The three elders, especially Gloria, couldn’t hide their delight as Skylar and Joe stood side by side. Their smiles grew even broader.
“Let’s get to the main topic, Grandma,” Joe gently interrupted, sensing that if Gloria continued showering Skylar with praise, she might shift to criticizing him next. Her glances—first at him, then at Skylar—were starting to give away her obvious bias.
Gloria shot him a brief scowl. She hadn’t finished boasting yet!
She loved showing off. Back in her younger days, she had always compared herself to her friends—and later, her children and grandchildren to theirs. Now, she had Skylar to brag about, and she relished the opportunity.
“Skye,” Gloria finally said, switching to a more serious tone, “Frank ran into something strange. He initially wanted me to reach out to Viola, but no one knows where she is right now.
“There are plenty of people in Jipsburg who claim to have supernatural abilities, but they’re all frauds. See if you can handle this. If you can’t, don’t worry—we’ll find someone else. Just don’t stress yourself.”
Skylar straightened slightly, her expression shifting to match the tone in the room. “Okay. Please tell me what’s going on.”
Frank, who had remained quiet, finally spoke up. He trusted the people gathered here. Though he wouldn’t normally reveal his family’s private troubles, he knew these friends wouldn’t gossip—and at his age, dignity wasn’t worth more than peace of mind.
Joe, standing quietly beside Skylar, watched her with a thoughtful gaze. When she became serious, there was a confidence and brilliance in her demeanor that drew attention without effort.
Frank sighed. “Lately, some strange things have been happening at home. My wife, Grace, has been unwell for nearly a month. She keeps having nightmares—vivid, disturbing ones.
“At first, we thought it was stress or illness. But our great-grandson, Chad, has been waking up crying almost every night too. He says he’s scared but can’t explain why. This morning, Grace talked to him and realized they’ve been having the same nightmares.”
The room fell silent. Frank’s face had grown more solemn, clearly disturbed by the revelation. This wasn’t just coincidence—it was something deeper.
Skylar listened attentively. She wasn’t well-versed in dark spiritual matters, but she had read about such occurrences. Sometimes, people would unknowingly bring home cursed or negatively charged objects—items that carried ill intent or were used for hidden rituals. It wasn’t something easy to resolve without help from someone like Viola.
“Mr. Doherty Senior,” she asked carefully, “have any new items—furniture, antiques, or gifts—been brought into your home in the last month or two?”
Frank frowned, thinking hard. “I don’t believe so. Nothing I can recall, at least.”
Skylar nodded, her tone steady. “I’m not deeply experienced in this, but I can visit your home and take a look. If I can’t find the cause, you can always seek someone else afterward.”
Frank didn’t hesitate. “Can we go now? Chad usually starts crying again in about an hour. I want to see if you can figure it out before it escalates.”
Skylar agreed without pause. “Let’s go now.”
“I’m coming too,” Gloria said immediately, rising from her seat.
Skylar gently stopped her. “Grandma, I’d prefer if you stayed. If my instincts are right, the environment might not be suitable for you. It could be overwhelming.”
She then turned to George. “Mr. Querbach, please stay with Grandma and wait for our news.”
“Alright,” both elders replied. As much as they wanted to help, they knew it was wiser not to get in the way.
“I’ll come too,” Joe said, stepping forward.
Skylar glanced at him, quickly assessing his condition. He looked calm, healthy, and collected. She gave a slight nod. Having him with her might actually help.
With that, the two of them followed Frank out of Pearlhall Residence.
As the trio left, George quietly turned to Gloria and murmured, “Viola never misjudged people. Skye is truly remarkable. But what Frank’s dealing with… it might not be her area of expertise. If she can’t solve it, we’ll help him find someone else.”
Gloria didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes remained on the door where Skylar had just exited, her expression mixed with pride and concern.
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