Two guards march over to Tessa and yank her by her ponytail to standing. I can tell it hurts her, but she only grimaces. “You are going to be sorry,” she snarls at Gravelle. Then she bites one of the guard’s hands. He yelps in pain. As punishment, the second guard ruthlessly jerks Tessa’s head back by her hair. I hear a crack in her neck, and she cries out. “She’s dying,” Tessa sobs. “Isn’t she?” The bitten guard holds a gun to her temple. “Is that it? Is she going to die?” Tessa rails at Gravelle.

“Yes and no,” says another voice. I pivot my gaze to the end of the hallway to see who’s approaching and pray it’s someone from the Quarry.

But it’s not.

I can finally see who’s joining us, though it takes me a second to place him, here on Pollux, out of context. I’ve only ever seen him in person that evening in the park, back when the Duplicates first came to campus.

It’s Albert Seymour. Ollie’s uncle. Gravelle’s half brother.

“What do you mean?” Tessa chokes, tears streaming down her face. “Yes and no?”

“I mean yes, the activation is fatal,” Seymour answers, his voice even-tempered, showing little emotion. “But no, she’s not going to die, because she is already dead. Guards, please take Theodora away. Her body is creating a distraction.” The guards hoist Theodora unceremoniously onto their shoulders. Tessa screams, and the other Similars hold back strangled cries for their—for our—friend. Theodora. Who only ever wanted to be loved by the Leroys. Who came to Darkwood in search of a life, a real identity, and who was shortchanged every step of the way. I bite back a sob. Ollie’s hand is on my shoulder. I feel it and the comfort it provides, but I don’t turn in his direction. This is all too much. If I look at his face, at the tenderness and shock written there, I will permanently crack.

Two guards drag a protesting Tessa away. Before they clear the door, Ansel delivers a kick to one guard’s head, and Pippa knees the second forcefully in the groin. The guards release Tessa long enough for Ansel to grab her arm and drag her, wailing, down the hallway, in the opposite direction of where the other guards are taking Theodora. Tessa’s cries can be heard the length of the corridor. It only takes a moment for one of the guards to right himself, closing in on Tessa and Ansel. Maude tackles him and wrestles for his gun.