The Zero Game

80

“That’s it… hold him tight,” Viv says to Janos as he grips my wrist. She thinks he’s listening, but as he lies there flat on his chest, he’s still just trying to protect his ear and buy some time.

“Viv, watch him carefully!” I call out. My feet continue to dangle over the pitch-black hole, but I can see it in the dark crinkle between his eyebrows. Even with the pain, he’s plotting his final move.

“Exactly… just like that,” Viv says, nine iron arched above her shoulder. “Now pull him up.”

Janos doesn’t move. He’s clutching my wrist and keeping me afloat, but only because I’ve got his ear.

“Did you hear what I said?” Viv asks.

He still doesn’t budge. Even though he’s supporting most of my weight, he can’t support all of it. I keep up the pressure on his ear. His cheek is close to the concrete, and his head is cocked awkwardly toward the hole. His face is an even deeper shade of red than before. Janos is holding me, but the pain’s starting to burn. Closing his eyes, he presses his lips together, then breathes through his nose. The crinkle between his eyebrows fades, but not by much.

“Janos…”

“Drop the club,” Janos barks.

“Pardon?” Viv asks. In her mind, he’s in no position to make demands.

“Drop the golf club,” he repeats. “No fucking around, Vivian. Put it down, or I let Harris go.”

“Don’t listen to him!” I shout.

Viv stares downward, trying to get a better read.

“You’ll hear him scream the whole way down,” Janos says. “Think you can handle that?”

Her mouth opens slightly. For anyone, this is tough. For a seventeen-year-old…

“You think I’m joking?” Janos asks. He digs his fingers back into my wrist.

I scream out in pain.

“Harris…!” Viv shouts.

Janos lets up, once again just holding my wrist.

“Harris, you okay?” Viv asks.

“T-Take his head off,” I tell her. “Swing away.”

“Do it and I drop him!” Janos warns.

“He’s gonna drop me anyway,” I add.

“That’s not true,” she says, refusing to believe it. “Just bring him up!” she yells at Janos. “I want Harris up here now!”

In spite of the pain that comes along with it, Janos slowly shakes his head side to side. He’s done negotiating. I don’t blame him. The instant I’m back on level ground, he risks getting kicked into the hole himself. Not only that, but it’s back to two against one.

Dangling by my arm, I feel reality settling in. There’s no way he’s bringing me up — which makes my decision that much easier.

“Viv, listen to me!” I shout. “Hit him now while you have the chance!”

“Not so smart, Vivian,” Janos warns, his voice unflinchingly calm. “You do that and Harris plummets with me.”

“Viv, don’t let him get into your head!”

Too late. She’s studying him, not me.

“I need you to focus! Are you focusing?” I shout. She turns my way, but her stare is vacant. She’s frozen by the choice. “Viv, are you focusing?!”

She finally nods.

“Good… then I need you to comprehend one thing. No matter what you do, I go down in the end. Either Janos drops me on his own, or you smash him, and Janos and I go down together. Do you understand? I go down either way.”

My voice cracks as I say the words. She knows it’s true — and she’s smart enough to catch the consequences: She’s seen how fast Janos moves. If she doesn’t take him out now, he’ll be all over her in an instant.

I feel Janos’s grip tightening around my wrist. He’s ready to dump me and make a jump for Viv.

“Do it now!” I shout.

“C’mon, Vivian — you really ready to kill your friend?” Janos asks.

With the nine iron poised in the air, Viv stares down — her eyes dancing from Janos to me, then back to Janos. She’s only got a few seconds to decide. She pulls the club back. Her hands begin to shake, and the tears roll down her cheeks. She doesn’t want to do it, but the longer she stands there, the more she realizes there’s no other choice.