Chapter 9: Charms and Choices

"Go to the occult shop on West Street and buy a mirror for the balcony. Here are four protective charms—stick one at the head of your bed, one on the main door, one in the bathroom, and keep the last one on your person. Then you’ll be fine."

I placed four hand-drawn charms on the table, gave her a look, and signaled for us to talk outside.

She hesitated, then followed me out, the dog’s eyes tracking us from the hallway.

After closing the door and going downstairs—

The stairwell was chilly, the kind of cold that crawls up from the basement and never leaves. My voice was low, not wanting neighbors to overhear.

"Where did the dog come from?"

I asked again, more seriously this time.

"I just picked him up."

She answered cautiously.

Her fingers fidgeted with her jacket zipper, and she wouldn’t quite meet my gaze. I could hear the nervous shuffle of her shoes on the grimy tile.

"Where and when did you pick him up? This dog has mismatched eyes and gray-white fur. He either sees spirits or attracts trouble. Keeping him will hurt you."

I’d sensed something wrong with the dog as soon as I entered. Its eyes drew in darkness, and it was raised in such a heavy place. If it attracted evil, it could become a deadly ghost.

It could kill.

The seriousness in my voice must’ve gotten to her. Her hands started to shake, and her lips went pale.

Maybe I scared her, but Natalie’s face turned pale, and her voice trembled.

"I… I just picked him up in the park next to the hospital. I thought he looked nice, and my friends said he was valuable… I’ve had him for so long with no problems. Another fortune-teller said the dog wasn’t the problem…"

Her voice cracked on the word “valuable,” as if she’d finally realized what a bargain sometimes costs. I saw a tear slide down her cheek before she wiped it away, embarrassed.

"That’s nonsense."

I was honestly a bit angry.

Is this woman naïve or just reckless? Who picks up stray animals near a hospital?

I shook my head, thinking of all the warnings I’d heard as a kid: never pick up a lost animal near a place of death. Some lessons get repeated for a reason.

"So what should I do now? Give him away?"

Natalie’s eyes filled with panic, her face pale, shoulders trembling.

She looked at me like I held all the answers, like I could just wave my hand and make it all better. If only it worked that way.