The Similars (The Similars #1)(70)

As February drifts into March, it starts to feel like at least half the school is not just avoiding the Similars—they’re outwardly shunning them. Even though there’s been no arrest, in the absence of an alternate theory, everyone still thinks Levi attacked Pru. And after the Ten dinner at Ransom’s house, word got out that Theodora was behind Damian Leroy’s arrest. There are pockets of kids who remain loyal to the Similars, but, overall, skeptical curiosity has turned to downright suspicion and hostility. As more reports of discrimination against clones surface on our feeds from the outside world, support for DAAM has increased. Madison rotates different anti-clone petitions on a sign-up tablet in the dining hall, and they overflow with signatures. I am devastated and angry. I consider starting an organization to counter DAAM, but I don’t know if the Similars would want me to. They are so fiercely independent. I’m not sure they’d want me to speak on their behalf.

I miss spending time with Levi, even though it’s painful to admit it. I remind myself that he has Theodora. And even if he didn’t, we aren’t an “us,” and we never will be.

I fall asleep every night clutching Oliver’s key in my hand, trying and failing to figure out what he was telling me in his note and what it means that Underwood was Ollie’s father.

One morning, I’m headed to my first class of the day when I hear Mr. Park is leaving Darkwood. At first, I don’t know why I’m disconcerted. Mr. Park and I aren’t close. He shooed me away when I tried to ask him for help. And yet, a voice in the back of my head reminds me that he knew—knows—about Seymour’s primate experiment. For that reason alone, I seek him out.

By the time I make it to the American history classroom, Mr. Park’s cleaning out his desk.

“What happened?” I ask quietly as Mr. Park slides books into a canvas sack.

Mr. Park looks up and stares at me like I’m an alien.

“I’m leaving,” he says, then goes back to packing. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“Did they fire you?” I ask.

Mr. Park frowns. “I can’t disclose my reasons for leaving Darkwood. They’re personal.”

“Fine. But before you go—please, Mr. Park, I need your help.”

Mr. Park raises his eyebrows. “I’m trying to catch a noon train. But go ahead.”

“I know,” I say flatly.

“About my train?” He sounds puzzled, but doesn’t look up from his sorting.

“About the Similars. About their capabilities. How they’re stronger, more resilient than other people. And I know it all stemmed from Albert Seymour’s primate experiment. Is that what you were getting at when you mentioned it in class? Did you want us to find out about the Similars?”

Mr. Park finally looks up from his desk. “I have only wanted one thing since the Similars arrived at Darkwood: to protect them,” he says simply. “Now that I can no longer do that, I’m leaving.”

I don’t know what to make of that—how could I?—but it’s clear from his tone that he isn’t going to volunteer anything more.

Still, I press. “You know how the keys work, don’t you? You know about the holograms. You know about all of it.”

“And if I do?” he asks, guarded.

“Then you have to tell me,” I insist. “Oliver left me his key and a note. Maude and I, we found the room with the holograms. She figured out how to unlock each key.”

“Sounds like you don’t need me, then.”

“Yes, I do! Oliver’s father was John Underwood. And I know that means something, because Underwood was Seymour’s half brother. And Underwood was expelled. But… What else? There’s got to be more to Oliver’s message than that, Mr. Park.” I know I sound desperate; I don’t care. I am.

Mr. Park sighs. “The keys don’t simply store data, like GPS tracking and test scores. They’re receivers. They can hold recordings from their owner.”

“The key is a receiver?” I repeat. Receivers are like the flash drives of the past. They store data, and they can transmit it. “Why don’t any of us know about this?” I demand.

“There was a scandal, years back. Students took advantage of the keys, recorded inappropriate information. The administration stopped advertising this feature, but I believe the keys still hold that capability, if you know how to use it.”

“So what do I do? How do I unlock Oliver’s key to get the message he left for me? If he even left a message for me there?”

“You’d need to know his passcode.” Mr. Park returns to his sorting.

I take in a breath. “Okay, imagine I could somehow figure out Oliver’s passcode. You’re skipping about fifty steps. What do I do with it?”

“How did you break into the hologram server?”

“Maude helped me.”

“Then I suggest you enlist Maude’s help again. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Emmaline,” he says. “I need to catch my train.”

*

I corner Maude between classes and tell her everything. About the security at the research building. About my conversation with Mr. Park.

“A receiver,” she repeats. “Brilliant. Give me Oliver’s key.”

I spot Levi coming down the hallway. “Not now. Tonight. Come to my room.”