The Similars (The Similars #1)(51)

“Welcome to the fifth midnight session of the school year,” says Madison. I tune out her voice as I stare at Levi’s arm that was bleeding only thirty minutes ago. I want there to be some explanation that doesn’t scare the living daylights out of me, but I can’t find it. My heart pounds, urging me to do something, anything. After all, the Similars are plotting to hurt the originals’ families. Levi practically admitted it. How far will they go to get what they want?

There’s a rapping at the door. We all watch as Madison walks over and opens it with her key. Tessa stands in the threshold. She looks thinner than ever, no doubt from skipping a few meals to avoid the dining hall.

“What did I miss?” she asks, breezing past Madison and taking a seat.

“I was about to tell the group there’s good news,” Madison announces. She turns to us, beaming. “My mother’s been helping the National Anti-Cloning Commission push through new legislation. It’ll go into effect this month.”

“What kind of legislation?” I ask, my voice dull as I sneak a look at Pippa. She tenses. So do the other Similars, try as they might to appear calm.

“Good question, Emma. Too bad you weren’t at the latest DAAM meeting or you’d already know.”

I stare at Madison. I may not be the Similars’ biggest advocate after what I’ve learned tonight, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let her steamroll me—or them.

“Clones will be required to obtain special visas to enter this country,” Tessa declares, sounding pleased to deliver this news. I look over at her, puzzled as to how she can feel so little empathy after what happened to her father. “And parents who smuggle into the U.S. a child who’s been produced via cloning technology—even a fetus in utero—may face fines or prison time.”

“That will never happen,” I say.

Madison shrugs. “Most people agree that clones pose a threat to America’s core values. They’re all dangerous.”

“That’s an incredibly broad generalization! And you’re wrong. Most people do not think that way. I don’t. I know they aren’t dangerous—”

“Are you sure about that?” Madison presses.

I’m not. Not after tonight. In spite of wanting to believe the Similars are well-meaning, I can’t ignore that they have come to Darkwood with an agenda. They are hiding things from us and from their DNA families. But why should that be reflective of all clones?

“Why do you hate them so much?” I ask, ignoring the voice in my head that tells me Madison might be right to be suspicious of our newest classmates. All kinds of people scheme. Look at Madison. And she has no excuse to be so cruel. She had everything she could have wanted growing up. Loving parents. Friends, a community. Opportunities to see the world. All the things the Similars were deprived of.

“Excuse me, Emma, but I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about.” Madison sounds so dismissive I could scream.

“Is it because of your parents? Have they taught you to fear what you don’t understand?”

“They’ve taught me to fear people who are a threat.”

“Was Prudence a threat?” I snap. “Is that why you attacked her?”

“Emma!” Pippa cries out.

I don’t take my eyes off Madison. I assume she’s going to be furious at me, lash out. Instead, she laughs. “Prudence Stanwick isn’t even on my radar. I barely know who she is. I mean, was.”

My blood boils. Madison turns back to her announcement, and it’s clear that in her mind this conversation’s over. Not for me, I think. I feel even more certain in my gut that she had something to do with Pru’s attack.

When Madison finally releases us, I walk with Pippa back to our rooms in silence. I can’t take it anymore, this avoidance.

“I saw you,” I say as we approach my door. “Tonight. In the lake. Maude and Theodora climbing that tree.”

“I thought so,” Pippa says quietly.

“I know about the tasks. Levi told me.”

“Emma, I wish I could explain…”

“But you can’t. Of course you can’t. Good night, Pippa.” From what Levi said, she’s charged with some task too, whatever it might be. I want to lash out at her for that, but there’s been enough confrontation tonight.

I slip into my room and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. But I need a distraction—anything. My eyes land on the book sitting on my desk. To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s the book Jaeger gave me when he visited and told me and Pippa about Pru’s medically induced coma. I haven’t opened it yet, but losing myself in its pages is the perfect solution. I need to escape my own head.

I open the book to the first page and am surprised to find a note scrawled there.

Stop looking. You won’t find her.

It’s signed JS—Jaeger Stanwick. Pru’s father. My heart plummets to my feet.

There’s no denying he wrote this note for me. He gave me this book, brought it all the way here and made a point of encouraging me to reread it. It’s also clear who the “her” is: Prudence.

I glance at Jaeger’s note again. Stop looking. You won’t find her.

Why, I want to shout, because she’s dead?

I can’t think straight. There’s too much to process. The Similars’ physical feats. The gash on Levi’s arm. The tasks. Madison’s mom’s legislation.