It's a struggle to appear unfazed as I make my farewells to Hautey and Jenna and exit the Chrysalis from a set of doors on the first floor. Jo follows me, and Leo trails behind us. Jo drags me to a bench in front of a broken-down hotel across the street and forces me to sit down.

"Joan, talk to me. I can tell that you had another vision back there. Your face went totally blank."

Leo's gaze sharpens. "What's this about visions?"

Jo quickly fills him in on my experiences over the past two days, and his eyes flick between her and me as he absorbs my situation.

While Jo talks, I struggle with feeling disconnected from reality, as if I'm a passive observer hovering above my own body. My mind is rational, considering how I can use the knowledge of my own death to somehow help my friends. But no feelings accompany these thoughts, other than a vague desire to keep anyone from knowing what I saw, even Jo.

"It was a vision of the Chrysalis," I say, settling for a partial truth so she'll stop looking at me like I'm about to break into a million pieces. "We had turned it into some kind of command central again, but this time for our own uses."

"If that's all you saw, then why does your voice sound so flat? And your eyes—it's like you can't fully focus on me. You forget, Joan, that though we are two very different people, we share DNA. I recognize the look on your face. You're going to do something reckless."

Jo's words snap me back into my own body, and a complex mix of fear, dread and worry floods my mind. But threaded through all those murky feelings is a pure ribbon of determination to keep fighting, to truly live for as long as I have left. It's like the hope and purpose that ignited in me when Lexi activated the H2IV has gone from an ember to a full blaze. It's easier to fight when I can see the end on the horizon.

"It's okay, Jo. The vision came with a weight of responsibility. Whether I want to or not, I'm going to play a role in rebuilding our rebellion, and ensuring that we spark real change. I never wanted to have that kind of power again, because it comes with the chance of getting people hurt because of my decisions."

"Are you sure these visions of yours are even real?" Jo asks. "We are built from the same genetic code and I've never had an experience like that."

Leo speaks up, and he sounds sharp and sure, like he used to when he was my teacher. "This is real. Strand has spent decades seeking DNA of individuals they think have expanded mental capacity. Their hypothesis was that putting someone's physical body under extreme stress would activate latent abilities."

Jo's face drains of color and her gaze goes faraway. I know she's remembering the years of torture Strand subjected her to. Was that their way of trying to awaken visions in her?

Leo's face is equally grim. "They tortured all of us Beakers, and never achieved the results they were looking for. But it seems that a virus could do what torture could not."

Before I can question Leo further, my phone pings with a message from Harriet asking me to meet her in the little room in the Lab that she shares with Mason.

"I need to go."

Jo nods, and then she and Leo continue a whispered conversation as I hurry away.

When I reach Harriet's room, I find her lighting a bunch of old-school candles.

"Before our big team meeting tonight, we need to talk, Joan," Harriet says when she notices me hovering by the entrance.

I step inside, grateful for the shadows. "If it's about the fact that we need a larger meeting room with all the new kids at Seattle Secondary starting to show up, I might have an idea about that."

"What do you mean?"

"I checked out the Chrysalis today, and found a bunch of the Throwbacks whose chips we disconnected living there. I think they might want to help us."

It's hard to surprise Harriet, but her eyes widen and she gives me her intense, focused attention. "Is that what your vision last night was about?"

"Yes. And while I was there, I had another one. I think these people are going to be an important part of how we keep this rebellion alive," I say, keeping my face as neutral as possible so that Harriet won't guess that I'm leaving something out.

Harriet nods slowly. "Things are changing. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. After Day Zero, for a long time we were all just holding ourselves together, trying to survive our grief. But for weeks now, I've been seeing signs of hope that we might be able to achieve real progress. Especially now that we've won the court case and can legally free Throwbacks from their chains to Strand, we have real momentum behind us. We need to use it."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you, stepping back into a leadership position. Starting with participating in Sun's reality series."

That wasn't what I was expecting Harriet to say. "That series doesn't need me to be a part of it. It will be successful all on its own."

"You need to be more than just a part of it. You need to be the lead."

Pretending to be some inspiring, a real-life hero would be so false that I could choke on the hypocrisy of it all. "Why don't you be the lead? It makes sense—in addition to being the heart of this entire rebellion, you're also its leader."

"If I could take this burden from you, Joan, I would. But I'm not the one who killed Crew in a viral video, or starred in a Strand vid, or stood by Lexi's side and showed the world that not all Throwbacks are the same. You did. You have to dig down deep and find that version of yourself that the Evolved are fascinated by. And you have to turn their fascination into love. Because if they can love you, maybe they can learn to tolerate the rest of us."

"Good speech," I admit.

"I know."

~ ~ ~

The Bunker is crammed when Harriet and I enter our underground headquarters. On Tuesday nights, those of us who still believe in fighting for Throwback rights in Seattle get together to discuss our plans and achievements. Each week these meetings grow steadily larger.

Even the students at Seattle Secondary who are more focused on their acting careers than fighting for justice are increasingly being drawn into all of the activities that keep our tiny rebellion alive.

Now, with the reality series about to begin taping, our numbers have swelled to include new students at Seattle Secondary, and a number of newly-hired teachers hand-selected by Headmaster Wilde.

I spot Mav saving a seat for me and squeeze in next to him.

"Beautiful people, we are but moments away from announcing the final casting for our series, Just Like Us!" Wilde bellows, commanding everyone's attention.

The title of the reality series is news to me, and sounds kind of cheesy. But everyone else looks excited, especially the new kids, even though they will be relegated to behind-the-scenes work.

"My co-director, Sun Liu, and I have analyzed the footage from each and every one of your auditions. Believe me, it wasn't easy to choose between so many talented actors."

Sun is leaning against a wall at the back of the room, content to let Wilde have the spotlight that he needs as much as oxygen.

"The show will star five friends navigating their way through life in Seattle, finding jobs, friends, and, of course, LOVE. Original musical scoring for the show will be overseen by Liam Ramschild, and Cesar Molson will act as lead producer, responsible for editing each episode."

Everyone politely applauds, but it's no surprise that Liam, a Mozart clone who can play about twenty different instruments, is heading up music. Cesar has also been clear about staking his claim with the vid editing software that he's been working day and night to master.

"Every senior will have a speaking role, including some juicy monologues, but the lead roles will be played by the best and brightest among us. Our very own Alison Soph, cloned from the unstoppable Taylor Swift, will bring her lyrical genius to the part of the quirky waitress of a local Throwback coffee shop who is looking to become a star."

Alison leaps to her feet, flashing her bright smile like she's surrounded by paparazzi.

"Joining Alison, playing the part of her manager with a mysterious past, will be Tupac Macson. James Deanchild will play a kooky café regular who is looking for work in the big city."

Alison squeals and gives Tupac a sloppy kiss, making Harriet and I roll our eyes.

"Finally, the lead roles of star-crossed lovers on a quest to make the world a better place will be played by our very own Joan Fasces and Justus Macson!"

The chatter ceases. Across the room, Justus's shocked gaze meets mine.

"That's not fair! He's not even a student at Seattle Secondary!" shouts a girl from the new class of students.

"He's not even a Throwback!" the boy next to her agrees, eyes narrowed.

"Exactly," Wilde says, a manic glint in his eyes. "He is Evolved, and every Evolved viewer will see themselves in Justus. His devotion to his Throwback family, his love for a Throwback girl that he can never have—THAT is the stuff of legendary vids!"

"True," Alison says, moving to stand beside Wilde. "But all of this hinges on one thing. Whether Justus and Joan accept the parts."

"Yeah, Joan's been hiding in the clinic for weeks, barely coming out of the Lab," Tupac agrees. "Is she even up for this?"

What if I screw up? What if I'm the reason the show fails, either because of my mediocre acting or yet another colossal mistake that I make?

Part of me wants to slink back to the half-life I've been living, doing low-level work where I can't make any major errors.

But another part knows that I have to step up, one last time. Maybe it would be a lie to play the hero forever, but sometime in the not-so-distant future, I'll be gone. Maybe my destiny is to make my mark with this series, and then die a martyr. Maybe it's bigger than that. Either way, the time for hiding is over.

I stand up and meet Alison's piercing gaze. "I'm all in."

"And if she's in, I'm in," Justus calls from across the room.

His face breaks into a real smile, and it makes me realize how long it's been since I've seen him happy.

To my surprise, the room fills with cheers.

"I'm in, too, Joan," Mav whispers from beside me. "I'll be with you, no matter what."

It's a struggle to keep the tears from my eyes. "Thanks, Mav. I'm glad that I'm doing this with you by my side."

Around us, everyone is giggling and arguing and planning. The energy in the air is more positive than it's been in a long time, and even I feel a thrill of hope that this could be the start of something important.

Wilde's voice rises over the chatter one more time. "Yes, my friends! This show will entertain millions, and ignite a revolution. You are all part of the beginning of a legend!"

When my vision comes this time, it's a cascade of disconnected images.

Teens wearing shirts with my face on them.

Screaming Throwback crowds.

Evolved politicians arguing on national TV.

Police blockades.

Evolved and Throwbacks rallying together at the Capitol building.

Alone, these images make little sense. Together, they show the start of a revolution.