Chapter Text
When Daeho came running back to the dorms, just minutes before Hyunju and a bunch of guards, Junhee knew something was wrong. He was shaking, covered in blood and crying. Once the guards left, Junhee knew she needed to talk to him, comfort him. She needed a familiar. They were all that was left, the other three were out fighting and trying to save them.
The guards ran in, and Junhee ran to the back of the bunkbeds, clutching her stomach. She hid, hid from the guards and the other players. Many still had weapons, and she had a baby she wanted to protect. The guards started rounding up alive players, lining them up and searching for weapons. A guard found her, and looked down at her stomach -which Junhee was a little creeped out by- before dragging her up and out into the open. Did they know she helped find the ammunition? The guard had her by her hair like she was dangerous, able enough to fight back.
When she was released to the floor, her hands wrapped around her belly before she fell to the floor. She stood up, alone, after she caught her breath and she was patted down by a shorter guard, gentler. Once she was let off, the speaker started listing casualties. She was too tuned out to hear them, until players she recognised were called out.
“Player 047, eliminated. Player 246, eliminated. Player 015, eliminated. Player 001, eliminated. Player 072, eliminated. Player 206, eliminated. Player 324, eliminated. Player 145, eliminated. Player 390, eliminated.” The speaker finished. Junhee could hear an intake of breath very close to her, which she found out was Hyunju. She looked around for Daeho, and saw him biting his nails and pulling at his hair. She wanted to walk over to him, and offer him comfort but Geumja walked over, and guided her away from the bloody bodies. She was grateful, the blood was making her feel sick.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Geumja asked her as she sat on a bed, “They handled you quite roughly.”
“I’m okay.” Junhee answered, hands shaking slightly. Most of her team, who protected her with everything, were dead. “They’re dead…”
Geumja seemed to understand who Junhee was talking about, because all she did was wrap her arms around Junhee as the tears slowly trickled down her face. She clutched her belly as the tears streaked down her face. She looked up, and by doing that she locked eyes with Daeho, who was 4 beds to her left. He looked away the second she looked up, but she saw the guilt in his eyes.
“I’m going to talk to Daeho.” Junhee told Geumja, who nodded before letting Junhee walk over to Daeho. He looked up as she sat on the edge of his bed, but he couldn’t get control over his tears.
“I’m sorry, Junhee.” He cried, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He repeated, as Junhee pulled him into a gentle hug. She stroked his hair as he sobbed into her shoulder, and she didn’t mind that her jumper was now wet, she just wanted him to trust her.
“It’s not your fault, you know?” Junhee told him as his sobs slowed down. “You did your best and that’s all that matters. We’ll get through these games.” She promised, holding out her pinky finger in front of her as he pulled away. He looked at it, before interlocking their pinkies.
“What will you do with the money?” Daeho asked her, as they settled on his bed. “I need to buy a flat, and I’ll eat a nice meal.”
“I need to buy baby things.” Junhee smiled, wishfully. “I didn’t have enough to get everything, and I kept getting evicted so I couldn’t buy furniture. So I’ll buy a flat, furnish it for my baby and raise it there, comfortably.” They looked at each other for a second, soft smiles on their faces.
“Would I be able to find you?” He asked, shyly. Junhee nodded, but before she could say the area she lived in the door opened and in walked 4 guards, carrying a coffin. The pair stood up, Daeho helping Junhee as she hobbled across the room, but they stayed further back out of fear.
Once the coffin was placed on the floor, the guards left the bedroom. Junhee feared for who would be inside, and her stomach twisted. Luckily for her, Hyunju walks over to the coffin first, so she won’t have to look inside. She urges Geumja and Yongsik to step back as she goes to open it.
Daeho was shaking as they started pulling off the lid, so Junhee grabbed his hand to try and soothe him. It works, partially, as she pulls the lid off. Junhee felt her tears continue to fall as Gihun was revealed to be in the coffin.
“Is he dead?” Geumja asked, and Daeho barely managed to pick it up. Hyunju rushed to check his pulse, and let out a breath of relief.
“He’s still alive.” Hyunju gasped, and Junhee let out a thankful sigh, but Daeho also noticed how her hands were shaking, very similar to his. “Help me get him on the bed, quickly.” Hyunju asked Geumja and Yongsik.
“Here, to the bed.” Geumja ordered as they disappeared from sight. The duo walked back to the shared bed, and just sat in silence. They kept an eye on Gihun, and the trio watching him.
“I’m happy he’s alive.” Junhee grinned, “But I worry for his mental state.” She muttered, and her hands wrapped around her belly again.
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” He assured her, “The vote will be soon.”
“They’re going to vote to continue. We lost so many last night.” Junhee sighed, looking up at the board, which read: 95 players remaining, but she knew that wasn’t true. As she said this, Daeho gasped.
“He’s awake.” Daeho told her and her head spun around to see Gihun sitting up, and looking around. Despite him looking around the whole room, he never once looked at Junhee and Daeho.
“He hasn’t noticed we aren’t there…” Daeho muttered. Junhee frowned but didn’t say anything. They just watched as he conversed with Hyunju, and Gihun slumped onto the bed. Then 9 guards walked in, and one lowered the piggy bank and the board started changing.
“A total of 35 players were eliminated last night, and 60 players remain in the game. The prize money accumulated up to this point is 39.6 billion won and each person's share is 660 million won. You will now take a vote to decide whether or not to continue the games or not.” The guard finished and before they could all line up, Gihun had stormed up to the guards, demanding to know why they hadn’t killed him.
The loud shouts sent both Junhee and Daeho back to their childhoods; one with an overbearing, abusive father and another with different foster families and some worse than others.
Daeho’s whole body shook as Gihun grabbed a gun and aimed it at his own head, blaming himself for the rebellion. Junhee started crying as they had 4 guards pin him down. It did confuse the pair of them, why weren’t they killing him? They didn’t want Gihun to die, but they were still confused. Grateful, but confused.
They lined the players up on their sides, and the duo stayed at the back- away from prying eyes. Many had noticed Junhee was pregnant, and just stared. It was rude, and made her very uncomfortable so they stayed in the back so nobody could see them until they needed to vote.
“Back in the corner afterwards?” Junhee asked, and Daeho nodded.
“I’ll keep you safe Junhee, promise!” Daeho swore, holding out his pinky finger. Like the other time, where Junhee promised that they’d make it out together, their pinkies joined with a bright smile. Daeho helped Junhee walk over to the area, as her back was killing her.
“You will now vote again to decide whether or not to continue the games or not. The vote will be held in reverse order of your player numbers.” The guard paused, and Daeho’s eyes traveled to Gihun, who had been handcuffed to his bed. “Player 456, please cast your vote.”
Everyone's eyes went to Gihun, who didn’t even acknowledge that he had been addressed. He just stared at the floor in front of him, eyes only half open.
“If you don’t show an intent to vote by the count of three, your vote will be considered an abstention.” The guard told Gihun who, again, didn’t acknowledge the guard as he counted down. “One, two, three. Player 456 has forfeited his vote, so it will be considered as an abstention. Next, Player 488. Please cast your vote.”
A woman, probably closer to Daeho’s age than Junhee, walked up to the stand from the X team. She looked between the buttons and that, for some reason, gave the O team an idea to win another vote.
“We’re not going to hurt you, so vote freely.” One voice yelled.
“Yeah, do whatever you want.”
“Don’t mind us, feel free to vote however you want.”
The woman pressed O, they were once again fighting a losing battle…
They were going to target the weak ones, who looked like they’d switch up under threat. Daeho muttered this to Junhee right before his turn to vote, where he hit the X button with no hesitation. The O team tutted and none of the other X’s would look at him but he was proud regardless. Several more people voted, like 333 voting for X, 226 voting for O.
“Player 222, please cast your vote.” The O team smirked to each other as Junhee walked up to the stand, very slowly. They tried to threaten her but their threats fell on deaf ears as she, like Daeho, hit the X button with no hesitation. The O team ignored her, once she walked back over to Daeho, who smiled at her as they stood at the back. The votes continued up until Player 006, the reason they couldn’t go home after Mingle, voted for O again. The voting had ended.
“In accordance of your free and democratic vote, we will proceed with the next game tomorrow. Thank you.” The guard bowed his head and walked out, the other 8 guards following. Junhee could’ve cried then and there, 18 X voters, 41 O voters. They had been beaten by a landslide. She walked back to the bed and sat down, staring into space. Her baby was kicking and her hormones.
The O team started trying to rile up Gihun, but Junhee wasn’t listening. Her ears had gone fuzzy, tears were streaking out her face and her vision had gone cloudy, but suddenly somebody grabbed her shoulder. She flinched, hard. She almost fell off the bed as she snapped out of her daze, and saw Daeho standing above her.
“It’s just me.” He smiled softly, and Junhee started doing her breathing exercises to calm herself down.
“Sorry, hormones have been getting the better of me recently.” She explained, wiping the tears off her face.
“Gihun tried to choke 044.” Daeho told me, sitting on the other end of the bed. I leant forward slightly.
“Really? Why?” I asked, curiously.
“She said that the gods will make him listen to his friends dying, and there’s nothing he can do about it. I don’t blame him to be honest.”
“Neither do I.” I smiled, and suddenly they were bringing in the meals. We got there a lot quicker than the rest of the X team, so we got our food quite fast. But when we left, Myunggi approached us.
“Junhee.” He walked over to me, and I gave Daeho a nod. So he continued walking and Myunggi put one of his sweet potatoes into my box.
“You like sweet potatoes.” He reminisces, and I’m shocked he can remember it. “Are you safe with him?”
“I’m safest, yeah. It’s okay, Myunggi.” I smiled, hand squeezing his arm. He nodded and walked away. I watched for a short minute before slowly walking back to Daeho.
“Do you want half?” She asked, offering the sweet potato Myunggi gave her but Daeho shook his head. “Okay.” She started eating.
“What was that about?” Daeho asked, and Junhee soured.
“I knew him before.” She answered shortly.
“Is he the dad?” Daeho asked, and Junhee nodded very slowly.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She bit into her sweet potato, and softened at the familiar flavour before they started talking softly. Talking about simple things, likes and dislikes. Until they drifted to family.
“You said you had 4 sisters, right?” Junhee asked
“Yeah, all older than me. I have 2 nephews and 5 nieces between the four of them.” He smiled, before looking at Junhee. “You thinking it’ll be a boy or a girl?”
“I’m getting girl vibes, but it could be either- I wouldn’t mind.” Junhee smiled, finishing her 3rd sweet potato.
“Lights will go off in 1 minute.” The PA voice announced, and they just sat on the bed together.
“Are you tired?” Junhee asked Daeho,
“A little, what about you?”
“Not really, they’re kicking a lot. I doubt I’ll sleep well if I do fall asleep anyway.”
“Wake me up if you get tired, promise.” He offers a pinky to her, and she takes it. Again.
Daeho is asleep by the time the lights are off properly, and not long after, Myunggi approached her.
“Can we talk?” Myunggi asked, and Junhee nodded. They sat on the floor together.
“Thanks, for the food earlier.” She bowed her head, and he softened.
“You don’t need to thank me.” He smiled. “I’m glad you still have some of your team but if you need me tomorrow for anything don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, Myunggi.” She smiled. “WIll you be okay, though?”
“I’ll be fine, Junhee. I just want you two to make it out safely.” He explained. “Get some sleep, okay?” He told her, standing up. She nodded softly and watched him as he walked away. His bunk was above Junhee’s bunk, and closer to the exit, so she couldn’t see him.
She kept watch for a little while, talking to her baby and thinking about names. She had a few in mind but, if she made it out, she would be due pretty much straight after the scheduled end. She’d have to furnish quickly, the money was more than enough to keep her going until she was able to work again anyway, so she wouldn’t have to worry about a job.
After a little while, she shook Daeho and he woke up with no arguments.
“Sleep well?” She asked, lying down.
“Yep, I'm wide awake and ready to go.” He salutes her as he sits on the floor next to the bed. She smiled, and instantly fell asleep
-
Junhee woke up to the bright lights, and immediately felt another kick to her stomach. She reached for her water bottle and took a big gulp before Daeho noticed she was awake.
“Gihun has been glaring at me all night.” Daeho tells her, and when Junhee turns to look she sees him glaring at Daeho. “Do you think they told him about the magazines?” He asked with panic in his voice. Junhee grabbed his arm and squeezed it gently, passing him her water bottle.
“Drink some of this and calm down.” She urged as they went through a breathing exercise Junhee does when she's in pain. “I’d stay clear of him in this game, if I were you. I do think they’ve told him.”
“I guess I’ll have to stay with you then.” He grins and Junhee smiles back up at him.
“The fourth game will begin momentarily. Please follow instructions from our staff.” The PA voice announced as Junhee winced in pain. He helped her start walking, and they were near the front. As they walked through the halls, where the gun fight had taken place, they saw a truly horrifying and inhumane sight.
The bodies of the dead rebels, dangled up like a chandelier. Daeho took one look at Jungbae and couldn’t look away afterwards. Junhee’s eyes kept darting around, her nausea kicking in again.
“You are witnessing the fate of those who refused the democratic process of voting and instead attempted to stop the games using violent means. We will not tolerate any irrational behaviour which attempts to destroy the fair rules of this game.” The PA voice explained as Daeho turned to see Gihun staring right at him, he snapped his head back to the dangling bodies after meeting eyes with Gihun. “And such actions will be punished in accordance with our strict standards. We thank you again for your cooperation.” The players were urged to keep walking, until they eventually made it to a room.
The room had a gumball machine right in the centre, with red and blue balls inside. The door they entered was shaped like a knife. Junhee and Daeho stuck close to each other as they walked in.
“Welcome to your fourth game.” The PA spoke, again. “This game will be played in two teams. Before we start the game, you will divide into teams. Please take turns drawing a ball from the gumball machine in front of you.”
“What if we’re on different teams?” Junhee panicked quietly.
“We won’t know until the game is explained to us.” Daeho assured her, as people neither of them recognised got separated into team red, or team blue.
Then Hyunju got put on the blue team. After Hyunju, Junhee walked up and got put on the red team. Her hands shook as she was put into a crowd with nobody familiar. Daeho went straight after Junhee, but he got put on the blue team. He turned to Junhee, who gulped, before walking to the blue team. Myunggi was put on the blue team a little while later, Geumja on red, Yongsik on Blue, and finally Gihun on red
Junhee was chewing on her lip after the teams had been sorted, panicking that only one team could make it or that she’d get killed. She also didn’t want anyone to die- but that’s not how it works here. They were handed out bibs, and Junhee struggled getting hers on but she did eventually.
“The game you will be playing is Hide and Seek.” Junhee’s eyebrows shot up and she turned to look at Daeho. He calmly nodded at her before she turned back to the guards. “The blue team must either: find the exit and escape within 30 minutes or stay hidden from the red team until the time is up.” Junhee was panicking now, because what would happen if she couldn’t find anyone. She can’t run!
“What about the taggers?” A guy close to Junhee asked. “Just like when we played as kids, all we need to do is find the ones that are hiding?”
“The Red Team, the taggers, must find members of the Blue Team and kill them within 30 minutes.” Junhee gasped, and Daeho immediately wanted to swap with her. He knew she wouldn’t let him though. He needed to get her off the red team, immediately.
“Kill them?” A woman on the Red Team asked.
“That is correct.” The guard answered her, “The Red Team must find the Blue Team and kill them. If you fail to eliminate any opposing players, you will be eliminated.”
“Those people are going to kill us?” Player 006 asked, from the Blue Team, pointing at the Red side
“That is correct.” The guard nodded.
While the shock waved around the room, Junhee locked eyes with Myunggi -who gave her a reassuring nod. She nodded back as Hyunju lifted up a key.
“What is this?” She asked, showing the key to the guards.
“You have been given keys to doors in the arena. You can use that key to go through doors, but once a door is unlocked, it can’t be relocked.”
“So they can hide somewhere and use their keys to escape. They have it so much easier!” A guy on the Red Team, 226, exclaimed. Junhee privately agreed, and so did Daeho. How was she supposed to kill someone with her bare hands? She can barely function as it is…
“That’s right!”
“So much easier!”
“On top of that, we need to kill all those people. And with our bare hands.” Daeho turned and was met with Junhee staring at her hands, which had been cradling her stomach not 5 minutes before.
“That’s right. This isn’t fair. It’s not like they’re gonna roll over and ask us to kill them! How do you expect us to kill them with our bare hands?”
“We understand your concerns.” The guard reassures (?) the Red Team. “That’s why we’ve prepared a small gift for the Red Team as well.”
Guards started bringing out red boxes, which contained very sharp knives. And by sharp, it cuts down to the bone pretty much instantly. Junhee watched as Player 124 laughed, pointing his knife at the members of the Blue Team
“The Red Team can use knives to attack the Blue Team. However, members of the Red Team aren’t allowed to attack each other.” The guard explained
“Shouldn’t we get a shield or something?” A member of the Blue Team asked. “You give them knives and expect us to run around, unarmed!”
“He’s right. You’ve got to give us something too.”
“Yes, all we have is a key. That’s not fair!”
“But you can use that key to open doors and escape.” A member of the Red Team recalled.
“That’s right!”
“Just hide somewhere. It should be a piece of cake.” The man paused before pointing his knife at Player 100, “Brother… This is what you’re good at. Hiding like a rat!”
“Before we start the game,” A guard interrupted before an argument could start, “We will give you one last chance to change your fate. If any of you are unhappy with your role, you may switch roles with a member of the opposing team before the game starts.”
“What? We can switch roles?”
“That is correct.” The guard paused again. “You can swap your items and vests upon a mutual agreement. But once the game starts, removing or trading your vests will be strictly prohibited. Please make your choice carefully.”
Before Daeho could think about Gihun’s staring problem, he had to confront Myunggi. He tapped him on the shoulder and leant into his ear.
“Get her to swap with you.” Daeho explained.
“I was going to anyway.” Myunggi muttered. “Why do you care?”
“She’s my friend, and no offence but I think she trusts me more than she trusts you.”
“Oh I knew that already.” Myunggi smiled sadly. “Thanks… for helping her.”
“She helped me too.” Daeho smiled, patting him on the shoulder before walking away. As much as he wanted to be on the Red Team, even if it’s just to escape Gihun’s anger, he couldn’t kill anyone else and he has to help Junhee.
Gihun kept glaring at Daeho, so, while Daeho confronted him, Myunggi approached Junhee. She was hunched over, sharp pains driving through her body. She felt someone standing in front of her, and looked up to see Myunggi. He had his bib and key outstretched towards her.
“I know you're capable.” He starts, crouching down so they’re level. “I like that about you, but you look like you're about to vomit and I don’t want you to die because you couldn’t catch anyone. I’ll come find you, I promise. I will get one person, and help you guys.”
“Is it that easy for you… to kill someone?” She stammers through the pain.
“It would be if it meant keeping you alive.” He told her, and she softened slightly. “I’d do anything to protect you, Junhee.”
“I’d also do anything to protect my baby.” She snapped. Her eyes were twitching with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
“Then… kill me.” Myunggi suggested, and Junhee’s eyes widened with horror. “I’ll come find you once the game begins, stab me with your knife and get out. Then you and the baby can get out.” The tears that filled Junhee’s eyes spilled, but she quickly wiped them away.
“I-I… can’t.” She offered him the knife, wiping her tears away. She tried taking off her bib, and successfully did after a while. They switched items, and Junhee looked up at Myunggi with hollow eyes. “Keep your word.” She stated and Myunggi gave her a small smile and a serious look.
“I promise I’ll find you.” He swears, squeezing her shoulder gently. He puts the bib on, and hold the knife tightly before smiling and Junhee and walking away.
After Myunggi walked over to the other reds, Junhee looked around for Daeho. She saw him, near Gihun, with a gun pressing against his back. She walked over as quickly as she could, and tugged Daeho by his arm to get him away from Gihun
“The game will begin momentarily.” The PA spoke again, “Blue Team, please get ready to enter the arena… Let me repeat, the game will begin momentarily.” Junhee looked at Myunggi, and he gave her a gentle stare. She bristled before softening and joining the line, at the back with Daeho.
“He said it was my fault.” Daeho muttered, “All their deaths… my fault.”
“It’s not your fault, Daeho.” Junhee quietly assured him as they walked into the arena. “It was the guards, and the Frontman. It was never your fault, you were scared.” They arrived at the start of the arena.
Once Junhee and Daeho, the last two in the line, had walked in, the doors slammed shut.
“The taggers will enter in two minutes.” The PA spoke before a timer started. 2:00, 1:59, 1:58
“Listen up people!” Player 100 shouts as the duo start walking up a set of stairs. “Instead of hiding, let's team up to try and find the exit.” Junhee looked at Daeho with a pain filled glare that spoke volumes. “Whoever finds the exit first will shout and let everyone know!”
“Good idea!” Player 172 agrees, “Let’s help each other and get out of here alive!”
Hide, Hide. It’s time to play.
Don’t let your hair give you away…
Junhee and Daeho wasted no time running away from the other player, or at least attempting to. Junhee’s body was constantly in sharp pain, and she could hardly walk as it was.
“He said he’d help us… when he passed.” Junhee gasped out as Daeho unlocked a door.
“Well let’s hope he finds us, this arena seems to be massive.” Daeho gulped.
Unbeknownst to the duo, and also an oblivious Myunggi, Gihun stood up as the Red Team entered the arena with a dark look in his eyes.
“It’s your fault.” He muttered to himself, before following in his team.