Page 125 of The Most Dangerous Games

Jack makes a gesture that takes in both tables.

“But there are only eleven of us,” he says.

The Host’s smile is faint. Like he’s been waiting for this.

“Twelve, actually,” another voice says from behind them.

They turn. A man stands in the doorway, travel-worn and smiling like he’s late to a party he never stopped attending.

Saad al-Harbi, player #7. The cocky prince who’d been sent home before they’d all left Ohio.

“So nice to see all of you again,” Saad al-Harbi says.

“Wait,” Alek says. “You can’t be here. You were out.”

“I was removed,” he says. “Not released.”

Wyatt blinks. “That’s . . . not the same thing.”

“No,” Saad says. “It isn’t.”

“You all keep using the word ‘eliminated’ like it means ‘safe,’” The Host says. “Like it means ‘free.’”

He steps closer, voice calm.

“It doesn’t.”

Silence.

Saad takes one step into the room. “They put me in a different box,” he says. “A different kind of test.” He looks around at their faces. “You think you were the only ones being watched?”

Beat.

“Plus. What can I tell you?” the prince says, looking even more arrogant than ever. “Money talks.” He smiles broadly. “You think your favorite influencer is the only one who can bend the rules?”

Alek’s mouth is dry. “Why bring you back?”

The Host answers before Saad can.

“Because tomorrow requires pairs,” he says. “And because Mr. al-Harbi has . . . reconsidered his willingness to do what it takes.”

Saad’s smile fades into something harder.

“I didn’t come back for fun,” he says. “I came back because they made something very clear.”

Jack’s voice is low. “What?”

Saad meets Jack’s eyes. “That ‘no’ is not one of the options.”

The Host’s smile returns.

“Now,” he says, “we have twelve.”

86.

Jack, Alek, Hannah, and Wyatt take a long, slow walk across the property after dinner.

This is the A Team—if anybody’s still allowed to be a team—together one more time.