461 The Charm Against Dreams

Silva raised both hands like she was surrendering. “Fine, I give up.”

“Told you, Silva. Why can’t you just believe me? I really said the same thing to Darell. You look like you’re close to Darell. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.”

Right then, Silva’s phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen and shook her head at Tilda. “Well, speak of the devil—Darell just texted me.”

“You two go ahead and talk,” Tilda said, standing up. “I promised my friends I’d hang out with them today. Don’t want my good mood ruined by seeing him.”

Silva smiled slyly, testing the waters. “I have met you. Do you mind if I share this with Darell?” Tilda dabbed her lips with a napkin, rose from her seat, and smirked. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

Darell walked into the hotel buffet. Silva was waiting.

He sat down, ignoring the stares that followed him, and spoke in a low voice, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Silva said, “I didn’t wait for a long time. I just ran into Tilda.”

“I know. She’s staying at this hotel.”

At her name, the air grew heavy.

Silva’s eyes flicked to the dark circles around Darell’s eye. “You had the dream again, didn’t you?”

“This time it was different. Not the fire. I dreamed Tilda died. Someone set up a memorial photo for her. Then my brother smashed it.”

Darell explained flatly, his words short and sharp.

Silva rubbed her chin. “Sounds like a soap opera… interesting.”

“Damn it, my head hurts. Ms. Silva, do you have a way to make these dreams stop?”

“They’re just dreams. None of this will ever happen. Tilda’s alive and well. Nobody could take her down even if they tried.”

Darell clenched his jaw. He didn’t care where the dreams came from anymore. He only wanted them gone. Tilda knew something, but she wasn’t talking. Why should I suffer alone?

“I might have a way,” Silva sighed. She pulled a charm from her pocket and set it on the table. “This is a Nomari charm, an offering to the spirit of dreams. Wear it around your neck before you sleep. It should cut down the number of dreams you have.”

Darell stared at the little charm, with red string wrapped tight around it. His eyes were conflicted. “You knew I’d ask for this? Funny, isn’t it? I never believed in this stuff before. And now, I’m pinning all my hope on a trinket.”

He paused, then asked, “Did Tilda mention meeting me last night?”

“She did. She also said she has no idea about your dreams.”

No idea? Darell’s gut told him Tilda was lying.

“No matter what, if this charm can stop those strange dreams, I don’t want to dig into it any further."

Without hesitation, Darell hung the charm Silva gave him around his neck. “Thank you, Ms. Silva. I owe you a huge favor for this. If you ever need my help, I swear on my name—I’ll do everything I can.”

With that, Darell turned to leave.

“Mr. Jenson, I know you don’t like this topic,” Silva said calmly. “But your abilities are awakening. Your sensitivity to these things is far stronger than mine. One day this charm won’t be able to hold back your dreams. When that time comes, it’ll be up to you how to face it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Darell replied. “And I may have found another way to end these nightmares for good.”

He had already booked his flight back to Slosa for today. At first, he had planned to stay in Jeselton a bit longer to handle something, but now he knew there was no point. He had to return to the Jensons right away—uncover what really happened between Tilda and his family during the last few months. If he could trace the source, maybe he could put an end to these twisted dreams once and for all.

At eleven in the morning, Tilda and Una finally set out to meet Andy for lunch.

“I’m so sleepy, Tilda,” Una whined, curling up against her in the back seat, eyes already shut.

“You only have yourself to blame,” Tilda teased, tugging at Una’s hair. “You stayed up partying until five in the morning. No wonder you’re exhausted.”

“Ow, ow, sorry, Tilda!” Una pouted. “I already regret messing up my sleep schedule. Let me nap a little now, so I’ll have the energy to enjoy the day with you and Andy.”

To escape Tilda’s scolding, Una buried her face in Tilda’s arms and kept acting spoiled.

The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror with a puzzled look, half–wondering if the two girls were actually a couple.