Ji Ah's footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor, each step heavier than the last as she followed the guard ahead of her. The air felt oppressive, thick with the weight of uncertainty. Her heart pounded relentlessly, and no matter how much she tried to steady her breathing, it refused to obey.

She hadn't dared ask why the Captain wanted to see her—what would be the point? But the question gnawed at her, digging into the corners of her mind with every passing second. Had she given herself away? Had he noticed her speaking to Gi Hun? Or worse, had he figured her out?

The corridor gave way to a large steel door, its imposing surface painted the same sterile shade of pink as the rest of this place. The square-faced guard looked up at a camera, a red beam of light scanning his mask. The soft beep and hiss of the door's release, felt like echoing like a death knell to Ji Ah.

"Inside," the guard ordered, his tone flat, mechanical.

Ji Ah hesitated for the briefest moment before stepping through the threshold, the door sealing shut behind her with a resounding thud. No way out.

The room was dimly lit, shadows pooling in the corners, the faint hum of machinery filling the silence. And there he was—the Captain. Standing with his back to her, his figure silhouetted against the cold glow of monitors displaying grainy footage of the now empty game room.

"Number 13," he said at last, his back still facing her. His voice as sharp and commanding as she remembered. "Do you know why you're here?"

Ji Ah hesitant, let out a soft "No sir"

Unphased by her answer "Come forward then, allow me to refresh your memory" he replied, tapping buttons and changing the scene on the screen.

Ji Ah took slow cautious steps forward, hand reaching for her gun, eyes darting around the room looking for a way to escape, before the screen took her attention.

The sound of screaming and gunfire rang out, accompanied by the soft hum of the speakers. Ji Ah came to stand next to the captain, feeling his presence next to her, practically radiating through her skin.

The screen showed the incident in the game room just before, the player taking the guards gun and shooting around the room. The camera then flipped to show Ji Ah gathering up players to come and stand behind her, shielding them.

She felt the captain stare again, assessing, trying to pick her apart. "Does this refresh your memory" he asked, with an undercurrent interest in his tone.

Ji Ah internally breathed a sign of relief, whilst she was not in the clear, she had not been caught helping Gi Hun.

"I was protecting the players" Ji Ah added simply, eyes still on the screen, not daring to look at him.

"Why" his head tilted slightly, interest peaked. He does that a lot Ji Ah noted.

"It was not fair, they completed their challenge, they deserved to live" Ji Ah responded slowly, finally turning to face him.

It was a silent standoff, two black masks conveying no emotion but refusing to back down.

Then something happened to Ji Ah that was completely unexpected, the captain laughed.

It was a soft laugh, complete contrast from the dark imposing figure before her, it humanised him in a way.

Ji Ah was unsure how to react, stood there awkwardly whilst he laughed at her.

Feeling indignant, Ji Ah responded without thinking "What was so wrong with that"

The Captain turned to her fully now, his imposing figure closer than before. The laugh faded, but the faintest trace of it seemed to linger in his posture. Ji Ah found herself staring at the blank, dark surface of his mask, her reflection barely discernible. "What's wrong with that?" he echoed, his voice soft but laced with an unspoken challenge. "You're standing here in my world, among my rules, and you ask what's wrong?"

She bristled under his words, heat rising in her chest. "I don't see how protecting people - who won the challenge might I add - from senseless slaughter contradicts your precious rules," she snapped before she could stop herself.

The silence that followed was deafening. Ji Ah regretted the words the moment they left her lips, her heart pounding harder now for entirely different reasons. But instead of lashing out, the Captain took a slow step closer, his presence pressing against her like a physical force.

"You misunderstand," he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous hum. "It's not your defiance I find amusing."

Ji Ah stood her ground, even as the air between them grew charged, her pulse thrumming in her ears. She could feel the heat of him, the quiet intensity of his focus entirely on her, and it was almost unbearable.

"Then what is it?" she managed, her voice steadier than she felt.

He tilted his head again, that slight, calculating motion she had already come to associate with him. "You're so certain of your morality. So... stubbornly righteous in the face of chaos. It's fascinating."

The word dripped with something more, something she couldn't quite place. Her breath hitched when he reached out, the leather of his gloved hand brushing against her masked chin as he lifted her face ever so slightly. The touch was maddeningly soft, the exact opposite of what she expected.

"You think you're here to shield them," he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "But who's going to shield you, Number 13?"

The question hung in the air between them, heavy and intimate. Ji Ah swallowed hard, refusing to break eye contact with the void of his mask.

"I don't need anyone to shield me," she said, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves.

The Captain leaned in closer, his mask now inches from hers, the faint scent of leather and something darker filling her senses. "No?" he murmured, his tone a dangerous mix of mockery and intrigue.

Ji Ah felt her resolve faltering under his scrutiny, her mind warring between wanting to recoil and something deeper—something undeniable—that wanted to lean in. "You'll break," he said softly, his voice like velvet wrapped around steel. "They always do. The question is... will you break the way I want you to?"

The words sent a jolt down her spine, equal parts fear and something she refused to name. But before she could respond, he stepped back, severing the almost unbearable proximity.

"You're dismissed," he said abruptly, turning his back to her once more. The warmth of his presence faded, leaving a chill in its wake.

Ji Ah's body burned with frustration, confusion, and an undeniable heat she couldn't extinguish. She clenched her fists, her mind racing as she turned and exited the room, the steel door slamming shut behind her.

She had survived the encounter. Barely. But she couldn't shake the way he looked at her—or the way his words lingered like a brand on her skin.

—————————————

She needed to find a way out of here. The was the only thought on Ji Ah's mind during the awkwardly silent walk back to her quarters. Square faced guard not letting her out of sight.

That was twice now she had caught the Captains attention and was the third she had weirdly charged conversations him. Not wanting to think about the heat that lingered from his touch.

She needed to find Jun Ho, get the players and break her way out of here. That was the plan.

However this plan all but fizzled out when she went to line outside her room.

"Number 13" a new square faced guard called, she had not seen one like him before. Instead of a pink jumpsuit, his was black with pink trim. He had an air of authority around him, she wondered if he was the captains right hand man "You have been reassigned" he informed her.

She simply nodded, not sure what to say. "You will have new quarters, follow me" he ordered walking away.

She took a brief look at 29 and saw Jun Ho's masked face staring back at her, she hated to think this might be goodbye.

Quickly following the strange square faced guard, she found she was being lead back through the complex. She remembered this path, it was toward the captains quarters.

As suspected she found herself at the bottom of the three sets of stars that led to the captains room. She tried not to let her breath hitch as they started ascending the stairs, but to her surprise the square guard took an immediate left after the first set of stairs.

She was lead through a plain black door into a muted grey corridor, a stark contrast from the sickly pink. Along the corridor was five dark green doors, much like her old room they had a number on each ranking from 1-4 she was lead to the last door which looked like it did have a number five on it at some point, however had been hastily covered with the number 13.

"This will be your new quarters" informed the senior guard "Your new uniform has been placed inside. Remain inside till the morning and you will be assigned your new duties" he finished, staring Ji Ah down.

Still shocked by the change Ji Ah nodded and spoke a soft "yes sir"

The square guard remained impassive, nodding once then walking away, leaving Ji Ah outside of her door.

A brief look down the corridor told Ji Ah she was being watched, the camera blinking almost mockingly.

Left with little choice Ji Ah entered her new room.

The room was a marked difference from her old cell. This was a bit larger with an actual small wardrobe for clothes. The bed was still a single, but had green silk sheets in place of the grey linen ones. The space still had a toilet but also contained a small shower and basin. The biggest difference was the lit up vanity table with array of perfumes and make up. Ji Ah wondered what she had gotten herself into.

Opening the wardrobe Ji Ah found a range of short black cocktail dresses and one pair of shiny black heels. On the back of the door was hanging a simple black mask with edges like leaf. Ji Ah thought back to the woman she met in the captains room.

Taking the mask from its hook, she turned it over in her hands. It's was a simple things, unlike the rest of masks she had seen this one only concealed the top part of the face leaving the lips and chin exposed.

Ji Ah removed her circle mask, placing it on the variety table. Looking in the mirror she brought the new mask to her face.

Ji Ah studies herself in the mirror with the new mask. The exposed lower half of her face makes her feel vulnerable and oddly seen in a way the full mask did not. She wonders if the Captain specifically chose this mask to unsettle her