I frown. “I’d say it sounds too good to be true. Courtney and I can just leave?”
“Just yourself.”
I’m taken aback. Is she seriously offering me this? Does she seriously think I’d take it? Dolores pops into my head, and something in my heart stings at the idea of potentially never seeing her again. It doesn’t hurt as bad as the thought of leaving the woman I’ve fallen for behind to fucking die, though. Who the hell would take that deal?
“Can this deal apply to just Courtney? Can you guarantee me you’ll get her home, completely unharmed?”
The woman looks caught off guard. “You want to… trade your place for her?”
I nod tersely.
“Interesting,” she says as someone beside her begins aggressively writing down notes.
“So, can she leave?” I ask.
If I can’t make it out of this, at least Courtney can. She can go home, take care of Lily. Live a long, beautiful life, and I can live out my final moments knowing I did everything in my power to protect her.
“Oh, that wasn’t a real offer. More of a hypothetical to get the conversation going. Thank you so much, this is great stuff.”
Just like that, it feels like the floor has given way beneath my feet. When she flicks her wrist, dismissing me, I push up from my seat and throw open the door, slamming it so hard behind me, the wall shakes. I don’t make it more than twenty feet before I see a man escorting Courtney to the confessional room. She gives me a nervous look, and I reach for her, but another man stops me.
I look at him in surprise before attempting to shrug him off. He’s a lot stronger than he appears, and it’s actually quite difficult.
“Courtney, wait!” I shout as she’s funneled into the room, the door shut behind her.
Chapter Thirty Four
Courtney
Ihear Landon call for me before the door is shut, and suddenly I’m in the confessional room. I’ve been in here dozens of times over the last few weeks, but somehow things feel… different. Heavy. Fucking terrifying.
I take slow, measured steps before sitting down on the designated spot and facing the camera. The woman behind the camera smiles in a way that does nothing but unsettle me.
“Hello, Courtney. Congratulations on making the final three.”
I swallow roughly. “Thanks.”
“How are you doing?” she asks.
“Honestly?”
The woman nods.
“Well, I just found out that I’m on some twisted reality TV show where only two out of sixteen people are allowed to survive, so you know, I’ve been better.” I laugh awkwardly.
A few people in the room chuckle like they’re amused, and apparently, talking about my fears out in the open like this isexactly what they want. Whatever keeps the murderous psychopaths at bay, I guess.
“Now, Courtney, we have a proposition for you. It’s a onetime-only offer.”
I nod.
“If we were to offer you a one-way ticket out of here, and guarantee you would arrive home safe and sound, would you take it?”
Freedom? Yes, please.
I know that’s not what they’re asking, though. The true meaning is written on the walls.
“You mean by myself. Without Landon or Luna or Shane,” I say.
