Tomorrow, she'd go back to Dante. Functional. Capable. Ready.
But today, one more test. One more push.
The girl woke at 6 AM. Automatic. Body clock set.
Atlas was already awake. Had been awake all night. Thinking about what was coming.
Isabella entered. Assessed the girl. "How do you feel?"
The girl looked at her. Then at Atlas. "Tired."
One word. But spoken. Conscious. Aware.
Progress.
"Good," Isabella said. "Awareness is returning. Piece by piece. That's what we want. Functional consciousness without overwhelming trauma."
She looked at Atlas. "She survived last night better than expected. More present afterward. More aware. That's progress." Isabella made notes. "Today will be harder. Thicker penetration. But if she maintains that level of presence, it will be more effective tha
