Heart pounding, Ji Ah descended the stairs as fast as she could without drawing attention. Her mind filled with the intense interaction she had with the man who held her life in his hands.

Reaching the familiar doorway of the kitchen, Ji Ah slowed her steps, taking her time to calm her breathing before re-entering the kitchen. Her mind whirled with questions. Was she in more danger? Why did he let her go? And who was that woman?

Pushing open the door to the kitchen Ji Ah was immediately faced with another challenge as the square faced guard headed her way.

"Number 13, you and number 11 are to take those trolleys" pointing over his shoulder "and follow me"

"Yes sir" Ji Ah said softly, her nerves still on edge.

Her eyes sought out where the triangle guard had pointed and found two trolleys pilled with the little sliver tins that the circle guards made yesterday. Coming to stand next to other worker who she presumed was number 11, Ja Ah took hold of the loaded up trolley and quickly started to follow number 11, who had already began to walk away.

Following number 11 through the pink hallways, they approached a long room with 4 tables in a row. In front of each table was what appeared to be a closed door.

"Unload your tins and take your places behind your table" the square faced guard ordered.

Ji Ah hesitated, seeing which table number 11 would pick so she knew where to go. Number 11 went to the far end of the room past two circle workers already in place, leaving the table closest to Ji Ah available. She began quickly move the tins over, whilst doing so, she noticed a small seam of light through the crack of the door.

Trolley unloaded, Ji Ah took her place behind the table trying to focus on the seam of light, attempting to look through it. She noticed shapes moving about,, their faces uncovered. 'The players' she thought to herself, she could see them lining up.

"Decision time is over. We will now reveal the game" announced over the load speaker.

Suddenly the door in-front of Ji Ah opened. The light momentarily blinding her.

"Players please take one of the cases in front of you" announced again over the speaker.

Then Ji Ah saw them, all 187 players lined up in 4 unequal queues, in what looked to be a children's playground. The players in front of her being moving forward. Acting quickly Ji Ah copied the other circle workers and began to hand out her tins, making note of each players face. Most of them looked scared and anxious, but that was no mystery.

Then she saw him, Gi Hun. He looked better than when she last saw him, but no less nervous. He couldn't bring himself to look at her face - well mask - instead taking the tin with his head down cast, nearly bumping into the player behind him as he rushed away.

Once the last player was served a further announcement came over the speaker "Please open the case and check the contents. The next game is Daglona. The shape you receive is the shape you must extract"

'Oh fuck' Ji Ah thought seeing the woman she had just served reveal the shape of an umbrella.

"You have a 10 minute time limit" the speaker announced again to the frazzled room of players "extract the shape cleanly within 10 minutes and you passed. Let the game begin"

As the announcement finished the doors closed plunging Ji Ah back into darkness, the only sound being the ominous ticking coming from the game room.

"You are all on body duty." the square guard ordered "go and take your positions in the game room."

'Body Duty' Ji Ah thought, having to stop herself from visibly recoiling. She moved herself on heavy legs as the other circle workers started to walk through.

'I cannot just stand by and watch' Ji Ah panicked 'but what can I do that won't get us all killed?'

Moved along with the other guards, Ji Ah entered the game room, the sand floor crunching under her feet. She could see all the players crouched down in various parts of the room, some had even climbed onto the play structures. The only sound was the clock ticking and the scratching of the Daglona.

Ji Ah took her position at the side of the room, following the other workers lead. As fate would have it, she ended up being a few feet away from Gi Hun.

He was kneeled down with his arse in the air desperately scratching at his shape. Ji Ah's breath caught slightly when she could see it was also an umbrella. Had she doomed him to this? She morbidly thought. She watched him lift his Daglona out the tin and begin to try and snap off the edges.

Just as he started a gunshot echoed and screams filled the room. A dead player slid down from atop of the slide where he had been sitting, leaving a crimson trail of blood behind him. "Player 369 eliminated" rang out the speaker. The players froze, as sequence of shots filled the room, eliminating further players. Then like they all universally remembered what was at stake, they all returned to furiously scratching at their shapes.

Ji Ah felt ill, she had seen dead bodies during her time as a detective, but not one merciless killed in front of her. She watched at the circle guards at that side of the room lifted the man off the blood filled slide and into a black box. She watched as the matching black lid was placed on top, finished with a pink bow.

In that moment she is unsure what sickened her more, the execution or fact their death was being dressed up like a gift.

In an effort to keep the nausea at bay Ji Ah returned her gaze to Gi Hun who was snapping off pieces of Daglona. Watching the clean breaks Ji Ah silently thanked whoever was watching over him.

More shots filled the room as time ticked on, each time sending a wave of sickness through Ji Ah's gut. Part of her believing she was no better than them, the faceless men, being complicit in murder. But the more rational part of her knew she would get herself and others killed if she tried anything.

Around the halfway point "player 111 passed" rang through the speakers, 'good' Ji Ah thought 'at least some people are making it out of here alive' her hope was short lived as another gunshot rang through the air.

Then in quick succession more players passed, filtering out the room as they did so, leaving only a few left with the more difficult shapes of stars and umbrellas.

She watched as time ticked down to below 3 minutes, Gi Hun had became more desperate. His back soaked with sweat and the tremor in his shoulders. She needed a way to help him.

She watched as he flinched as the player next to him was eliminated. She made her way over to do her duty. Her legs felt like lead as she forced herself forward. Every step brought her closer to the body, her stomach twisting in revolt.

Then like a flash of lighting hit her she was suddenly stuck with a memory from her childhood. Having mainly boys in her neighbourhood, every game they played was intense competition, she had trick of being the quickest in Daglona against the boys.

As she approached the body she made sure she was the side closest Gi Hun. She had do this right and do it quick or they were both dead. Kneeling down to gently take the women's cold hands in hers she twisted the body causing the circle guard grabbing the feet to trip slightly.

"Lick the back," she whispered urgently to Gi Hun, stealing a glance to ensure he understood.

He froze in place. He heard her, she was sure of it. Standing up she looked straight ahead and carried the poor woman to her coffin, pretending that nothing was out of place. Though she was sure she could hear muttered grumbles coming from the guard she tripped.

After placing the woman in her coffin and holding back a wave of remorse for using her dead body like that, Ji Ah made her way back to her post.

The sight that laid ahead of her was the most brilliant and ludicrous thing she had seen. Gi Hun having wasted no time was taking long luscious licks to the back of his Daglona, looking crazed. However it seems the other players had caught on and where now frantically licking at their Daglona.

Ji Ah watched Gi Hun as he licked the Daglona, in another time and place the sight would have almost been appealing but right now all could chant in her head was 'live, live, live, please live, if I can just save one' praying to whatever deity was out there.

It seemed her prayers where answered as in the last few seconds of the game Gi Hun's umbrella came free.

She wanted the scream and cheer as Gi Hun began to cry in relief. He's alive.

But their joy was short lived as the echos of gun shots fired all around them. The grim reality of situation resettling down upon both of their shoulders.

Then all hell broke loose, as a player launched at a guard and took his weapon. He began firing indiscriminately. Ji Ah jumped into action securing the surrounding players behind her, as the triangle guards converged on the man who now held the square guard at gun point.

The remaining triangle guards unleashed fire on the eliminated players. She heard several players cower in fear behind her. "It's okay" she whispered attempting to calm them, trying to avoid anymore death. At this moment she saw Gi Hun looking at her, she knew he recognised her voice as the worker who helped him. He nodded in return turning to calm the players.

More armed guards approached them, causing several players to gasp in fear. "The game has finished" one announced "we will escort you back to your dormitory" they ordered, flanking the players as they led them out.

Gi Hun looked back at her once more before leaving. She had the unsettling feeling this would be the last time they meet.

Once players were safely departed, Ji Ah turned to watch the scene unfolding in front of her.

The mini triangle army where now all pointing guns at the player who held the square faced guard hostage, the player was demanding he remove his mask. Ji Ah took a step closer, coming to stand behind the line of triangle guards, as he slowly removed his mask. A wave of shock coursed through Ji Ah as the guard's face came into view—a young man, no older than twenty. His features were sharp but soft, his eyes wide with panic, like a child's. How could someone so young end up here, caught in this monstrous place? The player seemed to hold the same sentiments.

Before Ji Ah could react the player turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the head. Ji Ah was numb to it now, she felt after all the death she had witnessed that day, at least he got to die on his own terms.

Hearing footsteps approaching from behind her, Ji Ah turned and felt her stomach drop. It was him.

The heavy thud of boots echoed through the room, each step deliberate, calculated. Ji Ah's breath hitched as the guards parted, creating a pathway for him—the captain. He moved with a commanding presence, his dark coat swaying slightly with each stride. When he reached the unmasked guard, there was no hesitation, no pause to consider mercy. The deafening crack of the gunshot made Ji Ah flinch, her pulse racing as the young man crumpled to the ground.

It took everything in Ji Ah not to gasp as his body hit the floor. Is that was going to happen to her? She selfishly thought.

Keeping his back to Ji Ah and the rest of the guards the captain spoke bluntly "Remember. Once they found out who you are, you're dead"

Pausing to look down at the decreased, he turned to walk back through the sea of guards again.

The Captain slowed as he passed her, his steps measured, deliberate. Though his face was hidden, the weight of his attention bore down on her, making it hard to breathe. Ji Ah stiffened, unsure if she imagined it, but his head tilted slightly—just enough to suggest he knew exactly who she was.

Her heart raced, but she didn't move, didn't flinch. His pause was brief, calculated, before he continued on his way, leaving her rooted in place, her mind spinning with questions.

Just like before Ji Ah felt his eyes upon her. He slowed his pace as he passed staring directly at her, like he knew it was her, number 13.

He carried on without a word, Ji Ah watched him retreat letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Watching the doorway long after he had gone.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of forklifts, carrying more coffins, remembering she was in a room of death.

She cautiously approached the unmasked boy, looking once again at his young-face which was now cold and lifeless. She swallowed hard, bile rising in her throat. He should've been in out in the world, laughing with friends, not lying here lifeless in the sand.

How did he end up here? Each time she felt she was getting closer to finding out the truth of this place, the more questions she unravels.

She watched as another circle guard approached her, Jun Ho? She wondered.

As she was about to turn and say something she was interrupted "Number 13," a square-faced guard barked, snapping her out of her daze. "The captain wishes to see you."

Ji Ah froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She forced herself to nod, her mind racing. What did he want? Had she been caught? As she followed the guard, dread pooled in her stomach. Every step felt like it could be her last.