When Rose awoke, gray morning light was flooding in through the window, and she was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was nearly nine in the morning. If Rose had been at the Academy, she'd have been up since five o'clock. She certainly wasn't going to miss that aspect of her old life.
Voices in the hallway caught Rose's attention. She had been making her bed, but she stopped rustling the covers just in time to hear Lila say, "I told you already, it worked perfectly."
"Nevertheless, you should've told me right when it happened. We don't know if it wears off." That sounded like the Handler.
"Well, let's see for ourselves," came Lila's voice.
There was a knock on Rose's door. Wondering what they were talking about, Rose was quick to say, "Come in!"
But neither the Handler or Lila resumed the conversation they had just been having. Instead, the Handler announced that it was time to start the day's training, and gave Rose a change of clothes to wear.
From then on, Rose's day always started with a hearty breakfast, and then there was a couple hours of school to do. The Handler stressed history, geography, and world languages, especially; these were the most useful subjects for the assignments that Rose would eventually be given.
Then, Rose and Lila would spend three or four hours in the gymnasium. Besides learning actual gymnastics, they were given martial arts and dance lessons.
Every day, there was something different to learn. Maybe they'd have to figure out an escape room, or practice holding their breath underwater, or learn to write and use weapons proficiently with their non-dominant hands, or work on producing real tears and pretending to cry.
You never know what'll be useful someday, was the Handler's motto.
At first, Lila made every effort to one-up Rose, but after a few months, she realized that the Handler still cared about her, and then Rose and Lila actually became friends.
They still got under each other's skin quite often, and had countless squabbles, but when they did get along, they made an excellent team. The two girls learned to work together like hands on a clock.
Like the Handler, Reginald had always stressed the importance of teamwork, but, unlike the Handler, he hadn't really meant it. The question of How can we be the best team? always seemed to turn into Who can be the best team member? And Number One always won that contest.
Still, Rose couldn't bring herself to resent One. That chapter of her life was over; there was no point.
As Rose and Lila became best friends and close confidants, Lila told Rose about how her parents had been killed in a home invasion when she was four, and Rose told Lila all about the man who called himself her father but barely cared for her, if at all. Rose described all the mindgames Reginald had played; how he had pitted her against her brothers and never included Number Seven. How he hadn't even bothered to give them real names.
But Lila had the biggest confession to share.
It was almost a year after they had met, and after a long day of training, they were having a sleepover in Rose's room. (Rose disliked sleeping in Lila's room; It was never remotely clean.)
They were sprawled out on Three's bed, sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows— eating healthfully wasn't a priority here at the Commission— and agreeing about how they wished that it was October already. They both loved Halloween, and they were also looking forward to their 13th birthday.
"I think we should have doughnuts on our birthday, not cake," Rose said.
"Nah," was Lila's articulate response.
"You really want cake? Fine- An ice cream cake."
"Fine."
"I still think it's so weird that we have the same birthday," Rose remarked.
Lila suddenly wouldn't meet Rose's eye. She carefully plucked a marshmallow out of her hot chocolate and put it into her mouth. "Yeah, um, about that— It's not that weird."
This caught Rose's interest. "What do you mean?"
"You know how you and the others back at that school of yours all had the same birthday, and all had powers?"
"Seven didn't," Rose said automatically. But then her mind comprehended what Lila was getting at. "Wait— Are you saying that... you're one of us?"
"Mum made me promise not to tell you," Lila said in a rush of words. "But she told me she was planning on telling you soon, anyway, because you're bound to notice, once we start going on missions and—"
"What's your power?" Rose interrupted.
"I'm like a chameleon," Lila explained. "It works by me absorbing and reusing a special kind of energy." She shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "But, the only energy I can copy is that of others like me. Like you."
Rose felt lightheaded. "Wait, so, you could Rumor someone if you wanted? Or have One's superstrength, or see dead people like Four, or—"
"Yes, all of that," Lila said impatiently. "But only if they've just used it themselves." She seemed relieved that she'd been unburdened from keeping this secret. She looked at Rose, trying to gauge her reaction. "Are you mad?"
Rose blinked. "I'm not mad. It's just— I can't believe that there are eight of us. I mean, that's crazy."
Lila nodded. "I just feel lucky that it was Mum that found me. Much better off here than at that crazy school of yours."
"I don't blame you." Rose grimaced, thinking of how she had lived a year ago. Back then, she had been aware that her life wasn't the best, but it was only after she left for the Commission that she truly realized how messed up it had been. Reginald had always seen to it that she was fed and clothed, but couldn't have cared less about her emotional health.
Of course, Three had been able to make things a bit easier. She had often used a subtle Rumor to change Reginald's mind about little things that she didn't agree with. If she didn't feel like training in the rain one day, she would Rumor Reginald to be worried about the children slipping, getting an injury, and not being able to train. Then, he'd change the schedule for the day and think that it had been all his idea.
Three had to be careful not to overdo it, however—Once, as a seven year old, she Rumored her father to instruct Grace to bake a cake for the children. Unfortunately, Reginald had immediately realized that this was something he would never request in his right mind, and had punished Three severely.
But now, Three was Rose. Those bad days were behind her.
It had been interesting for Rose, this past year, as she discovered who she was. Who she was, not who her 'father' had wanted her to be. She was astonished to learn that it was possible to like herself.
Even better, everyone at the Commission liked her, as well. They found her charming and were amused by her endless hijinxs with Lila. Here, having a sense of humor didn't get you in trouble. Here, you could have a sleepover with your best friend and drink hot chocolate in bed.