The Duplicates. My father and Jane, replaced.

I feel a new sense of dread now that the adrenaline of yesterday has worn off. The thought of both Ollie and my father, held prisoner on Castor Island. Or worse…

We’re a solemn bunch the rest of the day. I feel like there’s been a death. Multiple losses. The absence of the real Jane, and Ollie, and my dad—it’s too much.

At dinner that night, Pru tries to offer me some comfort. “I know you’re worried, Emma.”

“Worried? I’m not worried. I’m terrified. My best friend’s being held or tortured or worse. So’s my dad. If Gravelle kills them, I’ll have…” I’m about to say no one, but I don’t, because it’s not entirely true. I’ll still have Levi. At least, I think I will. I’ll still have Pru and the other Similars. But the prospect of losing my dad and Ollie and Jane in one fell swoop, it’s unthinkable. “Look, I don’t expect you to understand,” I say to my friends. “I know you care about your DNA dads, Ansel. And Jago, you never wanted your DNA parents to be replaced. But this is Ollie we’re talking about. And my dad. I know your childhood was lonely, but you had each other. I only had them. And Jane, she’s the closest thing to a mother I’ll ever get. So if something happens to her—”

I can’t help it; I start crying. “I’m sorry,” I tell Pru. “You lost your mom. And she’s not coming back.” I don’t say that to be cruel, but to let her know that I acknowledge her loss—and that it’s cavernous.

“It was devastating,” she admits. “And it sucks worse than anything. But that’s why I won’t let you lose your family, Em. Not your dad. Or Ollie. We’ll find them.”

But I’m not comforted.

The Rally

February passes into March, and although Jaeger keeps assuring us that the Quarry is keeping him and Bianca safe, I worry. With every day that passes, I dread that I’ll never see Ollie or my dad or Jane again.

Duplicate Jane has arrived to assume her headmistress role. Of course, no one at Darkwood is even remotely aware she’s a stand-in clone. But we know, and now there’s no chance that I’ll confide in her about what’s happened to Ollie. I pray that wherever they’ve taken Jane, whether it’s Castor Island or some other remote location, she’s with her son now. I feel guilty; if I’d told her about Ollie, maybe she could have saved herself. But I know it’s not fair to blame myself. How could I have known that Jane was Gravelle’s next target?