Elena's Call

Your phone vibrates on the mahogany desk next to a glass of neat bourbon. The caller ID reads: Elena Vance.

When you pick up, the first thing you notice isn't what she says, but her breathing. It’s slightly too fast, a shallow, rhythmic sound that indicates her heart rate is elevated. The "Simmer" is working; her subconscious is vibrating against the walls of the reality you built for her.

"Julian? It’s Elena," she says. Her voice is clear, but there’s a slight tremor in it, a breathless quality as if she’s just finished a light jog. "I hope I’m not calling too late. I just... David and I were talking about tomorrow, and we’re both so excited. I wanted to make sure 10:00 AM still worked for you?"

"Perfectly, Elena," you respond, your voice the epitome of professional warmth. You lean back, watching the "Emergency Backup" video on your monitor—the footage of her on her knees—muted and flickering in the dark room. "I’ve cleared the whole morning for you two. This project is very important to me."

"Good. Good," she says. There is a long pause on the line. You can hear the faint sound of a television in the background of her home, but her focus is clearly elsewhere. "Julian? I... I looked at those photos you gave me again. On the drive."

"And?"

"They're... they're amazing. David loves them. But I keep looking at them and I feel like I... I don't remember being that happy. It’s like you captured something I didn't even know was there." She lets out a nervous, airy laugh. "I feel like I need to get back into that light just to remember how to feel that way again. Does that make sense?"

It makes perfect sense. The "Anchor" is pulling her. She isn't craving Marcus; she’s craving the state the Aletheia-7 puts her in. She’s craving the violet light.

"That’s the power of a good session, Elena," you say smoothly. "It brings out the truths we hide from ourselves. Tomorrow will be even better. With David there, we’ll be able to capture the full picture."

"Right. David," she says, her tone flattening slightly before she catches herself. "Yes. He’s looking forward to meeting you. He wants to thank you in person."

"I look forward to it. Tell him to wear something comfortable but classic. I want the focus on the connection between the two of you."

"We will. See you tomorrow, Julian."

"Goodnight, Elena."

As you hang up, you see Marcus walk into the studio from the back. He sees the look on your face.

"She's ready?" he asks.

"She's more than ready," you reply, picking up the Aletheia-7 and checking the battery level. "She's practically begging for it. And tomorrow, we get to see if the husband is as receptive as the wife."