Chapter 106.
Alek and Jack and Tipton and Zhi take off their necklaces as ordered, slowly slide them to the middle of the table.
Alek does it as quickly as possible so the others can’t see how badly her hand is shaking.
This time The Host is on the money, in every conceivable way. No net. No reset button. No deal you can talk your way into.
The Host says, “You’re certain no one else wants to take the deal that Mr. Oliveira just took?”
Alek looks at Jack, then across the table at Tipton and Zhi.
Jack says, “We’ve talked about this. We’ve all come too far.
We’ve seen people we care about die in front of our eyes.
Or up and leave the way Hannah did. Or disappear the way Wyatt did.
” He stops himself there, before going on: “But as different as we all are, we have one thing in common: We’re still here. ”
“We’re survivors,” Tipton says, almost like he hates the word.
Zhi gives a small nod.
The Host studies them, annoyed now, trying not to show it.
“Have it your way,” The Host says. “Just understand that there’s no going back, for any of you.”
Alek can’t decide whether he sounds disappointed, or angry—or both.
She’s not even sure what she herself is feeling at this moment, if she even feels like a survivor, other than this: She needs to get out of this room for a few minutes.
She wants to be alone and breathe and think about this deal they were all just offered and whether or not she wants to change her mind and take it.
And just go home.
She looks at her hands, in front of her on the table.
They’re still shaking.
She discreetly places them in her lap, then shoots a look over at Jack McHenry, who is seated next to her.
If he is feeling as nervous or as anxious as she is, he’s not showing it.
But then he never does show you much of anything, unless he’s talking about Elena.
He still does from time to time, often late at night, when he is willing to share his feelings.
One more time, Jack says, “We play the sucker out.”
He looks at Alek. “Right?”
She doesn’t hesitate. Jack is asking for her permission, deferring to her.
Alek has begun to believe she’s more and more of a leader the longer the competition has gone on.
She’s become more and more confident, despite the nerves she’s feeling at the moment, and despite sitting right next to a former Army Ranger.
“Right,” Alek says.
Tipton and Zhi nod in agreement.
“The four of you will soon regret the decision you just made,” The Host says. “Sooner than you think.”
He is once again walking back toward the door when they all hear another voice, this one coming from a speaker at the far end of the conference table that has been silent the entire time they’ve been in here.
It is a voice they all know.
Wyatt Jordan’s.
“You still can’t read the room, can you, Dad?” Wyatt says.