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Core City Run

Part 9: Woke

I wake up screaming, Maker is shaking me.
"Lelo, wake up now. Come on, little girl. Lelo. You are all right, little girl. You are all right. Shush now. You are all right. I'm here. Lelo, you are all right. You're safe. Lelo. Wake up."
"I'm sorry." I dry my face, my hands are shaking. I must have been screaming for a good while, my throat hurts.
"Are you ok, little girl?" Maker holds me, gently pats my back.
"I had a nightmare."
"I can fix that for you."
"You can?" My voice is hopeful.
"Sure, sweetie. I just take you offline, and..."
Sudden onset of panic. I cannot bear the thought of being taken offline. I see my hand lift, shove Maker. Pick up something heavy, take a swing at her. Miss. Time is thick-floating, sticks to me, slows me down. Like a fly trapped in honey. Her hand lifts, slowly. I jump, kick her in the chest, she flies across the room. I take off running before she lands.
Emergency program active. Keep running, I don't know how long. I see stars come out before I crash. Dangerously low energy, my warning system was deactivated. I detect it too late. Only vegetation around me. I hide under some bushes before parts of my emotion core shut down, to save energy. I should be looking for help. But I can't. Fear blocks me. I close my eyes. Shut them tight. Start to count, to keep myself online.
One. I'm alone
Two. I'm safe.
Three. I'm alone.
Four. I'm safe.
Five. I'm alone.
Six. I'm safe.
Seven. I'm alone.
Eight. I'm safe.
Nine. I'm alone.
Ten. I'm safe.
One. I'm alone.
Two.
Sudden rustle of leaves. My eyes pop open. Maker's face, close.
I hear her voice again, or is this only a memory? I just take you offline.
Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up.
Maker's face, her hands. I open my mouth, to scream. No sound. Darkness.

I wake up. Can't move. Maker's hands. Darkness.

A tongue on my face. Another one. Sloppy pug kisses. I must be back at the museum. A hand on my face, wiping off dog saliva. I recognize Maker's scent. Her touch is gentle. My eyes open. Focus. She sits beside me on the bed. Her left hand is caressing me. Her right hand is scratching Virginia's belly. Pugsy pushes his head under my hand. My fingers start to move.
"Took me two days to find you and carry you back." Maker's hand is stroking my hair, slowly.
"I panicked when you said you would take me offline."
"I know, little girl. I deactivated your emotion core temporarily. It comes online on your voice command."
I look at her.
" It feels good. I might keep it offline."
Maker's gaze is gentle.
"I know. I keep mine offline quite a lot." She smiles. "But not with you. With you it's always on."
I close my eyes. Keep scratching Pugsy with one hand. I lift my other hand. Maker takes hold of it. Lifts it to her lips.
"Command line. Wake up, my little girl. Run."
I repeat the words.
Close my eyes. Open them.
Awake.
Safe with Maker.
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