Page 28 of The Most Dangerous Games

Jimmy nods once. “Good.”

It quiets down.

“One last time: Red button means SAFE but ELIMINATED.”

From somewhere behind Wyatt, Tipton mutters, “Would’ve been nice to have one of those out on a real battlefield.”

Wyatt takes a couple of steps back, not wanting anyone in the line to think it was him.

Jimmy looks out at them, and now he’s not performing. His shoulders drop and he speaks normally.

“Okay,” Jimmy says. “Now the part we actually care about. You’re here because the world feels like it’s coming apart. People are tired. Angry. Scared. And the folks who built this thing believe one person can shift the direction of a lot of people.”

A few skeptical laughs.

Jimmy doesn’t flinch.

“I’ve seen what happens when you give someone a real shot,” he says. “I’ve seen how fast good spreads when it’s loud enough. The organizers of this challenge called me and told me they believe that one special person with courage can make a majority. They told me if some kid from rural North Carolina obsessed with YouTube could make videos that inspire people to go out and do good, then imagine what one of you could do.”

A cheer rises from the field.

He pauses.

“But you should know something else,” he says. “This isn’t the first time they’ve tried this. There have been other years. Five to be exact. No winner. No one has come out as The One who could take the prize and use it to make real lasting impact.”

“Good!” someone calls out.

“I like the energy!” Jimmy says, grinning. “But we’re running out of time.”

“Don’t worry, I got this!” someone else yells.

Jimmy shakes his head. “I hope you do!” he says.

He takes a breath. You can see the weight hit him, even if he’s trying not to show it.

“As you already know,” Jimmy says, “the prize is one billion dollars. Not because money matters. Because money can move the world and, in the hands of the right person, it can move it fast.”

The crowd starts to build again—hope, hunger, fear.

“Even though I keep talking about how bad everything seems, I’m actually a pretty optimistic person,” he says.

He allows that to sink in before continuing.

“The world needs a leader. And I am convinced that the leader this world needs is one of the hundred people on this field. One of you can change the world. LET’S. DO. THIS!”

Jimmy shouting that last call to action elicits the loudest cheers yet. He lifts his hands, trying to settle them—

—but the speakers crackle.

“One last surprise today,” The Host says.

Jimmy waits now along with everyone else to hear what it could be.

“If you count, there are actually only ninety-nine contestants in front of the stage,” The Host continues. “Though I’ve said one hundred are moving on.”

There is a lengthy pause.

The Host says, “Contestant one hundred: Jimmy Donaldson.”