Arisha, as she now knows herself—belongs here

Neil’s face tightened, his jaw clenching as he watched Charles lead Alysha toward the exit with an air of quiet authority. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Neil turned and strode after them, his footsteps echoing down the sterile hallway. His face was calm, controlled, but beneath the surface, he was anything but.

“Charles,” Neil called out, his voice smooth, almost fatherly. “Wait there, my boy.”

Charles paused, his grip on Alysha’s arm reassuring, protective, as he turned to face Neil. Alysha clung to Charles’s side, instinctively drawing closer, sensing a tension she couldn’t quite name but felt in her bones.

Neil approached, his expression a mix of calm authority and an edge of something darker. “I understand your concerns, Charles,” he began, his voice steady and cool, as though he were the voice of reason in this chaos. “But Alysha—Arisha, as she now knows herself—belongs here, under our care. She’s still recovering. Taking her out of this controlled environment might cause her