"You're nuts!" Watching Wesley turn and leave, I couldn't help but curse.
Amelia was about to comfort me when I turned to her and said, "Amelia, do you have any kind of amulet that can keep people safe and ward off evil spirits?"
She was taken aback and said with hesitation, "I do have..."
Knowing what she was going to say, I grabbed her hand, looking at her expectantly. "Just give me something cheap but effective."
Amelia knew I never believed in these things before, but now I must have been driven crazy to start buying such things from her.
Although she was a bit amused by my words, she seriously took out a Novice Talisman from her backpack. "It's from my grandpa, no charge. He said earlier that Howard's arrival might bring you some trouble and asked me to give this to you, but I forgot."
I didn't expect Aiden to still remember me. I nodded with tears in my eyes. "Amelia, thank you, thank your grandpa too."
I sincerely placed the Novice Talisman on myself. With the Novice Talisman, I felt much more at ease.
After parting ways with Amelia, I was still doubtful about what Howard said and decided to call my parents to find out if someone in our family had wronged Howard in any way.
Novarians believed in karma. If I could settle that old debt, Howard might stop haunting me.
Before I could make the call, my phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was my mom, Saskia Fuller, I quickly answered.
"Karena, what have you been up to lately? Why haven't you called me?" Saskia's gentle voice came through the phone.
"Mom..." My voice choked up, and I wanted to tell her all the strange things that had happened to me recently, but the words got stuck in my throat.
My mom was a worrier, and telling her about this would definitely scare her.
"What's wrong, Karena? Did something happen? Is someone bullying you?" Saskia, being sensitive, immediately asked with concern hearing my distressed voice.
"No, I just wanted to ask what Dad is doing." I said.
The phone was quickly handed over and the voice of my father, Erik Johnson, came through, "Karena, is someone bullying you at school? I'll come to the school right away."
Hearing this, I quickly refused and asked vaguely, "Dad, I just have something I want to ask you. Did anyone in our family ever offend anyone? Or were there any supernatural legends in our family?"
Erik was also puzzled on the other end of the line. "Supernatural legends? I'm not sure about this; we need to ask your grandma." At this point, he changed the subject, remembering the purpose of the call. "Karena! Your grandma is sick. If you have time, you should take leave and come home."
I was stunned and immediately exclaimed, "Dad, why didn't you tell me earlier? How is grandma now?"
"We thought it was just a cold and didn't take it seriously, but it got worse, and now she can't even get out of bed." He lowered his voice. "Recently, she's been saying all sorts of things. I'm worried she won't make it, so I want you to come home."
"I'll ask for leave right away." I hung up the phone and went to Chase's office.
It was always hard to get leave from Chase. When he heard I wanted to go home, he was unhappy. "What do you need to go home for? It's the busiest time of the semester. If you leave, what about your classes?"
I looked at him anxiously. "But it's really urgent. My grandma is very seriously ill. If I don't go back, I might not see her one last time."
Chase was still grumbling. "Isn't she fine for now? Wait until it's serious. You come up with all sorts of excuses to leave, and when you do, it's for many days. How will you catch up on your classes?"
A nearby teacher overheard and chimed in, "I don't think she's lying. You should give her the leave."
Chase was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed. He looked dazed, mechanically took out a leave slip from the drawer, signed it like a puppet, and handed it to me.
His strange behavior left me stunned. Although I didn't know why he suddenly approved the leave, I quickly took it and ran out of the office without hesitation.
I went back to my rented place, packed a few clothes, and left a note to inform Howard.
Since I usually didn't know where to find him, this was the only place we had contact. So I thought even if he wasn't there, he would see the note I left when he returned.
Shortly after I left, Howard appeared in the room. Picking up the note with his slender fingers, he glanced at the neat handwriting, and although his expression was cold, he didn't seem angry.
When I hurriedly returned home and unlocked the door, my parents were surprised to see me back so soon.
Erik immediately took my luggage. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming today? "
I shook my head and urgently asked, "How's grandma now?"
Since my grandma, Mira, refused to go to the hospital, Erik had no choice but to take care of her himself.
Opening the bedroom door, I saw Mira lying on the bed. Hearing the door open, she groggily looked over.
I quickly rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Grandma, are you okay?"
Mira seemed to take a while to recognize me. "Karena, why are you back?"
"I heard from Dad that you weren't feeling well, so I came to see you. Why don't you go to the hospital? How can you get better at home?" As soon as I finished speaking, Mira's expression changed, and she loudly scolded, "What are you doing in my house? Get out."
It was clear she wasn't talking to me. I looked around, confused. "Grandma, who are you talking to?"
"Leave now, or I won't be polite." Mira waved her hand and suddenly grabbed mine. "Karena, be careful alone outside. If someone bullies you, tell me, and I'll get revenge for you."