Page 33 of (Mostly) Human Resources

“Pardon?” Nic frowned, and the expression had Silas nodding in agreement.

“A nasty business, borrowed magic. It always comes with a price, which of course was precisely the lesson the Marrow Witch had to learn.” Silas rose to his feet then, and Nic found himself doing the same. “She created life, created a monster, and that was not within the bounds of her magic. It twisted and altered her intentions until it birthed a creature trapped endlessly in stages of death and decay. Never able to live, but never able to die. A grotesque reminder that she had broken the rules.”

That’s when it clicked.

“The Hollow Walker,” Nic stated.

Silas nodded again. His smile was almost gleeful.

A creeping dread came over Nic. It was, he had to admit, a spooky origin story, but even if he wanted to entertain Silas’s theory, Nic had never heard of immortal monsters born of magic. If one existed, it was something Entity, and Nic, would be aware of.

Right?

“Let’s say your story is true,” Nic started, trailing behind Silas who was making his way toward the exit, “why didn’t the Marrow Witch kill the creature when she realized what it would become?”

“Because it’s useful,” Silas said, stopping to face him. He loosed a dramatic sigh. “Besides, killing it was beyond her abilities. Even cruel magic has laws.”

Nic wasn’t expecting that. If nothing else, it was good fodder for the campfire. “So, it just lives in the mountains, eating people and slowly dying, forever?”

“Something like that,” Silas mused.

“That’s beyond cruel.”

Silas’s smile stretched wider, and he looked, for a moment, like he had too many teeth. “Yes, very cruel, and terrible, and delightfully vengeful.” Nic wasn’t fully listening to him, his gears were spinning.

“So that ties into the cult activity then, explains why it’s such a hotbed in Mercyhill?” When Silas didn’t offer an answer, merely the curious lift of a brow, Nic said, “I’ve read the reports. Activity peaked along the Appalachian Trail during the Sixties and Seventies. Locals say there’s still cult activity in the region.”

“There isn’t.” Silas said it matter-of-factly. Like he was an eyewitness who knew much better than any of these reports did. “Foolish stories told to children to keep them out of the woods after dark.”

Nic didn’t believe him, and something about the man’s body language told him he knew Nic didn’t believe him, but didn’t care. That Silas enjoyed causing discord even within Nic’s own thoughts.

“I would love to stay and tell you all the stories that these mountains and hollows have forgotten, but I’m afraid we’re out of time.” Silas looked at his watch, shiny and gold. “I have a meeting to get to, andyouhave a coworker to find.”

Nic blinked, then blinked again, then realized he still hadn’t seen Alexys return. He looked down at his own wristwatch and cursed.

“Don’t worry,” Silas said. He buttoned the jacket of his suit and adjusted the sleeves until they sat perfectly against his wrists. “She won’t get into too much trouble before you find her.”

Nic frowned, but Silas waved him off.

Nic waited ten more minutes in the lobby for Alexys before he returned to the room. When he discovered Alexys’s belongings were gone, Silas’s words coalesced in his mind.

Lovely. Just. Lovely.

Nic had been abandoned.

Part of him was outraged, but he was also incredibly impressed. Alexys had pulled the wool over his eyes, and he hadn’t suspected a thing. He had to hand it to her, he didn’t think she had it in her, but her message was clear:go home.

Unfortunately for her, Nic couldn’t.

Not only was he increasingly confident he’d find proof of the Hollow Walker, he now hadtwopeople to save. Elliot was one thing, but Alexys? She wasn’t cut out for the field, and she surely wouldn’t stand up against the Hollow Walker should she somehow manage to find it on her own.

Nic grabbed his things and headed downstairs where the cab he’d called was waiting. Fortunately, the rental was in his name, so he’d be able to catch up to her quickly. And then, Nic would carry on with his research.

He was closer to a discovery than he’d ever been before, and he wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass him by.

CHAPTER 19

“Our company’s vision has always been to bring safety and security to our world in the wake of a supernatural surge, and today, we stand as a beacon of progress in our industry. By taking on the responsibility of managing and mitigating the impact of these creatures, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the communities we serve.”