Page 4 of Crossing Between

“How does this keep happening?” I dodged another pedestrian as I jogged toward the entrance to the police department.

I had woken up a few minutes before my alarm and had been running on time, until the bus broke down halfway there.

I managed to get a rideshare with a fellow passenger, but my wallet was now empty and weeping.

“Ah, Zoey. There you are.” Sheryl stood at the receptionist's desk as I skidded into the entryway. She didn’t even look fazed by my frazzled entrance.

“You’re on time.” She gestured for me to follow her and started walking down a different hallway than yesterday.

“You got your paperwork filled out?” She glanced back at me, pausing briefly to take in my battered face but continued forward after I nodded.

“Perfect. We’ll drop those off at HR, get your badge activated, and take your fingerprints and eye scan before I take you to your new office.

You’ll meet the teams you’ll be working with later this afternoon. ”

Sheryl led me into a large room packed with cubicles — so tightly packed I barely thought anyone could fit through. Thankfully, we walked along the edge of the room down another hallway. My hips would have brushed every poor soul sitting there if we hadn’t.

“HR is located in the far east wing of the building if you ever need to speak with them, which is where we are now.” Sheryl opened a door labeled Human Resources. “Do I need to be concerned about your face?”

Snorting, I paused. “You lasted longer than I thought before asking. I fell outside the building yesterday. I’m a klutz, not a victim of a crime. I had hoped my bright clothes would distract from my face.” I flashed a grin.

Sheryl nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Less paperwork. I do like your dress; it’s very colorful and distractive.”

I followed her into a wide open-concept room filled with a hum of typing and conversations. Sheryl brought us to an employee hunched over his computer with a bead of sweat on his forehead.

"Pap," Sheryl knocked on the desk, jolting the guy from his work. "I have our new Medium here. We need to turn in her paperwork and get her set up for clearance."

The man looked up, his eyes completely red with no irises. I took a half-step back instinctively. He was some kind of Fae, but I wasn’t sure what kind.

"Sheryl, it's always a pleasure when you drop by," he said with a hint of humor. "This makes number three for the year, if I'm not mistaken?" He gave me a small nod.

"I have a good feeling about this one, Pap." Sheryl sat down across from him and gestured for me to sit beside her.

"Alright, let's get this started. May I have your paperwork?" Pap held out his hand.

“Oh! Right.” I pulled the slightly crinkled packet from my book bag, inwardly wincing at the state of it.

Pap’s mouth twisted at the sight but he didn’t comment. "Alright, Zoey Halinger," he said, checking my name as he started spreading the papers out. "You filled everything out truthfully?" He waved his left hand over the papers, and his red eyes began to glow.

"Yes," I said quickly. Mostly. I really hoped the charm spell I bought from that black-market witch still held strong enough to hide my true nature. It was supposed to last another year.

Pap’s palm began to glow blue as he moved it over the forms. The papers disappeared under the light. He shifted the light toward his computer, which gave a loud beep. His eyes returned to normal.

"Alright." He clicked a few things on the screen. "You're in the system. Your benefits info will be mailed to you by the end of the week. It’ll go into effect next Monday." Pap opened a drawer, pulling out a large flat device and setting it out. "Please place your hands on this."

I did as asked. A sharp pain ran through my fingertips, and I yelped softly, trying to pull away — but my hands were stuck. Pap gave me a look, and I froze. A few seconds later, a beep sounded and my hands were freed. I stared at my palms, surprised there were no marks.

"We have your fingerprints now, and your badge is being activated. Last step: eye scan." He held up a smaller device with a rounded glass end.

I eyed it suspiciously. "Is it going to hurt?"

Sheryl coughed, hiding a laugh behind her hand. "Every time, Pap."

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 eating those things indoors?"

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 the smell to 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.