Harlowe stares Willa down for a moment, then laughs. “I’d appreciate if you’d wait for the question and answer portion of the event to make unsolicited comments. But sure, I’ll respond. This organization is the opposite of a ‘hate group.’ Like I said. We’re here to celebrate human freedoms. Like free speech. And the right to our own individuality.”

“At what cost?” Willa speaks up again, not backing down. “At whose expense? The Similars’? They graduate in two months. Let them finish their senior year in peace.”

There’s a rumbling in the audience. Apparently, a lot of kids agree.

Harlowe holds up a hand to silence the crowd. “I would love to do just that, Willa. But how can I, when they pose a threat to the very freedoms I just outlined?”

“How?” another student calls out, as someone else yells, “Lies! All lies!”

“I didn’t want to bring this up today…” Harlowe sighs, regaining everyone’s attention. “But you’ve left me no choice. I’m sure you all read my essay detailing the Similars’ super strength. What I didn’t know then, but I do now, is that the Similars’ abilities are more far-reaching than that. More inhuman, some might say.” Harlowe scans the crowd until her eyes land on me.

I feel my stomach churn. Is she going to call me out? Tell everyone about my mental abilities? What would they all think? I wouldn’t blame them for finding it strange—even fearing me—but they’d have to know, I’d never use it to hurt anyone.

I feel Pru grabbing my hand. I’m not sure if it’s a gesture of support, or a warning that I shouldn’t storm up there and give Harlowe a piece of my mind.

“You talk about the Similars like they aren’t human,” another kid says. I crane my neck to see that it’s a first year whose name I don’t know. “But they were created from the cells of a couple of humans, weren’t they? Or are you telling me that your good friend Madison Huxley isn’t human, either?”

The crowd erupts, either at the mention of Madison’s name or the fact that this kid has made a solid point. I see Jane slip into the back of the auditorium. I know it’s her Duplicate, and not really her, but still, her presence calms me.

Harlowe raises a hand, trying to silence the crowd. “If you let me speak, you’ll understand why I’m afraid the Similars’ abilities are so dangerous—and criminal. Some of them can do things no human should be able to. Like read the thoughts of another person.” Harlowe pauses for dramatic effect, letting that bombshell sink in for the crowd.