Hilsa took a step back as if the sight of the boy had physically pushed her. "Aa... A... Abel?"
'God, it was indeed her,' Abel thought. It was just as he had seen her in those numerous interviews, yet something in her eyes, something about the way she looked at him made it seem as though she was struggling to remember him.
Dr. Rotten's fears were confirmed. The girl was indeed beginning to regain some recollections of her old life.
Hilsa, too, seemed to gather herself from the sudden shock, realizing that perhaps she had revealed too much.
"That's enough, Hilsa," Dr. Rotten said, pushing the girl gently but firmly toward the open door.
As it closed behind her, he turned to face Abel with a smile.
"You see that? I suppose you've already seen the kind of success your girlfriend has achieved," the man remarked in a matter-of-fact tone, knowing full well that Abel was aware of it.
