“But that’s not possible,” Harlowe whispers. “Those chains were metal.”

Now I notice Sophie and Willa, the other two junior members of the Nine, standing in the doorway. They saw it too.

“You might as well give us the keys to the cuffs.” Maude looks Harlowe directly in the eye, holding her gaze steady. “It’s not like you can use these again, anyway.” Harlowe mumbles something unintelligible, reaches in her pocket, and thrusts a key chain at Maude, who swiftly undoes her own cuffs, then the others’.

Harlowe has lowered the knife and holds it defensively at her side, obviously thinking better of threatening us with it. Her hand shakes, though I’m sure she hopes I don’t notice.

I realize it then. With that display of their strength, Maude, Theodora, and Pippa revealed how strong they really are. How strong all the Similars are. No one knew about their abilities—not the student body, anyway. And now they will. If they want to, Ivy, Harlowe, and Graham can easily take this new information and use it against the Similars. My stomach roils thinking of all the ways how. Making them seem inhuman. Stirring up panic and fear…

“You okay, Em?” asks a voice next to me. It’s Ollie, rubbing his wrists, looking for the most part like himself. Thank God.

“I’m the one who should be asking you that question, you big dope,” I answer, feeling tears pooling in my eyes. I can’t believe they drugged him too, and brought him into this. Because of me. Ollie’s not even in the Nine, and he still got hazed… I try not to let myself think about the eight-foot picture he just saw, of me and Levi. If I do, I’ll lose it.

“Since we’re all here…” Maude’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “We might as well hold the first midnight session of the school year.”

“That’s my cue,” Ollie whispers, giving me a quick hug.

“You’re going?” I feel my heart racing. I don’t want him to leave.

“I don’t think I should stay. Not in the group.”

“But you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I mean this whole night was pretty messed up, wasn’t it?”

“Understatement of the year, but yes,” I whisper back to him. “You’re sure you’re all right? Nothing feels weird, or off, or—”

“Besides being thoroughly freaked, I’m fine,” he assures me. “You?”

I nod. “I might take that knife and skewer someone with it. And by someone, I mean Harlowe. But yeah, I’m okay.” Ollie starts to leave, but I stop him. “Wait. Pru,” I say quickly, remembering. “She’s probably waiting up for us. Worried. Can you…”