Now, there’s another one. A third, and I was just talking to him. Sitting next to him, on my bed, thinking everything was normal. I was trying to have a heart-to-heart with him, for God’s sake. Only it wasn’t my best friend. It was his copy.

But he’s so clever, I remind myself. He seemed so real. So exactly like Ollie. Those Duplicates who came to campus at the beginning of the school year—the Tessa, Jake, and Archer copies—they were reckless and immature. Barely able to stand in for their originals convincingly at all.

This Ollie, except for his strange behavior around 4:00 p.m., didn’t act like those others. He was smart. Thoughtful. He had Ollie’s mannerisms, knew his sense of humor, was able to reference our shared history. If he hadn’t run out of my room twice in two days, and if I hadn’t been able to read his thoughts, I never would have known.

It was only during those five minutes today when he didn’t seem like himself. When he was turned off, or on, or whatever it was that allowed him to communicate with Gravelle. That’s what he was doing, isn’t it? He said he was “sending this message to Pollux.” Which can only mean one thing. He was contacting the Similars’ guardian.

I feel light-headed, like the world is tilting sideways. That isn’t Ollie back there. That isn’t my best friend. It’s a fake, an imposter. Someone pretending to be Ollie.

But was he pretending? Those other Duplicates, immature as they were, really believed they were Tessa, Archer, and Jake.

This Ollie did too. In his mind, he was Oliver Ward. Still is.

The thought sends a wave of nausea through my body.

How long has this Duplicate been standing in for my best friend?

I can’t stay here a minute longer. I have to do something. I have to tell someone.

I begin running, letting the cold January wind ravage my face as I race back to Cypress, my mind whirling with questions. With fears.

He said the word “installation.” He said it “went off without a hitch.” That must mean it happened recently. I rack my brain, thinking. How did Gravelle do this? When did Gravelle do this?