Late at night, the Kessler Villa.
Avery sat by the edge of the mattress, observing her daughter who was sleeping peacefully beneath the heavy duvet. The crushing wave of residual terror that had nearly suffocated her in the vehicle was now being forcefully suppressed deep within her chest.
The heavy door turned on its hinges. Dominic stepped into the room, followed closely by the family physician who carried a sleek, silver medical case.
"Execute a standard physiological and neural baseline assessment," the man commanded from the shadows, his voice a low, gravelly vibration.
Avery remained silent, retreating to the opposite side of the headboard. She watched as the physician retrieved a portable neuro-somnographic monitor from the casing.
"Dr. Clair," the physician spoke with quiet pr
