“I could go on and on and on,” she continued. “But you’d never fully be convinced. Neither would your friends. I’m a piece of code, Michael. Nothing more. No one understands the pain of that more than I do, trust me. I’m not sure I know how to completely gain your trust.”

“Sheesh, I didn’t mean to insult everybody,” Bryson said sheepishly, looking down at the floor.

Michael realized that he himself was trembling, emotion welling up in his chest. Bryson had made an excellent point, and they couldn’t afford to ignore its implications. But at some point, Michael had to let himself trust again. Something. Someone. And if he had a truth radar, it was pinging like never before.

“It’s you,” he whispered.

No one responded. Maybe they hadn’t heard him.

“It’s you,” he said louder.

And then he ran to her and hugged her before anyone could see the tears spill from his eyes.

CHAPTER 2

A CIRCLE OF HANDS

1

“It is me,” Helga whispered in his ear, patting him on the back. “I promise you. We’re going to get through the madness together.”

It had been a long time since Michael had felt anything like this—and it all crashed down on him at once. Happiness, sadness, nostalgia. He cried into his nanny’s shoulder as he remembered the parents he’d lost, the home he’d lost, the life he’d lost. He had his two best friends, but Helga was the only link to the world he’d known without them. And he’d been sure she was gone forever.

There were questions, yes. Concerns. But in that moment all he could feel was the sweet, burning warmth in his chest.

Finally, Helga gently took him by his shoulders and held him away from her. He was relieved to see that she had shed a tear or two as well.

“I might’ve convinced you,” she said through a weak smile, “but not them.” She nodded toward the others.

Totally embarrassed, Michael composed himself, wiped the tears from his cheeks. Then he turned to face his friends.

“It’s her,” he said with all the force he could muster after making such a scene. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I know it’s her.”

Surprisingly, it was Sarah who showed the most doubt. “Well, you’re going to have to figure out a way to explain it, Michael. We can’t just hand our lives over to this lady. What she did…stealing a body…it’s no better than what Kaine’s doing.”

The last word had barely come out of her mouth before the rest of the group erupted into chatter, talking on top of talking, until Michael shouted for them to shut up.