FORTY-THREE

Juliette wakes in a sterile white room, exhausted, scrubbed clean, and naked beneath a heavy sheet. She takes in the unfamiliar space and realizes that someone has treated her while she was unconscious, leaving her disoriented and anxious about where Adam, James, and Kenji are.

A sandy-blond man with glasses enters with a clipboard and begins asking routine questions to assess Juliette’s condition. Juliette keeps demanding answers, but the man insists on confirming that Juliette is medically and psychologically stable first. When Juliette admits she does not know her own eye color because she has barely seen herself in years, the man reacts with concern.

Juliette asks how anyone was able to clean and examine her without being harmed by her skin. The man explains that they used latex gloves and performed a superficial detox because Juliette had arrived covered in blood, dirt, and minor injuries. This reminder makes Juliette think of Warner, who also used gloves before discovering he could touch her, and Juliette becomes afraid that Warner survived and will keep hunting her.

The man explains that Juliette’s ruined clothes were destroyed for sanitary reasons and says the refuge has a special suit that should make Juliette’s life easier. He also reveals that Juliette attacked Kenji during her panic, confirming that Kenji is not immune to Juliette’s touch. Juliette is horrified, but the man calmly says they expected destructive reactions after what Juliette has endured.

Juliette asks again about Adam, and the man finally confirms that Adam is recovering and is okay. Kenji then enters the room, cautious but visibly healed and unharmed. Juliette apologizes for almost killing Kenji, and Kenji accepts in his usual joking, teasing manner, easing some of the tension.

The man interrupts Kenji’s banter and reminds Kenji that Kenji came for a reason. Kenji then tells Juliette that Castle wants to meet her, shifting Juliette from recovery toward an introduction to the person apparently in charge of the refuge.