Activate by Crystal Perkins Page B

everything’s built, I can assemble the program.”
    “How fast can we build it?”
    “Faster than a human, but probably not as fast as you’d like.” She tells me with a laugh.
    I want to remember. I know instinctively that’s it’s going to hurt, but I also know I don’t want to move forward without having my past with me.

Abigail
    I went to the party , and showed off, earning me a little bit of freedom. It’s during the day though, so I’ll have to make do. I take a circuitous route back to the bridge, ducking in and out of shops, museums, and anywhere else I could until I feel confident that I’ve lost my “companions.” I know it’s not for long, so I have to hurry.
    I look around, and see no one paying attention to me as I stand in the shadow of the bridge. I wade in a little and hurry underneath, keeping myself in the shadows, while knowing I’m not safe from exposure just yet. I press my hand to the bridge, and nearly scream in surprise when my hand slips inside the solid wall.
    Looking around once more, I slip my whole body inside, and stare in wonder at the room I find myself in. It’s full of things I know exactly what to do with, and as far as I can tell, no one else is here, or has been here in a long time. The way I came in tells me there’s no way the humans know it’s here, and I sink to the ground with the realization that I can relax for at least a short time.
    I need to build the control center, because it’s the only way to find the Muses, and the others. My mission is still front and center in my mind, and I have no desire to stray from it, even a little. The pressure I’m getting from the Creator is just too much right now, so I’m glad for this time alone, even with the punishment I’m going to receive.
    Doing this alone is going to take me at least a few days because sneaking out will be not only dangerous, but it will also be counterproductive. Once she knows why I did it, she might forgive me—or she might punish me harder. It’s a chance I’ll have to take.
    I stand up, and start assembling the pieces, not even having to think about it. I don’t think I’ve ever believed in instinct, but I can’t deny it exists when it’s working right now. Piece by piece, I work on this first part of the infrastructure, going hard until I can’t go anymore. I didn’t think we needed sleep, but after working for hours on end, my body simply collapses on me.
    I wake up hours later, and begin again. This is the pattern of my life for four days straight—working and sleeping. It’s all worth it when I step back and look at what I’ve built, what I’ve done ; on my own, with no help. It’s everything I needed, and just like with building it, I know how to use it to find the others. Not the Muses yet, but I can flip a few switches and know exactly where to find my siblings and the others. I’m not ready to go after all of them yet, but I will be soon. I just know it.

Hinton
    “ I ’m ready ,” I tell Jennifer, as she attaches some cords to my head.
    I’m a little freaked out when they seem to mold to my skin—right through my hair—but I try not to show it. She showed me how to help her build the device that keeps the Muses from my head, and now she’s about to give me my memories back.
    “It’s going to be hard,” she says, and I nod. “It’s going to hurt, too. Our brains are advanced, but shooting all that information in at once is still rough on us.”
    “I want to do this,” I assure her.
    “Okay. Here we go.”
    She steps away and presses some buttons on one of the control panels, but I feel nothing at first. And then…then I feel everything . Including a pain so intense I think my head might explode.
    I remember my parents, and how they always looked a little nervous and sad. I started doing whatever I could to make them laugh. I became the kid who made everyone laugh—that’s all I was known for. Now I know I’m so much more, but I’m still not