The Nightmare (The Mist #2) - Regine Abel Page 0,92

with a clanking sound and a hiss. I nearly fainted at the thought a Beast would come charging out of there, but it was Agent Tate’s tall silhouette that came walking out.

“Tate!” I said with a sigh of relief. “What the fuck is going on?”

But even as the words left my lips, a wave of unease washed over me. It took a second for my conscious mind to rationalize the red flags that my brain had picked up. Why was Tate still in the holding area at such a late hour? Why were the wires from the doors control panel all hanging out like the security system had been gutted? Why was he nonchalantly strolling out of there, tools still in hand, like he didn’t have a care in the world? Why was he smiling like that?

Zain’s brand on my chest began throbbing at the same instant I noticed the white smoke of the Mist slithering on the floor behind him before pouring into the hallway.

The base had been breached.

“Miss me?” Tate asked. A malicious grin stretched his lips, and dark, shadowy tendrils began swirling around him.

“Darryl,” I whispered with dread.

The sadistic expression that descended on his face confirmed I’d rightly guessed.

“We have a score to settle, you little cunt,” Darryl said, continuing his slow advance.

“I banish you!” I shouted. “You are not welcome in this base. I banish you!”

For a split second, I feared I didn’t have the authority, like it had been the case with Zain during our first encounter here. But Darryl hissed and flinched, taking a couple of steps back. Thankfully, this place had all but been my home for the past month. However, Darryl didn’t flee. With the Mist catching up, then passing him, it overrode my banishment. Wherever the Mist could enter, so could its dwellers. Darryl’s grin returned, and he resumed advancing towards me in that terrifying, casual pace of the stalkers in slasher movies.

He burst out laughing when I turned on my heels and started running. If not for the Mist’s slow advance, constraining him, there was no doubt in my mind Darryl would have given me chase.

I need to alert the agents!

But even as that thought crossed my mind, I realized it would be suicidal for them to confront Darryl without Zain. But Zain was in the Mist, and Merax and Letho were both still being born. If Darryl got to them…

The loud screech of a Beast resonated behind me, turning my blood to acid.

“What’s going on?” Riley called out as he saw me running towards him.

“Get back in!” I shouted while barreling down towards him.

At the same time, Agent Peters and Agent Richmond came running from the other end of the hallway which led to the cafeteria and the private quarters. Disheveled and still adjusting their clothes, they’d clearly been dragged out of bed.

“Darryl is inside!” I shouted to them, stopping right in front of the holding cell where the Nightmares were being born. “He let the Mist in! We need to lockdown the base!”

I looked over my shoulder just in time to see the first plumes of the Mist slithering on the floor, turning the L-shaped corner to flow into the main corridor I stood in. Peters cursed and gestured with his head for Richmond to get going. Without a word, Richmond turned around and headed back from whence they’d come. Peters rushed to me, his hand cradling his injured ribs.

His eyes widened when Agent Tate finally emerged in the corridor we were in. His steps faltered at the sight of the sadistic expression on the face of his long-time colleague and friend.

“It’s not Tate! It’s Darryl,” I said, my heart pounding into my throat.

Peters ran inside the room, and we shut the door behind us. Julia and Riley approached us with the same panicked expression on their faces. The agent tapped a few instructions on his phone, and the alarm went off. He then used his device to connect to the base’s intercom system.

“To all members of personnel, this is not a drill,” Peters said in an urgent but controlled voice. “The base has been breached. Darryl is inside, and the Mist is flooding the facility. Immediately initiate all lockdown measures. Do not, I repeat, do not let the Mist enter your secure sector. Remain confined until further notice. Be warned that Darryl has returned with the appearance of Agent Tate. I repeat: Darryl has taken the appearance of Agent Tate. Do not let him approach you. Do