Liam couldn’t help notice the shift in Clara’s demeanor. Though she was still visibly upset, the intensity had lessened slightly. Atlas continued to stand there, unmoving, his presence quietly asserting that he wasn’t the enemy. Clara didn’t make eye contact with Liam, but her earlier aggression softened.
The passengers around them watched in silence, many of them feeling a strange mix of sympathy and satisfaction. They had witnessed Clara’s hostility throughout the flight, but now, as she sat silently, staring at Atlas, they too realized a subtle shift had occurred. The tension began to fade slightly.