Page 92 of The Most Dangerous Games

Again.

Conner counts under his breath, steady, brutal. Rupert cries behind them, the sound small and animal. Jack gives breaths, tasting cave water and blood and regret.

Nothing.

He hits her chest again.

Her body is motionless beneath his hands—no fight, no spark, no insult of life left to argue with.

Jack’s throat locks. His vision blurs.

He keeps going anyway, because stopping feels like murder.

Finally, Conner puts a hand on Jack’s shoulder.

Jack jerks away, furious. “Don’t.”

Conner’s voice is low. “Jack . . .”

Jack’s hands are shaking. His arms feel hollow.

He presses his forehead against Elena’s wet hair for a split second, like he can will warmth into her.

Jack can’t help himself. He imagines himself sinking, being pulled down to the bottom of this river along with Elena Torres.

And feels he’s the one drowning.

59.

Mammoth Cave

Daylight.

Not triumph. Not a reveal. Just the mouth of the cave ahead, a slice of white like an exit wound.

And waiting there—because of course—an inflatable boat with black-clad crew, braced like they’ve done this drill before. The rescue boat sent by The Host slowly makes its way across the water.

They don’t know what the surprise was that The Host had promised.

Jack McHenry doesn’t care.

He just sits in the back of the small boat, cradling Elena Torres’s body in his arms. Conner and Rupert are in front, facing him. The boy is acting stronger and stronger, even after another shocking tragedy.

Maybe this has become a war.

The boat noses farther into daylight and Jack squints, hating the brightness. Hating that the world looks normal.

Rupert turns back once and looks at Elena, then at Jack. His voice is tiny. “I’m sorry.”

Jack can’t answer.

It’s worse now than anything Jack has ever known—probably because of his surprising feelings for Elena.

He stares at Elena’s face. He memorizes it because he’s terrified his mind will soften later and he won’t be able to hold on to her features. Jack can feel tears on his cheeks, and he can’t remember the last time he cried. Maybe not since the death of his mom.

Jack feels the tears on his face and hates himself for every second he didn’t say what he felt when he still had someone to say it to.

What was the last thing Elena said to him?