“We’re done being manipulated by you,” I say. “So tell us what the hell you want.”

Harlowe backs up, just out of my reach. “I want what I’ve always wanted. For this group to be run by people who actually deserve it. Me, and my friends. Legacies of this school, like the families in those photographs. Not some copies,” she spits. “So go ahead. Give me what’s rightfully mine.”

“And what is that?” Maude counters.

“Hand over leadership of the Nine and walk away.”

“Never,” Maude answers calmly. “And for the record, those images can’t hurt us. Do you think we don’t already know how we’ve been shunned by our DNA families? Do you think we ever go a day without a reminder that they’ll never love us, not the same way they love them?” She means the originals. Tessa, Madison, and Pru.

Pru. I nearly forgot about my emergency buzz to her, Jago, and Ansel. I glance down at my plum and see all the notifications from her that I’ve missed. There’s no time to update her now. I’ll have to fill her in later.

“Just admit that you don’t belong here,” Harlowe murmurs. “Admit that you have no business being leader of the Nine—”

I make a move to lunge at Harlowe… Before I reach her, I hear the Similars counting down from three. I turn to see my friends clench their fingers into fists, flex their arms, and strain against the handcuffs, ripping the chain of each cuff with a pop, so that each one separates from the chair it’s attached to, leaving a set of cuffs dangling from each of their arms. But they’re no longer bound. Their shackles hang like useless appendages from their wrists. They’re free.

I stop in my tracks, stunned. They’ve broken out of their handcuffs through sheer brute strength.

Even though I know about the Similars’ capabilities, even though I’ve seen them climb those trees, balancing precariously without a fear of falling, and hold their breath underwater, and I’ve witnessed Levi’s cut healing at warp speed… I’m still shocked. I’m not the only one. I hear Ivy take in a gasp of air. The look on her face is one of surprise and terror. Harlowe appears to be similarly rattled. And Graham is shaken, though he’s obviously trying not to show it, crossing his arms over his chest and assuming a casual stance.

Maude stands up, a swing in her step as she rubs her wrists together. Theodora and Pippa do the same. Then Pippa leans over and, in one swift motion, breaks Ollie’s cuffs for him. He thanks her, standing up—wobbly, but seemingly okay.

“What… How…” Ivy sputters.

“Oh, that?” Maude answers. “It’s something we can do. You know, after all that practice back on our island.”