Page 58 of The Most Dangerous Games

Alek’s eyes finally land on Hannah’s red hair.

She’s at the far end of the room, in the last seat at one of the long tables, staring at her computer screen. Body perfectly still. Eyes locked on the screen. Hannah’s headset is already on. The mic light is glowing red.

Alek checks her watch. Still ten minutes before this morning’s tests are scheduled to begin, the board games to which The Host had alluded.

Alek and Wyatt move fast, weaving between chairs.

Alek is the one startling Hannah when she touches her shoulder.

“Sorry,” Alek says, when she sees Hannah jump. “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m fine,” Hannah says. “Just nervous, I guess. I’m not sure what to expect today. It’s why I just wanted to get here early to collect my thoughts. Sorry I didn’t wait for you.”

Hannah’s eyes flick to the corner of her screen where a small window is still open. It reads: AUDIO: LIVE. CONNECTION: OPEN. She clicks it closed.

“You sure you’re okay?” Wyatt asks.

“I’m fine,” Hannah says. “Really I am. I just need to be by myself and start getting mentally ready.”

Alek thinks: You’re always mentally ready.

“Okay then,” Wyatt says. “I’ll leave you alone.”

“Wait,” Hannah says.

She turns away from the computer and looks up at him. It’s as if Alek is no longer there.

“What happened last night can’t happen again,” Hannah whispers to Wyatt.

Wyatt blinks like he didn’t hear her right. “Why?”

Alek watches the color drain from his face.

Wyatt says, “I thought . . .”

Hannah looks around the room—at the cameras, the screens, the staff moving in the corners.

“Because it wasn’t private,” Hannah whispers. “None of it is.”

Wyatt’s mouth opens. Closes.

He looks . . . honestly hurt.

“I thought—” he starts.

Hannah shakes her head once. “Not now.

“It’s not about you,” she adds, and it sounds like she hates that sentence because it’s the kind people say when they’re lying.

But she’s not lying.

She’s scared.

Wyatt tries to hide the hurt Alek can see he’s clearly feeling, along with the surprise.

“Okay,” he says, and walks away. “Okay.”

Alek watches him go, feeling the damage in the air.