Dr. Sandra Okafor arrived forty minutes later. She was Meera’s primary neurologist, a woman of sharp intellect and even sharper demeanor. She watched the video three times, asked detailed questions about the timing and frequency, and then examined Meera thoroughly. She checked her pupillary response, her reflexes, her brain activity monitor.

Everything showed no change.

Dr. Okafor looked at me with that careful, practiced expression doctors use when they are about to crush your hope.

“Mr. Castiano, what you’ve captured is interesting, but not necessarily indicative of high-level consciousness. The brain stem can trigger complex involuntary movements. The pattern you’re interpreting as Morse code could be coincidental firing of motor neurons.”

“Coincidental?” I snapped. “She spelled ‘Help me escape.’ That’s not random firing, Doctor. That’s a sentence.”

Dr. Okafor hesitated. “We can run additional tests. An EEG, an fMRI. See if there is any indication of conscious thought. But I strongly suggest you manage your expectations.”

The tests were scheduled for the following week.