Page 89 of The Most Dangerous Games

But he’s not thinking about that.

He’s thinking about a good and kind and brave man like Reg Drummond, who had looked out for everybody except himself, even in the final moments of his life.

Reg.

Gone.

Wyatt is crying so hard it’s nearly impossible for him to get any of the cold air up here into his lungs.

Feels he might pass out.

Hang on, boy.

Above him, Hannah is crying too—silent tears ripped sideways by wind. Tipton is on his knees at the edge, staring down like he can force gravity to reverse if he stares hard enough.

Then Tipton moves.

He’s fast again. Purposeful.

He yanks his earpiece out and throws it so hard it bounces and disappears into nothing. Then he crawls back from the edge, face wrecked, and reaches for Wyatt.

Tipton yells something from up above.

Wyatt can’t make it out over the sound of the wind and the terrible sounds coming out of him.

“Nobody’s dying up here today,” Reg Drummond had said.

Now Reg was gone.

Finally, like it’s one more arduous part of the climb, Wyatt gets his breathing under control.

I’m not dying up here, he tells himself.

Tipton’s voice is hoarse. “Give me your hand.”

Wyatt doesn’t move.

Hannah leans over, voice trembling. “Wyatt. Please.”

Wyatt forces himself to breathe.

He climbs the last feet on pure hate and grief. He carefully pushes himself off the rock wall, turns to face it, grabs for some schist rock just above him.

Begins moving again, even if it’s only a few inches at a time. He tells himself he’s going to finish this climb, no matter what.

For Reg.

Eventually he allows himself a look up, just to see how close the ledge is.

He can see Hannah leaning over, Tipton holding on to her from behind, like they’re a two-person human chain.

When Wyatt is close enough, Hannah reaches down with her hand.

Hannah’s hand locks around his wrist, surprisingly strong. She hauls him up with everything she has.

When Wyatt is finally on the summit ledge, he scrambles away from the edge and collapses, chest heaving.

Tipton is still staring down.