Activate (12 page)

T
his time
, they take our weapons before we get on the plane, instead of ignoring them. I understand, but I have to fight the urge to tell them to relinquish their weapons, too. I know that’s not going to happen, but a girl can dream. I have combat skills, but now they have the weapons that can kill me, and that doesn’t feel okay.

“I don’t like this,” Alejandra tells me, sitting next down next to me as we prepare to take off.

“Me either. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s weird that they didn’t send you back down under.”

“It’s not just you. The PM’s on here with us, and I don’t sense anything dangerous from any of them, but something’s still not right.”

“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“If it’s bad, we’re going to have to fight.”

“After what we just went through, do you really think that will be a problem?”

“No. I just thought I’d remind you.”

The flight is uneventful. Levi is in the bedroom at the back of the plane with the scientists and Hinton. My brother refused to leave his friend’s side, and they let him in because he’s got the closest DNA to Levi, so they may need him. I sleep, because I don’t want to be social, and I have to admit I wake up feeling a little more refreshed.

The mood is still somber, and the air laced with tension as we file back into the building none of us thought we’d ever enter again. Levi is immediately whisked into one of the hospital bays we saw, but never used when we were here before. Hinton tries to go with him, but the President asks him to stay with us.

Sabrina willingly walks to another medical bay, flanked by military men who could do nothing to stop her if she goes into killer mode again. I don’t think she will, but then again, I never expected it the first time. She’s strapped down, and the scientists are already prodding her as the doors close shut, leaving us in the main room once again.

“This is probably the one room that will fit all of us, so please grab a seat and we’ll get started,” the President tells us.

We all listen, because while we may not be fully human, he’s still a leader we inherently want to please. I don’t know if that’s something they built into our DNA, too, but does it really matter at this point?

“Why are we all here, and not split up?” Jennifer asks.

“Let me start by saying that none of us knew what you were truly created for until it was too late. The groups from China and Russia had fallen already. Those countries aren’t represented here tonight, but we have their full backing in anything and everything you choose to do. No one wants this to become an international media incident.”

“You didn’t mention London in what you just said,” Coalton tells him.

The three men look at one another, and the Prime Ministers nod, telling the President to continue. “We knew by then, and we thought we could stop it, but we were too late. In Australia, we helped the five, even though they didn’t know it. With you five here, we…we used you. I’m sorry to admit it, but I can’t apologize. We knew you were the only ones who could put a stop to all of this.”

“Activating the killers was planned. Great,” Alejandra says sarcastically.

“We knew there was no other way to eliminate the ‘Creators’ and the aliens at once. While investigating and studying, the conclusion we kept coming to was that both sides were unwilling to live in peace. There was no way we could let a full-blown war commence.”

“You let a few die to save the many,” Lauren says. “I understand it, but it still sucks.”

“It does. None of us will deny that, but I can tell you we’d do it again. Knowing there were those with DNA that could be activated a second time, and turn them into soldiers with no conscience…we couldn’t let them go out into the world.

“All of you can be re-integrated back into your old lives, because we’ve taken care of anyone who might have been a threat to you. The Creators, the scientists, everyone—they’re no longer breathing.”

“What about Sabrina?” Hinton asks.

“That remains to be seen. She stopped herself from killing you, but we’re pretty sure the mental output it took Levi to get into her mind is what almost killed him. If he hadn’t been able to reach her, she would’ve killed you all. We can’t just pretend that’s not the case, because we don’t know if she’s really back to who she was before they did whatever they did to her.”

“You have to give her a chance. It tore her up when she realized what she’d done,” Lauren tells him.

“We’ll see. Right now we need to talk about the rest of you.”

I
don’t know
if I want to go back to my old life, if that’s what they’re offering me. Now that I remember what I was like, I’m not so sure I like that guy. Could I go back and be the “new” me, even though no one would expect it? Does it matter if they expect it, or not? I just don’t know.

The President seems to know exactly how I’m feeling. “We believe it’s safe to send you back to your parents, if that’s what you want. You are obviously not the same as you were, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You have never had a chance to choose who you really want to be, and now you can.”

“What if we don’t want to go back? I’m not saying I don’t; I’d just like to know all my options,” Michaela tells him.

“Of course. If you choose not to go back, you can work with any of the five governments, or you can just disappear. We’ll help you start a new life, although honestly, I don’t think any of you would need our help with that.”

“Could we still see our families if we choose to work with you?” I ask. My mother was already taken from me, and I don’t want my father to lose me, too.

“Of course,” he says, and then looks at the Australians. “I promise you we tried to save your families. We have families here, and in Australia who are willing to take you in.”

“England as well,” the Prime Minister of that country tells them.

“Can we take some time to decide?” Jennifer asks.

“There’s no rush. We’d like you to stay here until you decide, but you will be made as comfortable as possible while you’re here.”

“Do you think you can wake Levi up?” I ask, needing to know. We bonded for those few days we were together, and I don’t want him to die.

“The initial reports are that he seems to be slowly coming back. Rest helps all of you, and being able to rest his brain is apparently repairing it.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. For me, for him, and yeah, for Sabrina. I don’t think she’s faking how freaked out she is over what happened, and I don’t think she’d survive if he died. I want to ask what’s going to happen to her, but I’m not sure I can handle knowing. Having human emotions is hella hard, but I wouldn’t want to be like the Muses, either.

“Is there someplace we can go to be alone? I mean, really alone with no cameras or listening devices?” Alejandra asks. “I’d like to talk to everyone about what we’re going to do.”

“Yes. We can clear a room for you,” the President tells her.

The three men walk into the Creator’s old office, but none of us speak. They’re saying some nice things, but I don’t think any of us really trusts them completely. We’re just not built that way. Nurture can only go so far when nature is so strong.

A few minutes later, the men come back out, letting us know we can go into one of the small conference rooms. I can feel their eyes on us as we file in. I know they’re anxious to hear if any of us wants to work with them, but I appreciate them letting us decide for ourselves. Now, we just need to make those decisions.

I
don’t know
what’s going on with my friends, but that’s not what concerns me right now. Levi is the only one on my mind as I’m poked, prodded, and monitored by the team of scientists in the room with me. I almost killed him. I love him, and yet I hurt him. I would’ve hurt—killed—them all if he hadn’t got into my head. Knowing he did it for me, as well as all of them, just makes me feel even worse.

“How are you feeling, Sabrina?” one of the scientists asks me. I think he’s in charge of all of them, but since no one has talked to me until now, I can’t be sure of anything.

I don’t really know how to answer that, but I try. “I feel like the me I was before I literally lost my mind.”

“Do you honestly believe you’re no longer a threat to anyone?” the President of the United States asks, leaning against the door to my room.

Maybe. “I hope so.”

“But you’re not sure.”

“How can I be? I never thought I’d do what I did. I never
wanted
to do it, and then I hurt them. What if I do it again?”

“I think that’s highly unlikely,” the scientist tells him. “From the samples we’ve taken, and the monitoring we’ve been doing, it appears she’s in complete control of herself now.”

“The others are deciding what they want to do. We’ve given them the option to resume their ‘normal’ teenage lives, work for us, or disappear. What would you like to do, Sabrina?”

It’s hard to say out loud, but I know it’s the truth. “I want to see Levi, and make sure he’s going to be okay, and then I want to disappear.”

“You’re sure?”

“I am.” It’s breaking my heart, but I know it’s the only way. I can’t take the chance that there’s still some part of the Muses left inside of me. I just can’t.

He nods. “Very well. Unhook her, and we’ll go visit the boy.”

They do as he tells them, and he walks over to help me to my feet. He’s not scared of me—or at least he’s pretending not to be—and that makes me feel good. “Thank you,” I tell him as we walk across the large main room together.

“I think you’re making the wrong choice, but it’s your choice to make.”

“I don’t think it’s wrong to want to protect all of them.”

“I agree with the guy back there. You’re not a threat to them.”

“No one can know that for sure.”

“Just like no one can know if they’ll be hit by a bus tomorrow, or have the plane they’re in crash. Living your life afraid of what
could
happen is not living at all.”

I don’t answer him, because I’m not going to change my mind. Especially not when I walk into Levi’s room, and see him lying there with his eyes still closed. My tears come again as I watch the doctors and scientists moving around him. Without even thinking about it, I’m at his bedside, taking his hand in mine.

“I’m so sorry, Levi. Please wake up. I promise to never hurt you again. I’m…I’m leaving so you and the others will be safe. They need you, so you have to wake up. I love you.”

I squeeze his hand, and let it go. The President puts his arm around my shoulder as we leave the room. I know I’m doing the right thing, but I also feel like I’m shattering inside as my heart breaks in two.

I
chose school
, and my family. I’m not the same girl I was—the leather jacket and wild hair let everyone know that when I came back—but I like to think I’m better. It’s been two weeks now, and they’re getting used to me around here; although, I still get a few nervous looks here and there. I’m not a good girl gone bad. I’m just a good girl gone
me
.

I still raise my hand to answer questions. Although, I have to hold myself back since I know the answer to
every
question anyone could possibly ask now. Well, almost every question. I don’t know where Sabrina is. I think her parents know, but they won’t say, no matter how many times Levi goes to their house and begs them.

He’s made a full recovery, at least physically. Emotionally, he’s broken-hearted, and despite all the girls here trying to mend his heart for him, he only wants one girl. If I could help him find her, I would, but I have no clue where to look.

As for me, I’ve started dating a little. It’s funny how guys suddenly notice me now, but I remember how they used to make fun of me, so I ignore most of them. There was nothing wrong with the “old” me, and I’m not interested in being with someone who thought there was, even though they think I will. Seriously, they actually
tell
me how boring I was before, like it’s going to make me want them. Idiots.

Alejandra is living with me and my parents now, and she’s acclimating pretty well. Having the ability to sense people’s moods is probably helping with that, but she’s a likeable girl even without it.

“Hey, Michaela,” one of the cheerleaders says to me.

“Hi,” I say back, but keep walking.

No one here knows I killed Abigail. The story being circulated is that she ran off with a guy she met online, and he killed her. I can’t fault them for using her death that way, especially when it means I don’t have to answer any questions about my involvement.

“You okay?” Hinton asks, bumping my shoulder as he falls into step next to me.

“Yeah, why?”

“You looked lost in thought.”

“I’m known for thinking, you know.”

“And
you
know, I don’t stereotype.” None of us do anymore. Not after what we’ve seen and done.

“I was just thinking about everything.”

“I know it’s hard, but you have to try not to. If we dwell on it all the time, we’re never going to be able to move on.”

“You should tell Levi that.”

“I have, trust me. His situation is a little different than ours, though. He loves Sabrina, and he knows she left to protect him.”

“And us. She left for us, too.”

“Yeah. I know.”

I
know better
than anyone what’s going on with Sabrina, because I’ve been in her head. Since I asked if I could both come back to school,
and
work for the government, I’m in the unique situation of getting to test the limits of my powers. I haven’t tried to communicate with her yet, but I know what she’s feeling and thinking. It’s all guilt, and pain.

I can’t tell anyone this, especially Levi, but soon I’m going to reach out and tell her she needs to come back. I don’t need to be in his head to know that he won’t survive without her. Whatever that bond is they formed, it’s stronger than just some teenage romance—they truly need each other.

“We have to get her back,” Michaela says.

“Who? Sabrina?” Jennifer asks, walking up behind us.

“Yes,” I tell her.

She’s moved in with Coalton’s dad, and is working part-time at the mall. It’s crazy weird to see her fitting in like she’s always been a part of this town, but it pretending to be a typical American teen works for her.

And honestly, Coalton’s dad looks pretty happy when I see him around town. I think it makes him feel good to know he’s helping someone. Now that we all know the Creator had his mom killed, we understand his dad’s behavior and bitterness.

Our parents felt both relief, and guilt, when we came back. I assured mine that I didn’t blame them for how I was born, but they still keep apologizing several times a day. One day, I hope they realize I’m grateful for having people who care about me, when I could’ve ended up with a couple who just wanted the money. I know without a doubt that I’ve always been loved, and I love them, too.

“Lauren hasn’t had any contact with her, and they were the closest,” Michaela says, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“I know that, too, but we have to try.”

“I wish she was here,” Jennifer says, meaning Lauren. She chose to go back to Australia and work with the Prime Minister. He’s letting her do oceanic research, and she’s loving every minute of it.

“At least we can FaceTime with her, and talk to her online.”

“Lauren?” Levi asks, joining us. “Did you talk to her today?”

“No,” Jennifer answers, not wanting to say anymore.

“Did I interrupt something?”

“We were just talking,” I tell him, hedging as well.

I see his face change when he gets it. “About Sabrina.”

“We’re going to find her,” Michaela tells him.

“She doesn’t want to be found, especially by me.”

There’s a hint of bitterness in his voice, and that needs to go. “Don’t. If the tables were turned, and you’d almost killed her, you would’ve run, too.”

“I know I would’ve. That’s why this is so hard—I understand why she went, and I want to make her realize it’s okay. I don’t blame her for what she did. Hell, I was inside her head so I know how hard she was fighting against them.”

“Like I said, we’ll find her, and then you can tell her,” Michaela says.

No. They won’t find her, but I will. I need some help, but I’m going to do it. With any luck, I’ll still be alive when it’s all over with. If not, well…I can’t think about that now.