kept his eyes locked on Cait, observing her as she slept. "We're one step closer to figuring this thing out, Reggie," he said, a sense of determination in his tone. "I have a feeling that something big is about to happen."

Reggie nodded, the slight movement of his head confirming his agreement. He had that feeling as well, an unexplainable intuition, for an extended period of time before they had even encountered Cait. The memory of how his heart skipped a beat when he first saw her is still vivid in his mind. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and every action unfolded in slow motion. Their kisses made him feel alive, like every nerve in his body was awakened. It felt like floating in a realm that existed between heaven and earth.

A few hours later, the air was filled with the melodic sounds of birds singing, welcoming the morning. Reggie's pacing in the living room created a sense of restlessness as he impatiently waited for Julie to come downstairs for breakfast. Upstairs, Luke stood outside her door, waiting. Luke was supposed to tell Julie what their thoughts were about Cait's parents. Julie rushed down the stairs and hurried into the living room, where Reggie and Alex were tapping their feet anxiously. As Julie took a seat and sighed, Reggie's hopeful expression caught her attention, and she exchanged a knowing glance with each boy.

"I'm not entirely certain about Cait's parents' interests when they were alive," Julie confessed, absentmindedly picking at her fingernails. "But after their passing, my dad mentioned that Cait's father was tangled up in some kind of gang when he was a teenager."

Reggie and the two boys leaned in, their ears perked up, as Julie continued to explain the unsettling revelation about Cait's father. Julie's dad, who had a childhood connection with Cait's dad, had given her a glimpse into Mr. Molina's background before Cait came over. Julie learned from Mr. Molina that Caitronia had no knowledge of her father's involvement with gangsters, and he was determined to keep it that way in order to safeguard her.

"I guess whoever this ghost wizard is has unfinished business with Cait's dad. But since her father is no longer here, everything he's doing and going to do will fall on Cait," Julie finished with a sigh.

Reggie stood up, their mind racing as they tried to comprehend all the information Julie had shared. It was puzzling why this spirit sought revenge on someone who was no longer present. Unless Cait's parents haven't crossed over yet, and the wizard ghost's lingering presence suggests that they might still be here. The more he pondered, the less sense it made to him.

What did Cait do to this person who made him despise her so intensely? Reggie shook his head in frustration before collapsing onto the couch and running his fingers through his tousled hair. Their situation became even more perplexing with introducing this new mystery. The thought of Cait discovering the truth filled him with trepidation, as he imagined her relentlessly searching for the spirit, desperate for answers. They needed to stay as far away from this ghost as they could, avoiding any contact.

There must be a way to gather answers to these new questions without having any direct interaction with this ghostly entity. But did that really apply to this situation? The solution to defeating this being might lie in discovering if Cait's dad had made the transition to the other side. With a frustrated sigh, Reggie got up from the couch and headed towards the exit of the living room. He explained to the group that he wanted to find a quiet spot to clear his head before Cait woke up.

Stepping outside onto the porch, he looked up at the sky, painted with the vibrant hues of the morning. Reggie closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin and hearing the chirping of birds in the distance. Amid the commotion, new inquiries arose, overshadowing any clarity. Reggie was certain that Cait needed to hear all of this, but he was filled with anxiety over the potential fallout if she ever learned the truth. He stood with his arms resting on his hips, his shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug.

"I suppose I'll have to retrace their steps and search for answers," Reggie muttered, inhaling the delicate fragrance of the nearby flowers.

His eyes shifted towards the music studio, envisioning Cait's bluish green eyes gazing at him upon waking up. He knew what he had to do, but he couldn't tackle it single-handedly.