Two Days
The second trial began an hour later, and this time Ariana didn't bother with the pretense of casual conversation first.
"Higher dose," she said, laying out three vials on the desk in ascending shades of yellow. "Same protocol as yesterday. I monitor, you report, anything feels wrong we stop. No negotiating the threshold once we're inside it."
"Understood."
"I mean it, Aaron. Two days doesn't mean two days of cutting corners to rush results. It means two days of doing this properly, just without the luxury of taking it slow." She selected the middle vial, drawing the dose with the same careful precision as before. "If anything, I need you more honest about what you're feeling, not less, since we have less room to course-correct."
Aaron nodded and offered his arm.
