showed in his blue eyes. Under different circumstances, I would have been pleased to score points. Right now, however, I just needed to know what the fuck was going on, and if he was just messing with my head.
“Normally, you would be correct,” Thomson answered before running nervous fingers through his greying hair. “However, and in response to your earlier question, mating between a Mistwalker and a human is possible because the sentient ones, if they want it badly enough, can crossover into our world and take a human appearance.”
“All right,” I said, fed up and shaking my head. “This is where I draw the line. What kind of stupid mind game is this? Why go through all this expensive process just to pull this stunt? Do I have ‘gullible’ written on my forehead? I’m done with this nonsense.”
I rose to my feet, ready to leave. He imitated me and lifted his palms in front of him in an appeasing gesture.
“Please, Ms. Connors, hear me out,” Director Thomson said in a pleading tone.
“I don’t want to hear anymore. This is bullshit!” I snapped angrily. “First, you make me almost believe the monster that killed my sadistic ex is the figment of my imagination. And now, you’re trying to make me believe someone dreamed up some psychotic serial killer that somehow figured out how to become human, and is now roaming the streets murdering people? Do I look that stupid to you?”
“I assure you, Ms. Connors, this isn’t a game,” Thomson said in a less friendly tone. “Please, sit down so that we—”
“I don’t want to sit down,” I interrupted. “I want to leave.”
“SIT DOWN!” Director Thomson shouted, startling me.
A sliver of fear blossomed in the pit of my stomach at the sight of his anger. Gone was the gentle family man that had first welcomed me. I swallowed hard then quietly settled back down in my chair, not daring to provoke him further. He glared at me for a moment longer as if he wanted to smack some sense into me. As I stared at him, a sense of dread washed over me.
He’s not bullshitting.
His entire demeanor and body language confirmed it. But how could that be?
“Oh my God! You’re serious?” I whispered.
He closed his eyes and sighed heavily before settling back in his chair. His anger faded away, and he leveled me with a sad, almost discouraged expression. He picked up a small, flat, black remote control that turned on the large, wall-mounted TV on the left wall. Seconds later, the camera footage outside an office building showed a tall and handsome man running up to one of the victims in the folder and attacking him. The man was clearly terrifying the victim for a few moments before shadowy tendrils started protruding from his back. The same way Zain had done with the Beast, the killer immobilized his victim with the tendrils then siphoned his life away, leaving a shriveled corpse on the floor.
I realized tears were rolling down my face only after Director Thomson ended the playback and extended me his box of Kleenex.
“I'm sorry that I'm forcing you to relive a traumatic experience,” Thomson said. “However, this is not a joke or a stunt. That monster is out there on the street killing people. The news has stated that there have been thirty-two victims so far. But the reality is that more than three times that number has been recorded.”
I lifted my hand to my throat and gaped at him incomplete shock.
“Nightmares used to be few and far between in the first decade of the Mist. But now, they're taking over our world. Every time the Mist ends, at least two or three new ones are born in our city,” Thomson said in a grim tone. “Your Zain is the most powerful Walker I’ve seen in my entire career. There is no question in my mind that he was planning on crossing over at the end of the current Mist. Creating a human body requires a tremendous amount of energy. If the Walkers don’t have high enough reserves before they initiate the shift, they die within hours.”
I recoiled, a horrified expression on my face. “Are you saying that Zain intends to cross over to become the next serial killer?”
He hesitated, which frightened me even more.
“There is no question that Zain is a Nightmare,” Thomson said carefully. “He has the potential to become a serial killer. However, after watching his interactions with you, I believe him to be