The girl's name was Mira — or at least, that's what she told us.
She didn't look older than seventeen. Maybe eighteen. Wore a hoodie two sizes too big and kept her hands in her pockets like she was trying not to touch anything.
We sat in the farthest booth of the diner near school, away from prying eyes.
"Why were you watching us?" I asked.
Mira tilted her head slightly. "You mean besides the obvious?"
Lena narrowed her eyes. "You mean it's obvious we're being hunted by some secret organization and you just decided to join the party?"
Mira gave a small smile. "Not exactly."
I leaned forward. "Then start talking."
She took a breath. "I've been watching for a while. Not just you two. Others too."
Ava stiffened beside me. "Who else?"
Mira looked at each of us in turn. "People like us."
I swallowed hard. "How many are there?"
Her smile faded. "More than you think. Less than they want."
Lena leaned in. "What do you mean 'they want'?"
Mira hesitated. Then said, "They're collecting us. Training us. Changing us."
I felt cold. "Like the Institute?"
She nodded. "But worse."
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold:
"They don't just watch us anymore."
"They take us."