Chapter 36.
Jimmy strides quickly and confidently to the middle of the room. He doesn’t ask for it. He takes it.
“Okay,” Jimmy says, hands up, palms out. “Before everybody goes to bed and pretends tonight didn’t happen . . .”
A few nervous laughs.
“I’m in the same leaky boat as the rest of you.” He adds, “Though I’m aware we’ve all had enough of boats for one lifetime.”
That gets a real laugh, a little release.
Then he lets the smile fade.
“We lost Luca.”
The room stills.
“He shouldn’t have died,” Jimmy says. “That’s not me talking as a contestant. That’s me talking as the guy who was asked to help shape this.”
Reg Drummond shifts in his chair. Jack watches Jimmy closely. So does everyone else.
“When I was approached back home in North Carolina to sketch out a framework for these games, I wanted them to be hard, but I wanted them to be fair,” Jimmy continues. “Not lethal. You’ve got red buttons for a reason. That’s the whole point—danger, sure, but with a line you don’t cross.”
He looks around the room.
“And that line got crossed.”
Nobody speaks. Nobody wants to be the first one to say it out loud.
“Reg kept Hannah alive.” A nod to Reg. “Wyatt and Alek didn’t let her go.” A nod to them. “Jack got through sharks and still came back to help somebody else.” A nod to Jack.
He takes a breath.
“That’s what I’m seeing,” Jimmy says. “Even though we’re all competing, we’re on the same team. All of us. And even though Luca’s life was lost, other lives have been saved. Because of teamwork, and incredible courage, from everybody in this room.”
He pauses.
“And then I’m seeing . . . other stuff.”
He doesn’t say Tipton’s name. He doesn’t have to.
“Here’s what I can promise you,” Jimmy says. “I’m in these games now. I don’t get to stand outside and comment. Fine. But I’m not going to sit quiet if the rules keep changing in ways that get people killed.”
Silence. Then: “I see the games taking on a life of their own, like some runaway train. I don’t know who’s responsible. But I’m going to find out. I’m asking you to trust me again.”
“I trust you,” Wyatt calls out.
Then he speaks in a stronger voice. “I have your backs. Please have mine.”
Jimmy makes a small turn and is looking directly at Jack.
“Jack, you know this—”
The Host interrupts. The speakers crackle. The Host doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to.
“Mr. Donaldson,” The Host says, “you’re confusing this for one of your productions.”
Jimmy doesn’t look up. Doesn’t give him the satisfaction.
“It’s not,” Jimmy says. “Because when I do a production, I know who’s in charge.”
A ripple in the room. People glance at one another.
The Host’s voice sharpens a degree.
“I am.”
Jimmy nods, like he expected that answer.
“Then answer me,” Jimmy says. “Why were there sharks? Why were there spiders that can kill a healthy adult in hours? Why are people disappearing without explanation? That was not the framework we discussed.”
“You discussed,” The Host says, “and then you agreed. And now you’re here.”
“No one was supposed to have to swim through sharks,” Jimmy says, and now he’s shouting. “No one was supposed to deal with deadly spiders. That was never part of the deal.”
The Host continues, smooth as ever. “You have the same lifeline as everyone else. Red button. Press it. Walk away. We will escort you to safety. Nobody is keeping you here against your will. If this has gotten to be too much for you, push the button. That’s all it takes.”
The room holds its breath. Waiting.
Jimmy doesn’t flinch.
“You want to know what keeps me here?” Jimmy says.
He scans the room—finds Rupert. Jack. Alek. Hannah. Wyatt.
“It’s them.”
A beat.
“And you don’t get to use my name to recruit good people . . . and then run this as a slaughterhouse.”
The Host lets that go.
“How about this?” The Host says. “Let’s end this. All of you quit. Right here, right now. In a few months we start all over again without any of you. Push your buttons! You will all be safe and you will all be done.”
The room goes still.
Hands hover near red pendants.
Nobody moves.
Not one.
“Interesting,” he says. “Good night.”