A brown bob cut. Spark Biotech Company. Silas Norton...
Those fragments swirled through Calista's mind for quite a while, like trying to make out a picture through frosted glass. The outline was blurry and impossible to focus on, yet somehow familiar.
She was certain she had never seen Ashley Worth in person, at least not in this world, nor among the current residents of Rock Fortress or the prison.
Maybe she had been some minor character who appeared only briefly in the original storyline?
Or perhaps Calista had caught a glimpse of her much earlier, in some news report or document from before the apocalypse?
The more she thought about it, the less certain she became. In the end, Calista decided to set the lead aside for now. Her immediate priority was to move forward with what she could actually control.
She gave the research team clear instructions: focus their efforts on combining the existing biological pheromone data and develop a prototype of the "walker repellent" suitable for basic testing as soon as possible.
Once the urgent research matters were dealt with, Calista turned her attention back to managing the prisoners.
Both the patrol reports and Gwendolyn's daily updates showed that the group centered around Tara, Alisha, Pete, and Mitch had been unusually well-behaved lately.
The prisoners had even begun taking the initiative to find odd jobs within the areas of the quarantine zone they were allowed to access. They cleared clutter from their own living quarters, helped distribute meals, and generally cooperated with remarkable enthusiasm.
This change clearly was not passive obedience born from fear or pressure. It looked more like a deliberate effort to prove themselves.
Calista immediately thought of Tara.
She must have convinced Alisha in her own way, and even managed to influence Pete and Mitch.
And thinking of Tara naturally brought her sister Lilly, with her unusual condition, to mind.
Good kids deserved to be rewarded.
So Calista summoned Gwendolyn.
"Gwendolyn, Lilly Chamber's psychological evaluation showed some serious issues.
"Now that the prisoners have mostly settled down, and Tara and the others are showing signs that they genuinely want to cooperate, I think it's time to fulfill part of my promise."
Gwendolyn nodded in understanding. "You want me to begin working with her?"
"Yes. Provide psychological support in your professional capacity.
"No coercion, no restrictions. The first priority is establishing a sense of safety and trust.
"Do it somewhere near the prisoner barracks in the industrial park. Pick a place with a decent environment."
Calista paused.
"This is also a positive response to Tara's efforts to integrate. I want them to see that rules and promises mean something at Rock Fortress."
"I understand." Gwendolyn nodded. As an experienced mental health professional, she knew exactly what to do. "I'll take a gentle approach. I'll start by keeping her company and observing her."
...
The following afternoon, Gwendolyn arrived at the quarantine zone accompanied by a member of the Defense Force.
She wore a plain knitted cardigan and carried a simple clipboard, along with a small thermos of warm water and two cups. She looked more like a visiting social worker than anything else.
"Tara," Gwendolyn said gently, "I'm here to see your sister, Lilly.
"We've prepared a quieter room and would like to invite her over to sit for a while and have some water.
"You can come with her if that would make both of you feel more comfortable."
Tara's eyes immediately lit up. She shot to her feet, so excited she hardly knew what to do with herself.
"R-Really? Right now?"
She glanced back at Lilly, who was still curled up on her bunk, then looked at Gwendolyn again, uncertainty creeping into her expression.
"Lilly... she might not want to talk. She..."
"That's okay." Gwendolyn smiled. "We're just going somewhere else to sit for a while. She doesn't have to talk if she doesn't want to. You'll stay with her, okay?"
Tara nodded vigorously and hurried over to help Lilly up.
Lilly let Tara move her without resistance. Her eyes were vacant, and she seemed completely unresponsive to the conversation around her.
Alisha looked over with concern. Tara mouthed, "It's okay. It's a good thing," then carefully supported her sister as she followed Gwendolyn and the guard out of the prisoner barracks.
They passed through several doors before arriving at a small room that had been partitioned off beside the medical wing.
The room was not large, but it had a small barred window that let in some daylight. The furnishings were extremely simple: a chair, a small coffee table, and a basic bed in the corner for resting.
Tara helped Lilly into the chair, then stood beside her, looking around with a mixture of caution and curiosity.
Gwendolyn placed the thermos and cups on the coffee table before sitting in another chair across from them, leaving enough distance that Lilly would not feel pressured.
"It's quiet here. There's no one else around," she first told Tara, then turned her gentle gaze toward Lilly. "Lilly, I'm Gwendolyn. You're safe here. You can relax."
Lilly did not react.
Her gaze remained lowered to the hands folded in her lap, her fingers unconsciously picking at the skin around her nails.
Gwendolyn was in no hurry. She simply sat quietly for a while, observing Lilly.
Then, in a calm and even voice, she began talking about ordinary things. The weather that day, whether the room felt warm enough.
She did not ask Lilly to respond.
Tara was tense at first, but as she saw how patient Gwendolyn was and realized she had no intention of forcing her sister to do anything, she gradually relaxed as well. She crouched beside Lilly's chair.
Only after about twenty minutes did Gwendolyn gently steer the conversation toward something a little more personal.
"Sometimes the body remembers things even when the mind wants to forget."
She spoke slowly, looking toward Lilly's face without staring at her.
"Those memories can come out in other ways.
"Maybe you have trouble sleeping. Maybe certain sounds bother you more than they should. Or maybe... it feels like there's a thick pane of glass between you and everything around you."
Lilly's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Her fingers stopped picking at her nails for just a moment.
Gwendolyn noticed but did not point it out. She simply continued in the same steady tone.
"Here, on this side of that glass, you're safe for now.
"No one is going to hurt you. Your sister Tara is very brave. She's been protecting you this whole time."
Tara felt her nose sting and reached out to hold Lilly's hand.
Lilly's fingers curled ever so slightly against Tara's palm.
The movement was tiny, almost imperceptible, but both Tara and Gwendolyn felt it clearly.
No miracle happened during that first session.
Lilly did not say a single word from beginning to end, nor did she ever raise her head.
But when Tara helped her out of the quiet little room and they walked back toward the barracks, Tara sensed something different.
The weight of her sister leaning against her felt just slightly different than before.
Lilly was beginning to rely on her.
"It feels like Lilly... maybe knows, just a little, that we're trying to help her?"
As soon as they returned to the barracks, Tara eagerly told Alisha. Her eyes were wet with tears, but this time they were tears of happiness.
"Gwendolyn is really nice. Commander Calista really did keep her promise..."
Alisha wrapped an arm around Tara's shoulders, feeling relieved as well.
...
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