If you play with fire you're going to get burned, that was what Ji Ah's Oppa used to say to her. Fate only knew how right he would be.

————————————————————————————- Chapter One Where there is smoke

Coffee, that was the only thing that that kept Ji Ah awake for these long shift's. Sweet coffee was normally her favourite, but Ji Ah would take anything with caffeine. Which is why when a hot cup of sweet coffee was placed on her desk, she almost wanted to kiss her beloved police partner Jun Ho. But she doubted he would appreciate the public display of affection, however platonic it may be.

Taking a sip of the sweet nectar of the gods, she instead sighed a simple "thank you" to her partner, who smiled in return.

This is how their partnership was, having worked with each other for about 5 years, since being promoted to detective, Jun Ho was like her other half. Whilst she felt nothing more than sisterly affection toward him, they held no secrets.

Which is how she ended up on her 14th hour of her original 8 hour shift, working through any leads in the case to Jun Ho's missing brother, In Ho. She had never met the man in person, but she felt like she knew him having picked through the last few years of his life with Jun Ho, trying to decipher what might have caused him to suddenly disappear. Her heart ached when Jun Ho told her the story of how In Ho lost his pregnant wife to a sudden illness, having lost his job for taking supposed bribes, he could no longer pay for her medical care. Jun Ho commented often on how she reminded him of his sister in law, both stubborn (she liked to think of it as a positive), intelligent and kind hearted. She liked to think of these a good things, however given the sad look in his eyes when talked about it, Ji Ah was not so sure.

Shaking her head to refocus on the facts of the case, In Ho had been missing for several days, no concrete leads on when he was last sighted, unpaid rent and a history of bribes, things where not looking good to his current circumstances and probability of finding him unharmed. Ji Ah was reluctant to say this out loud, like speaking it out into world will make it real and she did not want that inflict that grieve onto her partner who loved his brother dearly. She was hesitant, this wasn't like her, she did not want to be the person who told Jun Ho his brother may be gone, but the reality clawed at her, In Ho's disappearance was not just a case any more; it was personal.

Whilst all this was racing through her head, Jun Ho was sat opposite in quiet contemplation, this hands twirling a card with shapes on the back.

"Is there something you need to tell me ?" Ji Ah asked with a pointed look toward to card in his hand.

With a sigh, Jun Ho reached his hand out toward Ji Ah with the card stretched outward. Ji Ah took the small card and pulled her face in immediate confusion, small shapes where on the front and on the back a simple phone number.

"What has this got to do in In Ho?" She questioned, her eyes still examining the card for any clues.

"I found this card in In Ho's apartment in a small present box, I thought it odd at first, then reports of crazy man coming into the station today, saying about being forced to play a game of red light, green light -"

"The children's game?" Ji Ah interjected

Jun Ho nodded taking a sip of his coffee "he stated - well ranted apparently - that he and many others where forced to play the game and that those who lost where shot"

"What does the card have to do with this?" Ji ah asked, eyebrows scrunched.

"The man stated that he was approached by a man in a suit at the train station, and after playing rounds of Ddakji for money, the man in a suit handed him a card to join the game. He called the number on the back, was told a pick up point, then stated he was drugged and woke up in a room with other competitors, in numbered clothes" Jun Ho finished solemnly

"So let me get this straight, the guy was invited to play children's game from a stranger in the subway, and after presumably winning, was given an card like this" she held it up between her index and middle finger "and was invited to play more, he was then kidnapped, woke up in a strange room with other people on in a same situation and then forced to play red light, green light in which the losers where executed" Ji Ah summarised, trying to keep the scepticism out of her voice.

Jun Ho nodded, not meeting her eyes.

Ji Ah sighed, she could tell this was a thread he was not going to let go of "you think this is somehow related to In Ho's disappearance" she stated more than questioned, knowing her friend too well.

Jun Ho finally met her eyes and nodded. Everything in Ji Ah was telling her this was crazy, the man was clearly mentally deranged and Jun Ho was looking for anyway his brother might still be alive. She wanted to tell him as much, but one look into those sad brown eyes and she crumpled. It would feel like kicking a puppy.

"Okay" she breathed, taking a gulp of her coffee "police work with evidence, so let's look at the evidence, both your brother and this guy received a card as in invite to a dangerous game days ago, this guy explained people where killed, he returned and we have yet to hear from In Ho" Jun Ho nodded, a frown marring his features. "So we follow the lead" Ji Ah explained trying to remind positive "What do we know about his guy? Surely someone took a report, even if they did think he was crazy"

Jun Ho looked up, breathing a small sigh of relief that his friend was with him on this. "Yes, the desk Sargent said he gave the name Seong Gi Hun from Ssangmun-dong"

"So let's go" Ji Ah stood, downing the last gulp of coffee and tossing the empty cup. She knew the lead was tenuous as best, but it was all they had. One way other, they were getting closer to truth, she had to believe it.

Stunned by the sudden change, Jun Ho takes a a minute to respond. He looks at his friend, black jacket on, she moves her hair from her collar and holsters her gun at her hip. Looking at him expectantly.

Jun Ho's tired eyes softened, he couldn't hide the faint flicker of hope in his eyes as she looked at Ji Ah. She was always the grounded one, the logical one. But they both couldn't ignore the feeling in their guts that this could be a dead end.

"Ready?" she said shaper than intended, but it did the job.

Jun Ho nodded as he stands, eyes more enthusiastic as before, ready to head out to a far fetched lead. But he is willing to follow path that leads him closer to In Ho.