Page 5 of Crossing Between
Pap shrugged. "Where’s the fun in warning you?" He motioned for me to lean in. "This one doesn’t hurt. Just don’t blink. Bright light."
Doing my best not to blink, I endured the blinding flash. Black spots danced in my vision as Pap typed again.
"All set," he said, passing a badge to Sheryl. Then he ignored us entirely, back to his reports.
I followed Sheryl out, blinking spots from my vision. Most people in the room were human, with a few supernaturals sprinkled in. Even though our communities had coexisted for decades, humans still vastly outnumbered supernaturals.
And me? I was still technically human. For now.
"Alright," Sheryl led me through identical hallways. "Now that you're in the system, you’ll have access to most areas. Some you won't without higher clearance. If you need in, ask Captain Varon for escort approval." She stopped at a door a different color than the others. "This is Varon's division. Homicides involving humans and supernaturals. Just a warning: our detectives can be a little.... rough around the edges. But they're good people. Don’t let them intimidate you."
"Well, that’s not ominous at all," I muttered, following her into a large open office.
And immediately slapped a hand over my nose.
"Oh my gods. What is that smell?"
A black cloud practically radiated around Sheryl as she narrowed her eyes at a hulking troll across the room, sitting at a table and munching loudly.
"Detective Grum," Sheryl snapped. The troll whipped his head around, looking guilty. "What have we discussed about eatingthose thingsindoors?"
He swallowed loudly. "Sheryl, I didn’t know you were visiting today."
"Regardless!" She stalked up to him. "You were told not to eat ratbugs inside because of thesmellto humans!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Grum mumbled. "I forgot. And we haven't had a human around for weeks."
She pointed sharply at me and herself. "Humans."
"I'm sorry." He ducked his massive head, shoulders slumping.
"You'll eat them outside from now on?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Satisfied, Sheryl turned back to me.
"Alright, everyone, listen up," she announced, voice ringing through the space. "This is Zoey Halinger. Your new Medium."
I immediately felt several sets of eyes pin me to the floor. A few nodded politely. Several gave me outright suspicious glares. The temperature of the room dropped about ten degrees. I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest.
"It's nice to meet you, Zoey," Grum said, stepping forward and offering his massive hand. "Sorry about the smell. Ratbugs are my favorite. I’ll make sure to eat them outside from now on."
Despite his size — and his ancestors’ cannibalistic tendencies — he seemed genuinely sweet. I shook his hand, feeling like a doll compared to his.
"Thank you," I said with a smile. "And don’t worry — I’ll try not to be a bother."
He threw his head back and laughed, a roar that rattled my bones.
"I'll leave Zoey in your hands, Detective Grum," Sheryl said briskly. "Take her to Captain Varon. Make sure she gets a tour. Elias also needs to show her procedures for fieldwork." She patted me on the back. "You'll do great. If you have any questions, find me."
With that, she hurried off, leaving me alone with my new coworkers.
Chapter 4: Zoey
"Captain Varon." Grum, who insisted I call him by his name, knocked on the office door after guiding me to where it was located in the back of the large space when none of the others made any moves to say hello. "Zoey is here."
"Enter." Varon's voice sounded clipped and borderline annoyed. "Close the door after you."
