“Oh. Oh no,” I say, but it comes out as a single exhale, all the wind knocked from my sternum. Before I can do or say anything to fix this, Blake steps forward from behind the camera.
“Let’s do it!” she says. She has that same frenzied grin on her face that she did when Dean and I gave her the performance of our lives back in the Communal Cabin. Gone is the smooth-talking, steadfast director keeping things running silently behind the scenes. Back is the host who once offered bonus points to two of the contestants on Umma’s season if they aired out their drama with each other in front of everyone.
“There’s nothing in the rules against donating points,” Blake continues. “Roll from the top—Garett, say you’ll allow it, then ask for a recount of the scoreboard.”
A few cameras adjust to focus on Garrett’s shocked face. He shakes himself out of it like the seasoned professional he is. “Alright. I’ll allow it. Let’s recount the points to see who our final three will be.”
Luke scrambles to move the numbers around on the scoreboard. It doesn’t take him more than a minute, but it feels like an eternity until he unveils the updated standings.
1ST
CARTER MOXLEY
119 PTS
2ND
SEYOON SHIN
85 PTS
